Seminar Series: Abstract

12.30
July 21 2009
Seminar Room B (Arndt Room)

Research Seminar - Keeping ecology straight in a complex world: narrative and levels of analysis.
Professor Timothy F. H. Allen

The notion of resource use is well established in ecology, but profit per se is not. I have a generalized model that cleaves rate-dependent flux from coded constraints in resource use and profit. The distinction is not material but arises from the level of analysis chosen. Predictions are either based all on flux or all on coded limits but not both at the same time from a given level of analysis.
This explains:
1) the decline of Western Romans and the recovery of Byzantium;
2) transportation in the history a small town in Wisconsin;
3) when beaver optimally forage and when they do not;
4) the evolution of fungus farming ants; and
5) the efficiency and sizes of termite colonies - huge biomass occurs in termites using poor quality wood, while 60% of termite species eat soil.

This research comes from hierarchy theory, and how hierarchies change structure over time.