An ecological case study

In order to understand is phenomenon, and to help to reverse the process of eutrophication, a modeling study was started in the late nineteen-seventies. 

In what follows we briefly describe the main characteristics of a deterministic and a stochastic model of the eutrophication process in Lake Balaton, using the concepts of formal reaction kinetics. 

The phenomenon to be described here does not fit precisely into the framework of mass-action type reaction kinetics. However, the differences are of the same nature that are met within the area of chemical applications too. 

one has time-dependent input (here forcing) functions. Second, the rate of some of the elenentary reactions are not of the mass-action type. (Sometimes Michaells-Menten-type rate functions have been chosen, sometimes even more complicated ones consistent with present knowledge in ecology. 

After a general introductory discussion of the stochastic model the two models will both be defined. Relevant, and ecologically meaningful, differences between the two models will be discussed at the end. 

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