Stability and Complexity in Model Ecosystems (eBook)

Robert M May (Autor)

eBook Download: PDF

2019
Princeton University Press (Verlag)
978-0-691-20691-2 (ISBN)

Infos

What makes populations stabilize? What makes them fluctuate? Are populations in complex ecosystems more stable than populations in simple ecosystems? In 1973, Robert May addressed these questions in this classic book. May investigated the mathematical roots of population dynamics and argued-counter to most current biological thinking-that complex ecosystems in themselves do not lead to population stability. Stability and Complexity in Model Ecosystems played a key role in introducing nonlinear mathematical models and the study of deterministic chaos into ecology, a role chronicled in James Gleick's book Chaos. In the quarter century since its first publication, the book's message has grown in power. Nonlinear models are now at the center of ecological thinking, and current threats to biodiversity have made questions about the role of ecosystem complexity more crucial than ever. In a new introduction, the author addresses some of the changes that have swept biology and the biological world since the book's first publication.

Produkt-Details

• Erscheint lt. Verlag: 31.12.2019
• Reihe/Serie: Princeton Landmarks in Biology
• Reihe/Serie: Princeton Landmarks in Biology
• Sprache: englisch
• Themenwelt: Naturwissenschaften ► Biologie ► Humanbiologie
• Themenwelt: Naturwissenschaften ► Biologie ► Ökologie / Naturschutz
• Schlagworte: Almost surely • Approximation • autocorrelation • balance of nature • Biological constraints • Biomass (ecology) • Boundary value problem • Calculation • Carrying Capacity • central limit theorem • chaos theory • character displacement • coefficient • Commensalism • community matrix • competitive exclusion principle • Complex conjugate • complex plane • Control Theory • Correlation and dependence • Covariance matrix • Density dependence • Determinacy • Deterministic system • Diagram (category theory) • differential equation • Dimension • Dynamical system • ecological niche • Ecological Stability • Ecology • ecosystem • Ecosystem model • Efficiency of conversion • Eigenvalues and Eigenvectors • Energy flow (ecology) • Equation • Equilibrium Point • Equipartition theorem • Essential Matrix • Essential singularity • expected value • Forecasting • fragility • Free parameter • functional response • group selection • idealization • Information Theory • Ising Model • Joint probability distribution • Likelihood Function • Limit cycle • limiting similarity • linear equation • Linear Function • Linearization • logarithm • logistic function • logistic map • Lotka–Volterra equations • Lyapunov function • Markov Chain • maximum sustainable yield • Moment (mathematics) • Multivariate normal distribution • nonlinear system • Obligate • Paradox of enrichment • Parameter • Parameter Space • Population cycle • population dynamics • Population model • predation • Predictability • Probability • Probability Distribution • Proportionality (mathematics) • Quantity • Regression Analysis • Schematic • shape parameter • smoothing • spatial heterogeneity • Special case • Stability Theory • standard deviation • stationary distribution • statistical significance • stochastic • stochastic differential equation • Structural Stability • symmetry • Theorem • theory • Thermodynamic Limit • Trophic level • Variable (mathematics) • Variance
• ISBN-10: 0-691-20691-0 / 0691206910
• ISBN-13: 978-0-691-20691-2 / 9780691206912