Linking trophic positions and flow structure constraints in ecological networks: Energy transfer efficiency or topology effect?

Marco Scotti, Cristina Bondavalli and Antonio Bodini

Ecological Modelling, 2009, vol. 220, issue 21, 3070-3080

Abstract: In the present work we investigate whether the distribution of energy flows in ecosystems responds to criteria of trophic organization. We analyzed weighted and unweighted food webs estimating, for each node, trophic position (TP), Shannon's index of inflow diversity (H) and individual contribution to the whole average mutual information (AMI). Finally, we performed the same analysis on simulated webs that were constructed using the following criteria: (a) preserving topology and varying link strength; (b) modifying position of links and their intensities.

Keywords: Food webs; Energy flow; Link distribution; Interaction strength; Trophic structure; Flow diversity (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2009
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:ecomod:v:220:y:2009:i:21:p:3070-3080

DOI: 10.1016/j.ecolmodel.2008.07.034

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