Modelling trophic network with PEPA and Bio-PEPA

Abstract

The thesis focuses on some attemps to model trophic networks using two different stochastic process algebras: PEPA and Bio-PEPA. In the first part we introduce all the main concepts on trophic networks and the process algebras used in the thesis. In the second part we apply PEPA and Bio-PEPA first to a toy example of trophic network and then to a real trophic network. We discuss the problems arised during the modelling and we compare the solutions we obtained. Bio-PEPA seems to permit a better modelling, better analysis of the flow of biomass and better analysis about the variation of the population of the species.