1. Modelling is often confronted with scaling problems, because modelling—directly or indirectly—always implies scaling. This is because models simplify. Simplification usually means aggregation, and aggregation is a scaling process. As scaling cannot be avoided in modelling, it should carefully be addressed and resolved, at least to the degree possible.
2. In this paper, we give an overview of scaling approaches in ecological modelling. We propose to classify scaling approaches into pre‐model scaling, in‐model scaling and post‐model scaling depending on the timing of the scaling relative to the main modelling process.
3. We show general approaches, examples and potential application problems for each category. We suggest that scaling problems might be more widespread than previously thought. These scaling problems are matched with a range of solutions, but often these solutions will have to be adapted and tailored to the specific scaling case.
4. Thus, we recommend that ecologists be aware of scaling challenges especially where models do not explicitly aim at scaling. Developing general test systems for scaling methods may help to broaden and enhance the application of scaling methods in ecology.

中文翻译：

---

生态建模中的缩放方法

1. 建模经常会遇到缩放问题，因为直接或间接进行建模总是意味着缩放。这是因为模型简化了。简化通常意味着聚合，聚合是一个扩展过程。由于无法在建模中避免缩放，因此应谨慎解决并解决问题，至少要在可能的范围内进行。
2. 在本文中，我们概述了生态建模中的缩放方法。我们建议根据相对于主要建模过程的缩放时间，将缩放方法分为模型前缩放，模型内缩放和模型后缩放。
3. 我们为每个类别展示了通用的方法，示例和潜在的应用问题。我们建议扩展问题可能比以前认为的更为广泛。这些扩展问题与一系列解决方案相匹配，但通常这些解决方案必须针对特定的扩展情况进行调整和调整。
4. 因此，我们建议生态学家意识到扩展挑战，尤其是在模型未明确针对扩展的情况下。开发用于缩放方法的通用测试系统可能有助于拓宽和增强缩放方法在生态学中的应用。