Process Models, Equilibrium Structures, and Population Dynamics: On the Formulation and Testing of Realistic Theory in Ecology

1043 12 59001 2 165203 document 59001 RR-80-11.pdf application/pdf 3eac985a9e6415d4826e581c3c59fa14 MD5 8807116 2016-06-01 10:19:28 https://pure.iiasa.ac.at/id/eprint/1043/1/RR-80-11.pdf 1043 1 1 application/pdf text en public cc_by

RR-80-11.pdf

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http://eprints.org/relation/isVersionOf https://pure.iiasa.ac.at/id/document/59001 http://eprints.org/relation/isVolatileVersionOf https://pure.iiasa.ac.at/id/document/59001 http://eprints.org/relation/isIndexCodesVersionOf https://pure.iiasa.ac.at/id/document/59001 archive 351 disk0/00/00/10/43 2016-01-15 01:45:56 2021-08-27 17:35:19 2016-01-15 01:45:56 monograph show 1 Clark W.C. AL0572 Holling C.S. AL0752 Process Models, Equilibrium Structures, and Population Dynamics: On the Formulation and Testing of Realistic Theory in Ecology pub iis_ecl iis_mod prog_gen This paper addresses problems in the formulation and testing of theory to relate structure and dynamic behaviour in complex natural ecosystems. Detailed studies of spruce budworm-coniferous forest interactions in eastern Canada provide a background for the analysis. We argue that the mixed spatial and temporal scales, low density phenomena, and nonlinear interactions characteristic of most ecosystems severely limit traditional statistical approaches to theory building, while rendering most kinds of observational data irrelevant to theory evaluation and testing. We describe an alternative tradition: 1. Cast the theory as a set of "dynamic life tables", bound together by basic ecological process modules; apply available data and field experience to the parameterization of these modules. 2. Compute the consequences of the resulting theory under a wide range of conditions: quantitatively through numerical simulation and qualitatively through the use of topological manifolds. 3. Employ the manifolds to identify key structure- (as opposed to parameter-) dependent predictions of the theory. Compare these with observation, emphasizing behaviour of the system and its theory in extreme natural or experimental situations. 1979 published RR-80-011. Reprinted from Fortschritte der Zoologie, 25 [1979]. RP-80-011 Reprinted from Fortschritte der Zoologie; 25 [1979] 10 1815 1962 public research_reprint Fortschritte der Zoologie 25 IIASA, Laxenburg, Austria 27 TRUE FALSE info:eu-repo/semantics/book