Ecosystems are complex.
The number of species and the variety of interactions among biotic and abiotic factors are too great to be adequately explained by traditional ecological concepts. The use of computer-generated models to simulate environmental events can provide a greater understanding of complexity in ecosystems, and offers better predictive powers to conservation and land managers. Ecosystem connectivity is just one area of complex ecological problems that has been tackled by computer modelling with considerable success. With a better understanding of connectivity in fragmented landscapes, land managers will be better equipped to slow the loss of crucial habitats and the rate of species extinctions. The role of computer-generated models in understanding ecological complexity is likely to become more commonplace in the future, particularly given the increasingly urgent need to manage the world's ever decreasing natural heritage.