Yackinous Understanding Complex Ecosystem Dynamics

A Systems and Engineering Perspective
1. Auflage 2015
ISBN: 978-0-12-802063-0
Verlag: Elsevier Science & Techn.
Format: EPUB
Kopierschutz: 6 - ePub Watermark

E-Book, Englisch, 436 Seiten

Understanding Complex Ecosystem Dynamics: A Systems and Engineering Perspective takes a fresh, interdisciplinary perspective on complex system dynamics, beginning with a discussion of relevant systems and engineering skills and practices, including an explanation of the systems approach and its major elements.ÿFrom this perspective, the author formulates an ecosystem dynamics functionality-based framework to guide ecological investigations. Next, because complex system theory (across many subject matter areas) is crucial to the work of this book, relevant network theory, nonlinear dynamics theory, cellular automata theory, and roughness (fractal) theory is covered in some detail. This material serves as an important resource as the book proceeds. In the context of all of the foregoing discussion and investigation, a view of the characteristics of ecological network dynamics is constructed. This view, in turn, is the basis for the central hypothesis of the book, i.e., ecological networks are ever-changing networks with propagation dynamics that are punctuated, local-to-global, and perhaps most importantly fractal. To analyze and fully test this hypothesis, an innovative ecological network dynamics model is defined, designed, and developed. The modeling approach, which seeks to emulate features of real-world ecological networks, does not make aÿpriori assumptions about ecological network dynamics, but rather lets the dynamics develop as the model simulation runs. Model analysis results corroborate the central hypothesis. Additional important insights and principles are suggested by the model analysis results and by the other supporting investigations of this book - and can serve as a basis for going-forward complex system dynamics research, not only for ecological systems but for complex systems in general. - 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

Bill Yackinous has had a distinguished 34-year career as a systems engineer at Bell Laboratories. Throughout his career he worked to solve systems problems for Bell Labs and for its clients - both domestically and internationally. Bill has earned the highest technical honors at Bell Labs. He was named a Distinguished Member of Technical Staff in 1986, a Bell Labs Fellow in 1992, and a Consulting Member of Technical Staff in 2000. Bell Labs Fellow is the most prestigious technical honor at Bell Labs - and among the most prestigious across research and development institutions throughout the world.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.

Autoren/Hrsg.

Yackinous, William S.

Leseproben

Introduction

The primary purpose of my work in this book is to increase the understanding of complex system dynamics—in particular, complex ecological system dynamics. My systems and engineering perspective is foundational to this effort. I begin by defining and describing pertinent systems and engineering skills and practices, including an explanation of the systems approach and its major elements. Consistent with the systems approach, I then formulate an ecosystem dynamics functionality-based framework to guide my investigations. Complex systems theory, across many subject matter areas, is crucial to the work of this book. I cover relevant network theory, nonlinear dynamics theory, cellular automata theory, and roughness (fractal) theory in some detail. This material serves as an important resource as we proceed in the book. Next, in the context of all of the foregoing investigation, I construct a view of the characteristics of ecological network dynamics. This view, in turn, is the basis for the central hypothesis of the book, i.e., ecological networks are ever-changing networks with propagation dynamics that are punctuated, local-to-global, and perhaps most importantly fractal. To analyze and fully test this hypothesis I define, design, and develop an innovative ecological network dynamics model. The modeling approach seeks to emulate features of real-world ecological networks. The approach does not make a priori assumptions about ecological network dynamics, but rather lets the dynamics develop as the model simulation runs. Model analysis results corroborate the hypothesis. Additional important insights and principles are suggested by the model analysis results and by the other supporting investigations of this book—and may serve as a basis for going-forward complex system dynamics research, not only for ecological systems but also for complex systems in general.

“Map” of the Book

The book has six major parts comprised of nineteen chapters. There is also an appendix. An overview of each of the book’s components follows.

Part I The Systems and Engineering Perspective

Part I (Chapters 1 through 4) provides a comprehensive look at the systems and engineering perspective that is foundational to the work of this book. Chapter 1 describes my view of systems engineering skills, the systems approach, and the associated systems perspectives that can be beneficially applied to understanding highly complex natural systems. Chapter 2 discusses additional views on systems thinking from the scientific community—as well as more of my own views. In Chapter 3, I detail three important concepts that I consider to be major elements of the systems approach. They are: a blend of synthesis and analysis; network thinking; and the systems triad. Note that traditional scientific research (including ecological research) is most often conducted using a reductionist approach rather than a systems approach. Chapter 4 addresses a significant potential problem with the indiscriminate use of reductionism, i.e., reductionism can isolate the target of investigation from the larger system in which it resides and thereby cause information loss.

Part II A Function-Structure-Process Framework for Ecological System Dynamics

In Part II (Chapters 5 through 7), I construct and describe a functionality-based framework that provides a unifying context for exploring principles of ecosystem dynamics. In systems engineering, I have found that such a framework is essential for specifying and guiding the design and development of artificial (human-made) systems. In systems ecology, such a framework is equally essential for understanding natural systems. Chapter 5 provides an overview of this ecosystem dynamics framework—which consists of operational, developmental, and core functional tiers. In Chapter 6, one of the core ecological system functions, regulation/adaptation, is discussed in detail. Chapter 7 addresses the developmental tier. I make the case that the species evolution function provides the basis for a universal development model. The operational tier becomes our focus in Parts IV and V of the book. (All of the elements of the framework are discussed, to varying degrees, throughout the book.)

Part III Complex Systems Theory: Networks, Nonlinear Dynamics, Cellular Automata, and Fractals (Roughness)

In Part III (Chapters 8 through 12), we conduct an extensive review of the pertinent extant complex systems theory. Chapters 8 and 9 cover network theory. Those two chapters address the structure aspects and the dynamics aspects, respectively, of complex networks. Chapter 10 reviews nonlinear dynamics theory. Chapter 11 is about cellular automata investigations and associated emerging complex system principles. Chapter 12 addresses fractals (roughness theory). In some areas, I provide additional commentary based on my systems, engineering, and ecological perspectives. The material of Part III serves as a valuable and necessary resource for our work. Application and, in some cases, extensions of the theory contribute to a “synthesis of ideas” that is pursued in the subsequent parts of the book.

Part IV A View of the Characteristics of Ecological Network Dynamics

Based on knowledge of the systems approach (Part I), the ecosystem dynamics framework (Part II), and applicable complex systems theory (Part III), a view of the characteristics of ecological network dynamics is constructed in Part IV (Chapters 13–15). First, we do a bit more investigation to properly set the stage. Chapter 13 addresses the human perceptual context in which we are working, especially the human tendency to see smoothness, stability, and continuity in the natural world—even when they are absent. Chapter 14 considers the nature of order and complexity in ecological systems—and their relationships—to gain additional insights into the behavior of highly complex systems. Now we are ready to proceed with the dynamics characteristics. Chapter 15 describes a comprehensive view of the behavioral characteristics of ecological network dynamics, which is the basis for the central hypothesis of the book: ecological networks are ever-changing, “flickering” networks with propagation dynamics that are punctuated, fractal, local-to-global, and enabled by indirect effects.

Part V Modeling Ecological Network Dynamics and the Generation and Analysis of Results

In Part V (Chapters 16–18), I describe the development of an innovative ecological network dynamics model, the generation of results, and the analysis of those results in order to test our central characteristics hypothesis. Model requirements are the subject of Chapter 16. Model software design and development are covered in Chapter 17. The software implements the ecological network operational model, the required analysis activities, and the needed graphics capabilities. Chapter 18 is all about results. Ecological network dynamics results are generated, displayed, and analyzed. The specific dynamics results categories are: operational propagation flow; network propagation events; propagation path length; indirect effects; and network connectivity. The characteristics hypothesis is fully tested—and corroborated.

Part VI Pulling It All Together

In Part VI (Chapter 19), we pull everything together. The chapter begins with a brief summary of the key aspects of the work covered in the book. We then take a broader and more interpretative look at the work with respect to the perspective taken, what we have found, what it means, and its potential influence on work in this area going forward. We see that, although our focus has been ecological systems, there are implications for all complex systems.

Appendix

Complex system dynamics modeling is an important part of my work and an important part of this book. I have developed the software that implements my complex ecosystem dynamics model using the MATLAB1 programming environment and language. I want readers to have access to the model and the complete MATLAB programming code. Readers are invited to explore, run, and experiment with the model software in order to enhance their understanding of complex system network dynamics—as well as to develop and test their own ideas. The full complex ecosystem dynamics model code is available on the book’s companion website.2 The programming code is heavily commented to explain and describe the software.

In the appendix to this book, I provide selected excerpts of the model programming code. I refer to this material as I discuss the model in the main body of the book. These excerpts provide the reader with easy access to examples of the software without having to navigate through the full set of MATLAB m-files while reading the book. There are nine code excerpts ranging from code that establishes the model network structure and relationships, to code that describes and implements propagation process flow, to code that describes and implements ecosystem dynamics analysis activities.

A “Fresh” Look at Complex System Dynamics

The book takes a fresh, interdisciplinary look at complex system dynamics and contains many new ideas, perspectives, and areas of emphasis. Here are a few examples. (1) In complexity theory,...