The Time Invariance Principle, the absence of ecological chaos, and a fundamental pitfall of discrete modeling

Bo Deng

Ecological Modelling, 2008, vol. 215, issue 4, 287-292

Abstract: This paper is to show that most discrete models used for population dynamics in ecology are inherently pathological that their predications cannot be independently verified by experiments because they violate a fundamental principle of physics. The result is used to tackle an on-going controversy regarding ecological chaos. Another implication of the result is that all dynamical systems must be modeled by differential equations. As a result it suggests that researches based on discrete modeling must be closely scrutinized and the teaching of calculus and differential equations must be emphasized for students of biology.

Keywords: Time Invariance Principle; Ecological chaos; Ecological stability; Discrete modeling; Differential equations; One-Life Rule; Logistic Map; Logistic Equation; Beverton–Holt model; Holling's disc function (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2008
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:ecomod:v:215:y:2008:i:4:p:287-292

DOI: 10.1016/j.ecolmodel.2008.03.013

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