Understanding Complex Ecosystem Dynamics: A Systems and Engineering Perspective

Understanding Complex Ecosystem Dynamics: A Systems and Engineering Perspective takes a fresh, interdisciplinary perspective on complex system dynamics, beginning with a description of pertinent systems, engineering skills, and practices that includes an explanation of the systems approach and its major elements. From this perspective, the author formulates an ecosystem dynamics functionality-based framework to guide ecological investigations. In addition, the text covers the characteristics of ecological network dynamics-the basis for the central hypothesis of the book-including discussions on how ecological networks are ever-changing networks with propagation dynamics that are punctuated, local-to-global, and perhaps most importantly fractal. Provides a synthesis of the existing literature in complex systems grounded in a consistent and valuable systems-thinking frameworkAnswers the question How do we understand and manage complex dynamic systems??Covers network theory, nonlinear dynamics theory, cellular automata theory, and roughness (fractal) theory INDICE: Preface Introduction Part I The Systems and Engineering Perspective Chapter 1 A Systems Engineer's Perspective Chapter 2 More Views on Systems Thinking Chapter 3 The Major Elements of the Systems Approach Chapter 4 Reductionism and Information Loss Part II A Function-Structure-Process Framework for Ecological System Dynamics Chapter 5 Overview of an Ecological System Dynamics Framework Chapter 6 Regulation/Adaptation: Control Aspects of Ecological Systems Chapter 7 Evolution and Universal Development Concepts Part III Complex Systems Theory: Networks, Nonlinear Dynamics, Cellular Automata, and Fractals (Roughness) Chapter 8 Network Theory: The Structure of Complex Networks Chapter 9 Network Theory: The Dynamics of Complex Networks Chapter 10 Fundamentals of Nonlinear Dynamics Chapter 11 Cellular Automata Investigations and Emerging Complex System Principles Chapter 12 Fractals: The Theory of Roughness Part IV A View of the Characteristics of Ecological Network Dynamics Chapter 13 Issues of Human Perception Chapter 14 The Nature of Order and Complexity in Ecological Systems Chapter 15 Characteristics of Ecological Network Dynamics Part V Modeling Ecological Network Dynamics and the Generation and Analysis of Results Chapter 16 A New Approach to Modeling Ecological Network Dynamics Chapter 17 Model Software Design and Development Chapter 18 Ecological Network Dynamics Results Part VI Pulling It All Together Chapter 19 An Increased Understanding of Complex System Dynamics Appendix Selections from the Dynamics Model Programming Code

• ISBN: 978-0-12-802031-9
• Editorial: Academic Press
• Encuadernacion: Rústica
• Páginas: 464
• Fecha Publicación: 01/06/2015
• Nº Volúmenes: 1
• Idioma: Inglés