Ecological complexity and agroecosystems: seven themes from theory. Issue 7 (9th August 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Vandermeer, John; Perfecto, Ivette
• Is Part Of: Agroecology and sustainable food systems. Volume 41:Issue 7(2017)
• Page Start: 697
• Page End: 722
• Publication Date: 2017-08-09
• Subjects: ecological complexity -- chaos -- coupled oscillators -- stochasticity -- trait-mediated interactions; Sustainable agriculture -- Periodicals; Agricultural ecology -- Periodicals; 577.55
• DOI: 10.1080/21683565.2017.1322166
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2168-3565

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Exploring the intersection of new ideas of ecological complexity with insights from traditional agricultural systems is the fundamental subject of this article, with an emphasis on seven themes of ecological complexity, as reflecting contemporary themes in ecology. The seven themes are as follows: 1) turing processes and spatial structure, 2) chaotic dynamics, 3) stochastic processes, 4) coupled oscillators, 5) multidimensionality, 6) trait-mediated indirect interactions, and 7) critical transitions (catastrophe theory). We suggest that these themes of complexity naturally integrate to form one qualitative whole that could be considered a single subject—ecological complexity.