Resource Space, Individuals and Ecosystems: Emergence and Representations

Abstract

"For the last four years we have conducted a multi-agent modelling experiment within a pluridisciplinary team made up of biologists, ecologists, anthropologists and economists whose objective is to understand how fishing is organised in the Niger Central Delta. We have created a platform of multi-agent simulations called AtomTalk in order to model agent interaction in a fragmented space. We have also examined the problem of modelling diverse representations, ranging from those of the actors of the world being studied to disciplinary points of view of the researchers involved.

"The problem of representation is inherent in the creation of artificial worlds where agents interact with their natural and social environment. In this paper we discuss the representation problem from our modeller point of view. We give some examples of the models we have created. More precisely, we will examine the question of the place and status of representations when an attempt is made to simulate circular relationships linking individual and social group levels within the ecosystem. For that purpose we introduce the concept of 'mediator' objects, or 'common' objects."