Modeling Complex Ecological Dynamics

This innovative approach to landscape modeling begins by acknowledging landscape phenomena as ‘self-organizing’ manifestations of human activity. It presents state-of-the-art techniques for mapping th

Description of a method about modeling, design and calculation of flying qualities of airplanes and Drones, with topics about simulation methods by MATLAB/SIMULINK,calculation or measurement of partic

Model development is of vital importance for understanding and management of ecological processes. Identifying the complex relationships between ecological patterns and processes is a crucial task. Ec

This book illustrates how models of complex systems are built up and provides indispensable mathematical tools for studying their dynamics. This second edition includes more recent research results an

Ecological Dynamics on Yellowstone's Northern Range discusses the complex management challenges in Yellowstone National Park. Controversy over the National Park Service's approach of "natural regulati

This authored monograph presents the use of dynamic spatiotemporal modeling tools for the identification of complex underlying processes in conflict, such as diffusion, relocation, heterogeneous escal

Energy exchange is a major foundation of the dynamics of physical systems, and, hence, in the study of complex multi-domain systems, methodologies that explicitly describe the topology of energy excha

Ecological Modeling:A Commonsense Approach to Theory and Practice explores how simulation modeling and its new ecological applications can offer solutions to complex natural resource management proble

Many estuaries are located in urbanized, highly engineered environments. Cohesive sediment plays an important role due to its link with estuarine health and ecology. An important ecological parameter

Cities and regions grow (or occasionally decline), and continuously transform themselves as they do so. This book describes the theory and practice of modeling the spatial dynamics of urban growth and

Robert Siegfried presents a framework for efficient agent-based modeling and simulation of complex systems. He compares different approaches for describing structure and dynamics of agent-based models

An expanded new edition of the bestselling system dynamics book using the bond graph approachA major revision of the go-to resource for engineers facing the increasingly complex job of dynamic systems

The book reviews recent research activities in applied mechanics and applied mathematics such as the fields of solid & fluid constitutive modeling for coupled fields, applications of geophysical &

This graduate text is the first to present methods for modeling health behavior dynamics, using numerous online interactive simulations, downloadable programs, and examples of applications to planning

River networks are critically important ecosystems. This interdisciplinary book provides an integrated ecohydrological framework blending laboratory, field, and theoretical evidence that changes our understanding of river networks as ecological corridors. It describes how the physical structure of the river environment impacts biodiversity, species invasions, population dynamics, and the spread of waterborne disease. State-of-the-art research on the ecological roles of the structure of river networks is summarized, including important studies on the spread and control of waterborne diseases, biodiversity loss due to water resource management, and invasions by non-native species. Practical implications of this research are illustrated with numerous examples throughout. This is an invaluable go-to reference for graduate students and researchers interested in river ecology and hydrology, and the links between the two. Describing new related research on spatially-explicit modeling of the s

Quantum mechanics is traditionally associated with microscopic systems; however, quantum concepts have also been successfully applied to a diverse range of macroscopic systems both within and outside of physics. This book describes how complex systems from a variety of fields can be modelled using quantum mechanical principles; from biology and ecology, to sociology and decision-making. The mathematical basis of these models is covered in detail, furnishing a self-contained and consistent approach. This book provides unique insight into the dynamics of these macroscopic systems and opens new interdisciplinary research frontiers. It will be an essential resource for students and researchers in applied mathematics or theoretical physics who are interested in applying quantum mechanics to dynamical systems in the social, biological or ecological sciences.

This long-awaited, physics-first and design-oriented text describes and explains the underlying flow and heat transfer theory of secondary air systems. An applications-oriented focus throughout the book provides the reader with robust solution techniques, state-of-the-art three-dimensional computational fluid dynamics (CFD) methodologies, and examples of compressible flow network modeling. It clearly explains elusive concepts of windage, non-isentropic generalized vortex, Ekman boundary layer, rotor disk pumping, and centrifugally-driven buoyant convection associated with gas turbine secondary flow systems featuring rotation. The book employs physics-based, design-oriented methodology to compute windage and swirl distributions in a complex rotor cavity formed by surfaces with arbitrary rotation, counter-rotation, and no rotation. This text will be a valuable tool for aircraft engine and industrial gas turbine design engineers as well as graduate students enrolled in advanced special to

This book covers the wide spectrum of system dynamics methodology for modeling and simulation of complex systems: systems thinking, causal diagrams, systems structure of stock and flow diagrams, param

The mathematical theory of stochastic dynamics has become an important tool in the modeling of uncertainty in many complex biological, physical, and chemical systems and in engineering applications - for example, gene regulation systems, neuronal networks, geophysical flows, climate dynamics, chemical reaction systems, nanocomposites, and communication systems. It is now understood that these systems are often subject to random influences, which can significantly impact their evolution. This book serves as a concise introductory text on stochastic dynamics for applied mathematicians and scientists. Starting from the knowledge base typical for beginning graduate students in applied mathematics, it introduces the basic tools from probability and analysis and then develops for stochastic systems the properties traditionally calculated for deterministic systems. The book's final chapter opens the door to modeling in non-Gaussian situations, typical of many real-world applications. Rich wit

The mathematical theory of stochastic dynamics has become an important tool in the modeling of uncertainty in many complex biological, physical, and chemical systems and in engineering applications - for example, gene regulation systems, neuronal networks, geophysical flows, climate dynamics, chemical reaction systems, nanocomposites, and communication systems. It is now understood that these systems are often subject to random influences, which can significantly impact their evolution. This book serves as a concise introductory text on stochastic dynamics for applied mathematicians and scientists. Starting from the knowledge base typical for beginning graduate students in applied mathematics, it introduces the basic tools from probability and analysis and then develops for stochastic systems the properties traditionally calculated for deterministic systems. The book's final chapter opens the door to modeling in non-Gaussian situations, typical of many real-world applications. Rich wit

PC fired boilers have highly turbulent flow, complex gas-solid flow, coal combustion, and radiative heat transfer. Over the years, computational fluid dynamics (CFD) tools have evolved as powerful des

Our understanding of galaxies, the building blocks of the Universe has advanced significantly in recent years. New observations from ground- and space-based telescopes, the discovery of dark matter, and new insights into its distribution have been instrumental in this. This textbook provides graduate students with a modern introduction to the gravitationally determined structure and evolution of galaxies. Readers will also benefit from detailed discussions of the issues involved in the process of modeling complex stellar systems. Additionally, the text provides an accessible framework for interpreting observations and devising new observational tests. Based on the author's extensive teaching experience, this second edition features an up-to-date view of basic phenomenology, a discussion of the structure of dark halos in galaxies, the dynamics of quasi-relaxed stellar systems and globular clusters, galaxies and gravitational lensing and an introduction to self-gravitating accretion disk

This book addresses researchers and practitioners interested in modeling, prediction and forecasting of natural systems based on nonlinear dynamics. It is a practical guide to data analysis and to the

Agent-based modeling is a new technique for understanding how the dynamics of biological, social, and other complex systems arise from the characteristics and behaviors of the agents making up these s

Over the past years, the appropriateness of Computational Intelligence (CI) techniques in modeling and optimization tasks pertaining to complex nonlinear dynamic systems has become indubitable, as att

As scientific understanding about ecological processes has grown, the idea that ecosystem dynamics are complex, nonlinear, and often unpredictable has gained prominence. Of particular importance is th

In the effort towards sustainability, it has become increasingly important to develop conceptual frames to understand the dynamics of social and ecological systems. Drawing on complex systems theory, this book investigates how human societies deal with change in linked social-ecological systems, and build capacity to adapt to change. The concept of resilience is central in this context. Resilient social-ecological systems have the potential to sustain development by responding to and shaping change in a manner that does not lead to loss of future options. Resilient systems also provide capacity for renewal and innovation in the face of rapid transformation and crisis. The term navigating in the title is meant to capture this dynamic process. Case studies and examples from several geographic areas, cultures and resource types are included, merging forefront research from natural sciences, social sciences and the humanities into a common framework for new insights on sustainability.

Systematically builds a sequence of increasingly complex ecological models of two or three interacting populations and classifies them with methods from bifurcation theory. The main topics include: th

Wildland fires are among the most complicated environmental phenomena to model. Fire behavior models are commonly used to predict the direction and rate of spread of wildland fires based on fire history, fuel, and environmental conditions; however, more sophisticated computational fluid dynamic models are now being developed. This quantitative analysis of fire as a fluid dynamic phenomenon embedded in a highly turbulent flow is beginning to reveal the combined interactions of the vegetative structure, combustion-driven convective effects, and atmospheric boundary layer processes. This book provides an overview of the developments in modeling wildland fire dynamics and the key dynamical processes involved. Mathematical and dynamical principles are presented, and the complex phenomena that arise in wildland fire are discussed. Providing a state-of-the-art survey, it is a useful reference for scientists, researchers, and graduate students interested in wildland fire behavior from a broad

This book presents a series of challenging mathematical problems which arise in the modeling of Non-Newtonian fluid dynamics. It focuses in particular on the mathematical and physical modeling of a va

A report that provides a summary and evaluation of several modeling approaches, and their theoretical and empirical underpinnings, relative to complex land-change dynamics and processes, and identifie

The numerical simulation of turbulent flows is a subject of great practical importance to scientists and engineers. The difficulty in achieving predictive simulations is perhaps best illustrated by the wide range of approaches that have been developed and are still being used by the turbulence modeling community. In this book the authors describe one of these approaches, Implicit Large Eddy Simulation (ILES). ILES is a relatively new approach that combines generality and computational efficiency with documented success in many areas of complex fluid flow. This book synthesizes the theoretical basis of the ILES methodology and reviews its accomplishments. ILES pioneers and lead researchers combine here their experience to present a comprehensive description of the methodology. This book should be of fundamental interest to graduate students, basic research scientists, as well as professionals involved in the design and analysis of complex turbulent flows.

Physical and biological systems driven out of equilibrium may spontaneously evolve to form spatial structures. In some systems molecular constituents may self-assemble to produce complex ordered structures. This book describes how such pattern formation processes occur and how they can be modeled. Experimental observations are used to introduce the diverse systems and phenomena leading to pattern formation. The physical origins of various spatial structures are discussed, and models for their formation are constructed. In contrast to many treatments, pattern-forming processes in nonequilibrium systems are treated in a coherent fashion. The book shows how near-equilibrium and far-from-equilibrium modeling concepts are often combined to describe physical systems. This inter-disciplinary book can form the basis of graduate courses in pattern formation and self-assembly. It is a useful reference for graduate students and researchers in a number of disciplines, including condensed matter sc

Molecular, genetic and modelling techniques are central to ecology, providing valuable new tools for addressing complex ecological questions and insights into our understanding of the dynamics of populations and communities. Genes in the Environment reviews a diverse range of topics, including community dynamics in soils and water, gene flow and spatial dynamics, and the evolution of pathogenic and symbiotic relationships. Organisms studied range from bacteria, viruses and fungi to insects, plants and fish. New light is thrown on such questions as: what is the relationship between population dynamics and spatial patterns of genetic variation observed in fragmented populations? How is genetic variation maintained? What are the relative roles of gene flow and selection in the maintenance of climes? This volume will appeal to advanced students and to researchers interested in developments at the interface of molecular biology and ecology.

Molecular, genetic and modelling techniques are central to ecology, providing valuable new tools for addressing complex ecological questions and insights into our understanding of the dynamics of populations and communities. Genes in the Environment reviews a diverse range of topics, including community dynamics in soils and water, gene flow and spatial dynamics, and the evolution of pathogenic and symbiotic relationships. Organisms studied range from bacteria, viruses and fungi to insects, plants and fish. New light is thrown on such questions as: what is the relationship between population dynamics and spatial patterns of genetic variation observed in fragmented populations? How is genetic variation maintained? What are the relative roles of gene flow and selection in the maintenance of climes? This volume will appeal to advanced students and to researchers interested in developments at the interface of molecular biology and ecology.

An organization is more than the sum of its parts, and the individual components that function as a complex social system can be understood only by analyzing their collective behavior. This book shows

Research-led practices in the arts can develop legal frameworks for understanding the future of digital technologies and their relationship to airspace.This volume presents visual and textual material relating to two major bodies of work by Shona Illingworth, Lesions in the Landscape and Topologies of Air. Examining how we map and experience landscapes and airspace in conceptual, geopolitical, neuropsychological, and ecological terms, the book investigates how research-led practices in the arts can develop legal frameworks for understanding the future of digital technologies and their relationship to airspace. Exploring the impact of individual and societal amnesia on the cultural, historical, and construction of landscape and place, Lesions in the Landscape investigates the complex interaction between memory and forgetting. Generating aesthetic and critical discourses about the dynamics of spatial politics, cultural erasure, and our capacity to imagine the future, this ongoing investi

Astronomers are at a crucial point in our understanding of the Milky Way. Deciphering the assembly history of our galaxy requires detailed mapping of the structure, dynamics, chemical composition, and age distribution of its stellar populations. In the last decade, astrometric, spectroscopic, photometric, and asteroseismic surveys have started to unveil the inner- and outermost regions of the Milky Way. IAU Symposium 334 explores the still open questions and focusses on the concepts emerging from the analysis of these large, new, and complex datasets. This volume presents a summary of these topics, including the current novel data and the challenges they already pose to modeling, before Gaia end-of-mission, PLATO, and large spectroscopic surveys such as WEAVE and 4MOST are about to start. Graduate students and researchers will learn that, in this golden era of galactic archaeology, we are about to rediscover our galaxy.