
Understanding Complex Ecosystem Dynamics
A Systems and Engineering Perspective
Resources
Description
Key Features
- Provides a fresh interdisciplinary perspective, offers a broad integrated development, and contains many new ideas
- Clearly explains the elements of the systems approach and applies them throughout the book
- Takes on the challenging and open issues of complex system network dynamics
- Develops and utilizes a new, innovative ecosystem dynamics modeling approach
- Contains over 135 graphic illustrations to help the reader visualize and understand important concepts
Readership
systems ecologists, systems biologists, network analysts, ecological modelers, systems engineers, and ecological engineers
Table of Contents
- Preface
- Introduction
- “Map” of the Book
- A “Fresh” Look at Complex System Dynamics
- Part I: The Systems and Engineering Perspective
- Introduction
- Chapter 1: A Systems Engineer’s Perspective
- Abstract
- 1.1 Introduction
- 1.2 Definitions
- 1.3 Systems Engineering Skills Framework
- 1.4 Technical Rationality and Reflective Rationality
- Chapter 2: More Views on Systems Thinking
- Abstract
- 2.1 Origin and Evolution of Systems Thinking Movements
- 2.2 Weaver’s Ranges of System Complexity
- 2.3 The Many Ways of Knowing
- 2.4 A Debate on the Integration of the Sciences and the Humanities
- Chapter 3: The Major Elements of the Systems Approach
- Abstract
- 3.1 A Blend of Synthesis and Analysis
- 3.2 Network Thinking
- 3.3 The Systems Triad
- Chapter 4: Reductionism and Information Loss
- Abstract
- 4.1 Introduction
- 4.2 Networks and Connections
- 4.3 Short Paths and Power-Law Distributions
- 4.4 Information Theory
- 4.5 Information Loss from Broken Connections
- Part II: A Function-Structure-Process Framework for Ecological System Dynamics
- Introduction
- Chapter 5: Overview of an Ecological System Dynamics Framework
- Abstract
- 5.1 Two Essential Questions
- 5.2 Developing the Framework
- 5.3 The Three Core Functions of the Framework
- 5.4 Self-organization and Thermodynamic Entropy in Ecological Systems
- Chapter 6: Regulation/Adaptation: Control Aspects of Ecological Systems
- Abstract
- 6.1 Introduction
- 6.2 General Principles and Control of Human-Made Systems
- 6.3 Control of Biological/Ecological Systems
- 6.4 Core Function Relationships and the Nature of the Resulting Dynamics
- Chapter 7: Evolution and Universal Development Concepts
- Abstract
- 7.1 Evolution: Spatial and Temporal Perspectives
- 7.2 Formulating an Evolution Process Model
- 7.3 The Evolution Model as a Universal Development Model
- 7.4 Summary Observations and the Path Forward
- Part III: Complex Systems Theory: Networks, Nonlinear Dynamics, Cellular Automata, and Fractals (Roughness)
- Introduction
- Chapter 8: Network Theory: The Structure of Complex Networks
- Abstract
- 8.1 Network Structure Concepts, Properties, and Characteristics
- 8.2 Empirical View of Real-World Networks
- 8.3 Theoretical View of Model Networks
- Chapter 9: Network Theory: The Dynamics of Complex Networks
- Abstract
- 9.1 Introduction
- 9.2 Scaling, Power Laws, and Fractals
- 9.3 The Dynamics of Network Phase Transitions
- 9.4 Network Dynamics: Processes Taking Place on Networks
- 9.5 Concluding Remarks
- Chapter 10: Fundamentals of Nonlinear Dynamics
- Abstract
- 10.1 Introduction
- 10.2 Fundamental Concepts
- 10.3 Starting Simple
- 10.4 Types of Attractors
- 10.5 Bifurcation and Complex Nonlinear Behavior
- 10.6 Unpredictability
- 10.7 Universality
- Chapter 11: Cellular Automata Investigations and Emerging Complex System Principles
- Abstract
- 11.1 Introduction
- 11.2 Some Cellular Automata History
- 11.3 Explicit Experimentation via Cellular Automata
- 11.4 Simple Programs/Simple Rules and Highly Complex Behavior
- 11.5 Cellular Automata Classes
- 11.6 All Kinds of Systems
- 11.7 A Computational View of Systems
- 11.8 The Principle of Computational Equivalence
- 11.9 Summary of My Perspectives on these Complex System Principles
- Chapter 12: Fractals: The Theory of Roughness
- Abstract
- 12.1 Introduction
- 12.2 Fractals and Roughness
- 12.3 Fractal Geometry
- 12.4 The Mandelbrot Set
- 12.5 My Perspectives
- Part IV: A View of the Characteristics of Ecological Network Dynamics
- Introduction
- Chapter 13: Issues of Human Perception
- Abstract
- 13.1 Introduction
- 13.2 Is Reality Knowable?
- 13.3 Limitations of Human Perception
- 13.4 Roughness versus Smoothness
- 13.5 Modeling and Human Perception
- Chapter 14: The Nature of Order and Complexity in Ecological Systems
- Abstract
- 14.1 Introduction
- 14.2 Thinking about Order, Complexity, and Systems
- 14.3 The Myth of Persistence
- 14.4 Chance and Change: Probabilistic Aspects of Natural Systems
- 14.5 Optimal or Good Enough?
- Chapter 15: Characteristics of Ecological Network Dynamics
- Abstract
- 15.1 Introduction
- 15.2 Flickering Networks
- 15.3 Punctuated Dynamics
- 15.4 Fractal Behavior
- 15.5 Local-to-Global Interaction
- 15.6 Indirect Effects
- 15.7 The Characteristics Hypothesis
- Part V: Modeling Ecological Network Dynamics and the Generation and Analysis of Results
- Introduction
- Chapter 16: A New Approach to Modeling Ecological Network Dynamics
- Abstract
- 16.1 Introduction
- 16.2 Overview of Model Features
- 16.3 Cellular Automata Based Model
- 16.4 Propagation Neighborhoods and Preferences
- 16.5 Underlying Ecological Network Compartment Model
- 16.6 Simple Rules
- 16.7 Summary of Analysis Requirements
- 16.8 Comment on Intention
- Chapter 17: Model Software Design and Development
- Abstract
- 17.1 Introduction
- 17.2 Model Network Structure, Parameters, and Relationships
- 17.3 Ecological Network Propagation Process
- 17.4 Analysis Activities
- 17.5 Graphics Generation
- 17.6 A Note about Results
- Chapter 18: Ecological Network Dynamics Results
- Abstract
- 18.1 Introduction
- 18.2 Operational Propagation Flow Results
- 18.3 Network Propagation Event Results
- 18.4 Path Length Results
- 18.5 Indirect Effects Results
- 18.6 Network Connectivity Results
- Part VI: Pulling It All Together
- Introduction
- Chapter 19: An Increased Understanding of Complex System Dynamics
- Abstract
- 19.1 Summary of the Work
- 19.2 An Advantageous Perspective
- 19.3 The Mechanism of Complexity
- 19.4 The Characteristics of Complex Ecosystem Dynamics
- 19.5 Complex System Universal Behavior
- 19.6 A Going-Forward Integrated View of Complex System Dynamics
- Appendix: Selections from the Dynamics Model Programming Code
- Code Example 1
- Code Example 2
- Code Example 3
- Code Example 4
- Code Example 5
- Code Example 6
- Code Example 7
- Code Example 8
- Code Example 9
- References
- Index
Product details
- No. of pages: 436
- Language: English
- Copyright: © Academic Press 2015
- Published: June 3, 2015
- Imprint: Academic Press
- eBook ISBN: 9780128020630
- Paperback ISBN: 9780128020319
About the Author
William S. Yackinous
At Bell Labs, Bill acquired a very significant breadth and depth of systems and engineering knowledge. He made important and innovative contributions to systems thinking and engineering system development. Bill’s global perspective has taken him around the world - supporting the local Bell Labs teams and their clients. He has served as a systems engineering consultant for both executive-level and working-level groups in Japan, England, Malaysia, France, and Canada.
After earning a PhD in Ecology at the University of Georgia’s Eugene P. Odum School of Ecology, Bill is now pursuing his goal of beneficially applying the skills, perspectives, methods, and techniques of the systems approach and systems engineering to increase understanding of complex ecological systems.
Affiliations and Expertise
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