Mean-field approximations of ecological
networks
Professor Per Lundberg
Theoretical Ecology, Lund University
Friday, March 31 2006
Lecture room F, Theoretical Physics, Sölvegatan 14A
Abstract:
We show that generalized Lotka-Volterra models capture most observable
features of natural species communities. Under the assumption that
communities are species-rich, we can use moment-generating functions to
derive species abundance distributions for ecological network of very
many
kinds. Our approach also lets us derive conditions for species invasions
and persistence, and the effects of species loss. We also discuss the
correspondence between linearized mean-field communities and network
graphs.