Hierarchical object-oriented design of a concurrent, individual-based, model of a pelagic Tunicate bloom

Abstract This paper stresses the importance of software engineering techniques for ecological modeling. The “object” paradigm has changed the way ecologists now view computer modeling, but the power and flexibility of the object approach call for a rigorous methodology. The interest of the HOOD method (first developed for the space industry) is shown on an ecological example, which uses Artificial Life techniques to simulate the development of a Tunicate bloom.