IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/bla/inecol/v27y2023i5p1304-1318.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Quantifying a virtual water metabolic network of the Metropolitan District of Quito, Ecuador using ecological network methods

Author

Listed:
  • Francisco Orlando Rosales
  • Brian D. Fath
  • Grace Yolanda Llerena

Abstract

Current human population is mostly located in urban areas making cities the center of attention in terms of achieving sustainability goals. Evidence shows that ecosystems have evolved over time toward a balanced configuration between resource efficiency and functional redundancy. For this reason, they are exemplary models to follow in terms of sustainability. Here, we apply similar ecological network‐based methods to study the virtual water metabolic network (VWMN) of the Metropolitan District of Quito. The VWMN was obtained using novel bottom‐up, survey‐based methods to generate the urban metabolic network. We compare the VWMN results with those previously obtained from ecological food webs, to learn if there are insights about the sustainability of urban metabolic processes. We conclude that VWMN does not exhibit characteristics observed in sustainable ecological networks because this socioeconomic network exhibits higher levels of path redundancy. Urban metabolism studies are gaining in popularity as a research tool aimed at informing resource management and this is one of the first covering a city in the Global South and using a bottom‐up survey method.

Suggested Citation

  • Francisco Orlando Rosales & Brian D. Fath & Grace Yolanda Llerena, 2023. "Quantifying a virtual water metabolic network of the Metropolitan District of Quito, Ecuador using ecological network methods," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 27(5), pages 1304-1318, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:inecol:v:27:y:2023:i:5:p:1304-1318
    DOI: 10.1111/jiec.13424
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://doi.org/10.1111/jiec.13424
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1111/jiec.13424?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Kharrazi, Ali & Rovenskaya, Elena & Fath, Brian D. & Yarime, Masaru & Kraines, Steven, 2013. "Quantifying the sustainability of economic resource networks: An ecological information-based approach," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 90(C), pages 177-186.
    2. Mukherjee, Joyita & Scharler, Ursula M. & Fath, Brian D. & Ray, Santanu, 2015. "Measuring sensitivity of robustness and network indices for an estuarine food web model under perturbations," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 306(C), pages 160-173.
    3. Borrett, Stuart R. & Sheble, Laura & Moody, James & Anway, Evan C., 2018. "Bibliometric review of ecological network analysis: 2010–2016," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 382(C), pages 63-82.
    4. Christopher Kennedy & John Cuddihy & Joshua Engel‐Yan, 2007. "The Changing Metabolism of Cities," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 11(2), pages 43-59, April.
    5. Bodini, Antonio & Bondavalli, Cristina & Allesina, Stefano, 2012. "Cities as ecosystems: Growth, development and implications for sustainability," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 245(C), pages 185-198.
    6. Zhang, Yan & Liu, Hong & Fath, Brian D., 2014. "Synergism analysis of an urban metabolic system: Model development and a case study for Beijing, China," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 272(C), pages 188-197.
    7. Goerner, Sally J. & Lietaer, Bernard & Ulanowicz, Robert E., 2009. "Quantifying economic sustainability: Implications for free-enterprise theory, policy and practice," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 69(1), pages 76-81, November.
    8. Zhang, Yan & Li, Shengsheng & Fath, Brian D. & Yang, Zhifeng & Yang, Naijin, 2011. "Analysis of an urban energy metabolic system: Comparison of simple and complex model results," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 223(1), pages 14-19.
    9. Haoyang Zhao & Jian Xu & Xinteng Liu, 2017. "How to evaluate the reliability of regional input–output data? A case for China," Journal of Economic Structures, Springer;Pan-Pacific Association of Input-Output Studies (PAPAIOS), vol. 6(1), pages 1-22, December.
    10. Ulanowicz, Robert E., 2009. "The dual nature of ecosystem dynamics," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 220(16), pages 1886-1892.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Borrett, Stuart R. & Sheble, Laura & Moody, James & Anway, Evan C., 2018. "Bibliometric review of ecological network analysis: 2010–2016," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 382(C), pages 63-82.
    2. Ali Kharrazi & Brian D. Fath & Harald Katzmair, 2016. "Advancing Empirical Approaches to the Concept of Resilience: A Critical Examination of Panarchy, Ecological Information, and Statistical Evidence," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 8(9), pages 1-17, September.
    3. Ali Kharrazi & Elena Rovenskaya & Brian D Fath, 2017. "Network structure impacts global commodity trade growth and resilience," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 12(2), pages 1-13, February.
    4. Carey W. King, 2016. "Information Theory to Assess Relations Between Energy and Structure of the U.S. Economy Over Time," Biophysical Economics and Resource Quality, Springer, vol. 1(2), pages 1-33, December.
    5. Jiali Huang & Robert E Ulanowicz, 2014. "Ecological Network Analysis for Economic Systems: Growth and Development and Implications for Sustainable Development," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 9(6), pages 1-8, June.
    6. Kharrazi, Ali & Rovenskaya, Elena & Fath, Brian D. & Yarime, Masaru & Kraines, Steven, 2013. "Quantifying the sustainability of economic resource networks: An ecological information-based approach," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 90(C), pages 177-186.
    7. Fang, Delin & Chen, Bin, 2019. "Information-based ecological network analysis for carbon emissions," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 238(C), pages 45-53.
    8. Zhu, Xueting & Mu, Xianzhong & Hu, Guangwen, 2019. "Ecological network analysis of urban energy metabolic system—A case study of Beijing," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 404(C), pages 36-45.
    9. Kiss, Tibor & Hartung, Katalin & Hetesi, Zsolt, 2019. "Termelőüzem ökológiai szempontú tervezése [Ecologically oriented planning of production units]," Közgazdasági Szemle (Economic Review - monthly of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences), Közgazdasági Szemle Alapítvány (Economic Review Foundation), vol. 0(7), pages 863-886.
    10. Zhang, Yan & Zheng, Hongmei & Yang, Zhifeng & Su, Meirong & Liu, Gengyuan & Li, Yanxian, 2015. "Multi-regional input–output model and ecological network analysis for regional embodied energy accounting in China," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 86(C), pages 651-663.
    11. Panyam, Varuneswara & Huang, Hao & Davis, Katherine & Layton, Astrid, 2019. "Bio-inspired design for robust power grid networks," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 251(C), pages 1-1.
    12. Mingqi Zhang & Meirong Su & Weiwei Lu & Chunhua Su, 2015. "An Assessment of the Security of China’s Natural Gas Supply System Using Two Network Models," Energies, MDPI, vol. 8(12), pages 1-16, December.
    13. Zhang, Yan & Liu, Hong & Fath, Brian D., 2014. "Synergism analysis of an urban metabolic system: Model development and a case study for Beijing, China," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 272(C), pages 188-197.
    14. Enora Barrau & Mathias Glaus, 2022. "Structural and Environmental Performance of Evolving Industrial Symbiosis: A Multidimensional Analysis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(1), pages 1-17, December.
    15. Ulanowicz, Robert E., 2014. "Reckoning the nonexistent: Putting the science right," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 293(C), pages 22-30.
    16. Li, Fei & Zhou, Meijun & Shao, Jiaqi & Qin, Zhangxuan, 2020. "Evolution forms of land systems based on ascendency and overhead: A case study of Shaanxi Province, China," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 419(C).
    17. Zackery B. Morris & Marc Weissburg & Bert Bras, 2021. "Ecological network analysis of urban–industrial ecosystems," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 25(1), pages 193-204, February.
    18. Canning, A.D. & Death, R.G., 2017. "Trophic cascade direction and flow determine network flow stability," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 355(C), pages 18-23.
    19. Li, Yanxian & Wang, Xinjing & Tian, Xin & Zhang, Yan, 2018. "Understanding the mechanism of urban material metabolism with ecological network analysis: An experimental study of Wuxi, China," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 367(C), pages 58-67.
    20. Zhang, Yan & Zheng, Hongmei & Fath, Brian D., 2014. "Analysis of the energy metabolism of urban socioeconomic sectors and the associated carbon footprints: Model development and a case study for Beijing," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 73(C), pages 540-551.

    More about this item

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:bla:inecol:v:27:y:2023:i:5:p:1304-1318. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Wiley Content Delivery (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.blackwellpublishing.com/journal.asp?ref=1088-1980 .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.