As we work to learn more about the world around us, we are often amazed by others efforts. We thought we would share links to some of these efforts.

  • Colleagues
  • Ecosystem Network Analysis
  • Systems Thinking and Complexity
  • www
  • Wilmington and SE NC

Scientists with whom we work include:

The Systems Ecology and Engineering Group at the University of Georgia.

Dr. Brian Fath at Towson University

The Ocean Biogeochemistry Laboratory at Stanford University

The Computational Learning Laboratory at Stanford University and the Institute for the Study of Learning and Expertise in Palo Alto, CA.

Dr. Albert Meier and Jonathan Bowers at Western Kentucky University

Dr. Robert Christian at Eastern Carolina University

The Department of Biology and Marine Biology at UNCW is a remarkably collaborative place to work. We are actively devleping research collaborations with several laboratories in the department and on campus, as well as at the Center for Marine Science. While these collaborations develop, you might be interested in learning more about the Aquatic Ecology Laboratory and the Benthic Ecology Laboratory.

Ecosystem Network Analysis (ENA) is a family of Input-Output methods derived from economics that we use to investigate the organization of ecosystems. The broader community of scientists using network analysis to investigate ecological problems has begun to organize. If you would like to join the community's list serve, please visit http://lists.uncw.edu/mailman/listinfo/ena-list.

Here at UNCW we primarily work with a branch of ENA known as Network Environ Analysis (NEA). It is used in the holistic study of ecological systems to describe and quantify species-specific environments within the system. NEA methods include analyses of system structure, flow, storage, utility, and control. In addition, several indicators have been developed to characterize the whole system. For more information about NEA, I recommend the following papers listed in chronological order.

  • Patten, B.C., Bosserman, R.W., Finn, J.T., and Cale, W.G., 1976. Propagation of cause in ecosystems. In: B.C. Patten (Editor), Systems Analysis and Simulation in Ecology, Vol. IV, Academic Press, New York, pp 457-579.
  • Patten, B.C., 1978. Systems approach to the concept of environment. Ohio J. of Sci., 78:206-222.
  • Patten, B.C., 1981. Environs: The superniches of ecosystems. Am. Zool., 21:845-852.
  • Patten, B.C., 1982. Environs: Relativistic elementary particles for ecology. Am. Nat., 119:179-219.
  • Patten, B.C., 1985. Energy cycling in the ecosystem. Ecol. Model., 28:1-71.
  • Higashi, M., and Burns, T.P., 1991. Theoretical Studies of Ecosystems: The Network Perspective. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.
  • Higashi, M., and Patten, B.C., 1989. Dominance of indirect causality in ecosystems. Am. Nat., 133:288-302.
  • Fath, B.D., and Patten, B.C., 1999. Review of the foundations of network environ analysis. Ecosystems, 2:167-179. doi:10.1007/s100219900067
  • Fath, B.D. and S.R. Borrett. 2006. A MATLAB® function for network environ analysis. Environmental Modelling & Software 21:375-405. doi:10.1016/j.envsoft.2004.11.007 [pdf] The matlab software is available from here.
  • Patten, B.C., in prep. Holoecology: The Unification of Nature by Network Indirect Effects. Columbia University Press, New York.

Paper #8 provides a useful overview and synthesis of recent work and is a good starting point.

There is a movement afoot to develop our ability to understand and analyze complex systems. Check out these links to learn more.

The following are links to other ideas we have enjoyed.

www.ted.com, New York Times, NASA Images

 

There are a number of things that make SE North Carolina an incredible place to work and play. Here are links to a few of them.