Combining individual-based modeling and classical approaches to populations research

Individual-based modeling is a fast-developing direction in population modeling. The principal difference between individual-based and classical models is in the fact that individual-based model refers to the properties of a single specie directly, and classical models describe population in whole. Traditionally these approaches are opposed to each other. However both of them have certain advantages, and rich experience in both fields has been accumulated. In this work I suggest a new approach, which allows combine these directions to solve actual problems of population modeling. Using this approach one can find the relationship between biological and behavioral characteristics of a specie, and the parameters of analytical models. This is the key to better understanding of the processes that stipulate population dynamics.