38th Biological Systems Simulation Group Meeting
Texas AgriLife Research
Blackland Research & Extension Center
720 E. Blackland Rd
Temple, TX 76502
The Biological Systems Simulation Group (BSSG) meeting is an assembly of researchers with expertise in modeling from multiple disciplines to discuss common issues regarding natural and agricultural systems modeling. These scientists are interested in using integrated systems approaches to study agricultural and natural systems. Topics range from basic physiological and biological systems to ecosystem simulations of field-level flows of water, carbon, energy, and nutrients to regional analysis of the impacts of climate variability and global change. This includes a strong focus on the study and dynamic simulation of effects of climatic, biotic, and abiotic factors on agricultural and natural systems performance.
The potential of these systems as sources of biofuel has increased the need to understand the limits of biomass production and its composition, and the impact of bioenergy production on environmental integrity at both field and watershed levels. Rangelands, which occupy a significant part of the US and the world, pose a challenge for simulating plant communities that, unlike homogenously managed crops, have extreme spatial variation at several scales. Climate change poses a challenge in understanding plant responses to biotic and abiotic factors affecting plant productivity particularly under extreme events such as temperature stress. In this context, the role of simulation modeling in addressing issues of energy supply and natural resources conservation is increasingly important.
Conference Organizers:
Texas AgriLife Research
- Armen R. Kemanian
- Wesley Rosenthal
- Yubin Yang
- William Fox
USDA-ARS Grassland Soil and Water Research Laboratory
- Jim R. Kiniry
- Colleen H. Green
- Philip A. Fay
Next Meeting: May 11-14, 2009. BSSG-2009. 39th Biological Systems Simulation Group Conference and Advanced Modeling Workshop. The University of Georgia, Griffin, Georgia, USA. Details coming soon.
