IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/ecomod/v234y2012icp70-82.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Pattern-formation approach to modelling spatially extended ecosystems

Author

Listed:
  • Meron, Ehud

Abstract

Self-organization processes leading to pattern formation phenomena are ubiquitous in nature. Intensive theoretical and experimental research efforts during the past few decades have resulted in a mathematical theory of pattern formation whose predictions are well confirmed by controlled laboratory experiments. There is an increasing observational evidence that pattern formation plays a significant role in shaping dryland landscapes. Supporting these observations are studies of continuum vegetation models that have reproduced many of the observed patterns. Such continuum models consist of partial differential equations and lend themselves to the powerful methods of pattern formation theory. Indeed, vegetation pattern formation has been identified with mathematical instabilities of uniform vegetation states, occurring at threshold degrees of aridity. This paper describes applications of this modelling approach to problems in landscape, community, ecosystem and restoration ecology, highlighting new open questions and research directions that are motivated by pattern formation theory. Three added values of this approach are emphasized: (i) the approach reveals universal nonlinear elements for which a great deal of knowledge is already available, (ii) it captures important aspects of ecosystem complexity, and (iii) it provides an integrative framework for studying problems in spatial ecology.

Suggested Citation

  • Meron, Ehud, 2012. "Pattern-formation approach to modelling spatially extended ecosystems," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 234(C), pages 70-82.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:ecomod:v:234:y:2012:i:c:p:70-82
    DOI: 10.1016/j.ecolmodel.2011.05.035
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0304380011003279
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.ecolmodel.2011.05.035?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
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Todd M. Scanlon & Kelly K. Caylor & Simon A. Levin & Ignacio Rodriguez-Iturbe, 2007. "Positive feedbacks promote power-law clustering of Kalahari vegetation," Nature, Nature, vol. 449(7159), pages 209-212, September.
    2. Marten Scheffer & Steve Carpenter & Jonathan A. Foley & Carl Folke & Brian Walker, 2001. "Catastrophic shifts in ecosystems," Nature, Nature, vol. 413(6856), pages 591-596, October.
    3. Sonia Kéfi & Max Rietkerk & Concepción L. Alados & Yolanda Pueyo & Vasilios P. Papanastasis & Ahmed ElAich & Peter C. de Ruiter, 2007. "Spatial vegetation patterns and imminent desertification in Mediterranean arid ecosystems," Nature, Nature, vol. 449(7159), pages 213-217, September.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. King, Elizabeth G. & Franz, Trenton E., 2016. "Combining ecohydrologic and transition probability-based modeling to simulate vegetation dynamics in a semi-arid rangeland," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 329(C), pages 41-63.
    2. Martinez-Garcia, Ricardo & Cabal, Ciro & Calabrese, Justin M. & Hernández-García, Emilio & Tarnita, Corina E. & López, Cristóbal & Bonachela, Juan A., 2023. "Integrating theory and experiments to link local mechanisms and ecosystem-level consequences of vegetation patterns in drylands," Chaos, Solitons & Fractals, Elsevier, vol. 166(C).
    3. Liang, Juan & Liu, Chen & Sun, Gui-Quan & Li, Li & Zhang, Lai & Hou, Meiting & Wang, Hao & Wang, Zhen, 2022. "Nonlocal interactions between vegetation induce spatial patterning," Applied Mathematics and Computation, Elsevier, vol. 428(C).
    4. Oborny, B. & Mony, C. & Herben, T., 2012. "From virtual plants to real communities: A review of modelling clonal growth," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 234(C), pages 3-19.

    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. King, Elizabeth G. & Franz, Trenton E., 2016. "Combining ecohydrologic and transition probability-based modeling to simulate vegetation dynamics in a semi-arid rangeland," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 329(C), pages 41-63.
    2. Ferreira, A.S. & Raposo, E.P. & Viswanathan, G.M. & da Luz, M.G.E., 2012. "The influence of the environment on Lévy random search efficiency: Fractality and memory effects," Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications, Elsevier, vol. 391(11), pages 3234-3246.
    3. Marina E Wosniack & Marcos C Santos & Ernesto P Raposo & Gandhi M Viswanathan & Marcos G E da Luz, 2017. "The evolutionary origins of Lévy walk foraging," PLOS Computational Biology, Public Library of Science, vol. 13(10), pages 1-31, October.
    4. Convertino, M., 2011. "Neutral metacommunity clustering and SAR: River basin vs. 2-D landscape biodiversity patterns," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 222(11), pages 1863-1879.
    5. Nauta, Johannes & Simoens, Pieter & Khaluf, Yara, 2022. "Group size and resource fractality drive multimodal search strategies: A quantitative analysis on group foraging," Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications, Elsevier, vol. 590(C).
    6. Berenguer, J. Segarra, 2013. "A simple bistable model for reforestation in semi-arid zones, or how to turn a wasteland into a forest," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 266(C), pages 58-67.
    7. Zhang, Hongxia & Xu, Wei & Han, Ping & Qiao, Yan, 2020. "Stochastic dynamic balance of a bi-stable vegetation model with pulse control," Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications, Elsevier, vol. 556(C).
    8. Calsina, Àngel & Cuadrado, Sílvia & Vidiella, Blai & Sardanyés, Josep, 2023. "About ghost transients in spatial continuous media," Chaos, Solitons & Fractals, Elsevier, vol. 166(C).
    9. Ian Hodge & William M. Adams, 2016. "Short-Term Projects versus Adaptive Governance: Conflicting Demands in the Management of Ecological Restoration," Land, MDPI, vol. 5(4), pages 1-17, November.
    10. Jenerette, G. Darrel & Lal, Rattan, 2007. "Modeled carbon sequestration variation in a linked erosion–deposition system," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 200(1), pages 207-216.
    11. Rustici, M. & Ceccherelli, G. & Piazzi, L., 2017. "Predator exploitation and sea urchin bistability: Consequence on benthic alternative states," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 344(C), pages 1-5.
    12. Rodrigues, João & Domingos, Tiago & Conceição, Pedro & Belbute, José, 2005. "Constraints on dematerialisation and allocation of natural capital along a sustainable growth path," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 54(4), pages 382-396, September.
    13. Xu Luo & Hong S. He & Yu Liang & Jacob S. Fraser & Jialin Li, 2018. "Mitigating the Effects of Climate Change through Harvesting and Planting in Boreal Forests of Northeastern China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(10), pages 1-20, October.
    14. Carlos Sanz-Lazaro, 2019. "A Framework to Advance the Understanding of the Ecological Effects of Extreme Climate Events," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(21), pages 1-18, October.
    15. Teh, Su Yean & DeAngelis, Donald L. & Sternberg, Leonel da Silveira Lobo & Miralles-Wilhelm, Fernando R. & Smith, Thomas J. & Koh, Hock-Lye, 2008. "A simulation model for projecting changes in salinity concentrations and species dominance in the coastal margin habitats of the Everglades," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 213(2), pages 245-256.
    16. Grolleau, Gilles & Ibanez, Lisette & Mzoughi, Naoufel, 2020. "Moral judgment of environmental harm caused by a single versus multiple wrongdoers: A survey experiment," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 170(C).
    17. Kong, Xiang-Zhen & Jørgensen, Sven Erik & He, Wei & Qin, Ning & Xu, Fu-Liu, 2013. "Predicting the restoration effects by a structural dynamic approach in Lake Chaohu, China," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 266(C), pages 73-85.
    18. Paul L. G. Vlek & Asia Khamzina & Hossein Azadi & Anik Bhaduri & Luna Bharati & Ademola Braimoh & Christopher Martius & Terry Sunderland & Fatemeh Taheri, 2017. "Trade-Offs in Multi-Purpose Land Use under Land Degradation," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(12), pages 1-19, November.
    19. Sonia Kéfi & Vishwesha Guttal & William A Brock & Stephen R Carpenter & Aaron M Ellison & Valerie N Livina & David A Seekell & Marten Scheffer & Egbert H van Nes & Vasilis Dakos, 2014. "Early Warning Signals of Ecological Transitions: Methods for Spatial Patterns," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 9(3), pages 1-13, March.
    20. Monika Winn & Manfred Kirchgeorg & Andrew Griffiths & Martina K. Linnenluecke & Elmar Günther, 2011. "Impacts from climate change on organizations: a conceptual foundation," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 20(3), pages 157-173, March.

    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:eee:ecomod:v:234:y:2012:i:c:p:70-82. 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: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.journals.elsevier.com/ecological-modelling .

    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.