Ecological stability: An information theory viewpoint

Rutledge, Robert W.; Basore, B.L.; Mulholland, Robert J.

doi:10.1016/0022-5193(76)90007-2

Cited by 210 publications

(90 citation statements)

References 8 publications

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“…The viewpoint of the information theory applied to ecological stability (Rutledge et al 1976) is used to assess the flow organization. This indicator, according to the pattern of the network connections, is calculated through the realized uncertainty (AMI/H r ), quantifying the actual pattern of flows in terms of the potential distribution of flows divided equally among all compartments.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Crop-livestock integration determines the agroecological performance of mixed farming systems in Latino-Caribbean farms

Stark

García

Navegantes

et al. 2017

Agron. Sustain. Dev.

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Characterizing and understanding the complexity of numerous interactions occurring in mixed farming systems is still a methodological challenge. We hypothesize that farm functioning features in terms of crop-livestock integration practices impact the agroecological performance of the system, which will be also affected by the farm context. In order to analyze crop-livestock integration in a holistic way, a set of seventeen mixed farming systems from three contrasting socioeconomic regions of the humid tropics (Guadeloupe, Brazilian Amazonia, and Cuba) was selected in order to cover a wide range of crop-livestock integration situations. The ecological network analysis was applied to each farm in order to study the nutrient flow networks, expressed in nitrogen. The activity and flow organization of crop-livestock integration practices were characterized and the agroecological performance has been evaluated in terms of efficiency, resilience, productivity, and dependency of N flow networks. Here, we show for the first time that the range of crop-livestock integration is well characterized by the activity and organization of flows. Gradients of crop-livestock integration were well detected and described. Some agroecological performances were related to a particular socioeconomic context. Resource endowment influenced efficiency, according to the intensification level. The crop-livestock integration however contributed partially to the productivity of the system, being especially effective in promoting resilience. This study applies a suitable framework to analyze complex farming systems while linking their functioning and performance in an agroecological approach. Thus, comparison of contrasting systems was feasible here with the support of numerical and tangible figures for interpreting complex indicators (e.g., resilience), representing a useful tool for monitoring sustainability of agricultural systems in a dynamic and holistic way.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Crop-livestock integration determines the agroecological performance of mixed farming systems in Latino-Caribbean farms

Stark

García

Navegantes

et al. 2017

Agron. Sustain. Dev.

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“…The Shannon index was further elaborated to study how the pattern of flows is refined or organised in a network (Rutledge et al 1976;Ulanowicz 1980). The diversity in network connections is not necessarily used to its full extent.…”

Section: Indicators To Assess Diversitymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The Shannon index, derived from communication theory (Shannon 1948), was introduced in ecology by MacArthur (1955) to evaluate flow patterns in ecosystems. Later, Rutledge et al (1976) introduced another measure of communication theory, i.e. the average mutual information (AMI) to study the organisation of nutrients and energy flows in ecosystems.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Analysing integration and diversity in agro-ecosystems by using indicators of network analysis

Rufino

Hengsdijk

Verhagen

2009

Nutr Cycl Agroecosyst

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Diversity of farming activities may increase income stability and reduce risks to resourcepoor households, while integration-using the outputs of one activity as input in another activity-may reduce dependency on external resources. In practice, diversity and integration are poorly defined, and there is no method to characterise them, hampering the exploration of their benefits. We introduce a method based on network analysis (NA) to assess the diversity and integration in farm household systems by using the Finn cycling index to characterise integration of farming activities, and the average mutual information, and the statistical uncertainty (H R ) to characterise diversity of flows. We used nitrogen (N) flows in an application of NA to crop-livestock systems of the highlands of Northern Ethiopia. N recycling was low (FCI \ 3%) in these systems independently of the farm type. Even with improved N management FCI was lower than 10%. Since large amounts of N are withdrawn from the system with the harvests, there are relatively few opportunities for recycling. The diversity in N flows increased from the poor to the wealthier farm households, but differences were small. The wealthier farm households did not recycle more N than the relatively less diverse and poorer farm household. The definition of the system and compartments boundaries must be made explicit in any application of the method as these strongly affect the results. NA appears useful to assess the effects of farm management practices on system performance and to support discussions on diversity and integration of agro-ecosystems.

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“…Ulanowicz (1980Ulanowicz ( , 1986 founded an ascendency theory on the basis of information theory, which founded by Shannon (1948) and further developed by Rutledge et al (1976) [28][29][30][31]. Ascendency is developed to quantify organization and system size, which seeks to explain mathematically much of the phenomena in developing ecosystems [32].…”

Section: Network Analysis Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Network Analysis for a Better Water Use Configuration in the Baiyangdian Basin, China

et al. 2015

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Nowadays, an increasing shortage of water resources intensifies the contradiction among different water-using sectors in the social-economic-ecological complex system. To adjust water used configuration in a holistic framework, a water use system (WUS) model was constructed with inclusive five water-using sectors including aquatic systems, primary industry, secondary industry, tertiary industry and resident consumption. The Baiyangdian Basin in Northern China was used as a case area. Six years data from 2008 to 2013 were used to quantify the model. By introducing the ecological network analysis (EAN), we holistically assessed the WUS under different water use configuration. System organization, activities and development degree, etc. were used to character the prosperities of the water use system. Results indicate that the WUS encountered a lasting degradation in system organization (AMI index decreased in an annual rate of 0.6%) and development degree though with an ascending system activities in the studies periods (with an annual growth rate of 11.3%). Scenario analysis results suggest several potential ways to achieve a better water use configuration in this basin, such as environmental and ecological restoration, OPEN ACCESSSustainability 2015, 7 1731 water-saving technology and water recycling rate, etc. The current study may provide ways to optimize water use structure to balance the interests of different sectors both ecologically and economically.

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Ecological stability: An information theory viewpoint

Cited by 210 publications

References 8 publications

Crop-livestock integration determines the agroecological performance of mixed farming systems in Latino-Caribbean farms

Crop-livestock integration determines the agroecological performance of mixed farming systems in Latino-Caribbean farms

Analysing integration and diversity in agro-ecosystems by using indicators of network analysis

Network Analysis for a Better Water Use Configuration in the Baiyangdian Basin, China

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