On the consequences of aggregation and balancing of networks on system properties derived from ecological network analysis

Dan Baird, Brian D. Fath, Robert E. Ulanowicz, Harald Asmus and Ragnhild Asmus

Ecological Modelling, 2009, vol. 220, issue 23, 3465-3471

Abstract: In the ecological network analysis (ENA) of complex flow food webs the assumption is often made that the models characterizing the flows and stocks of ecosystems occur in a steady state where inflows equals outflows. An assessment of the system indices derived from ENA of six balanced and unbalanced system models, respectively, indicate to differences between indices. The aggregation of highly articulated flow models into models with fewer compartments also has drastic effects on the system metrics, particularly on the information indices.

Keywords: Ecological network analysis; Steady state models; Non-steady state models; Balancing; Aggregation; Trophic dynamics; System indices; Sylt–Rømø Bight (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2009
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (21)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:ecomod:v:220:y:2009:i:23:p:3465-3471

DOI: 10.1016/j.ecolmodel.2009.09.008

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