Consider a Spherical Lizard: Animals, Models, and Approximations

Ecologists and physiologists have used biophysical models to answer questions and investigate hypotheses about animal biology for over 20 years, but many investigators do not use such techniques because such modelling is perceived as an arcane art. Indeed, there is no magic strategy to allow all ecologists to model any biophysical problem accurately by means of simple recipes. In practice, biophysical ecology depends heavily on mathematical and engineering principles. But, it need not be impenetrable. Here we discuss relatively simple models that can be incorporated into many ecological studies. We also discuss some of the important approximations and assumptions inherent in our treatments of radiative, convective, evaporative, and conductive heat transfer. In so doing, we hope to encourage the use of such models, and to engender an appreciation of when and under what conditions predictions from such models are most likely to be misleading. Thus, we hope to help ecologists to get into and, hopefully, out of trouble in biophysical ecology.