Ecological models fall into two broad domains: analytical models and simulation models (Horn et al., 1989). Analytical models may be regarded as mathematical models that are potentially tractable or solvable in a closed form (e.g. differential systems, Markov models, etc.). Such models tend to be abstract and not concerned with the dynamics of a particular ecosystem. Conversely, simulation models tend to incorporate more biological detail, often including explicit nonlinearities, are usually system-specific, and are also much more constrained to the ‘real’ region of parameter space. However, this increased detail carries with it a loss of mathematical tractability and generality. We will describe both types of model approach before using a simulation model to highlight specific issues associated with spatial ecological modelling.