A method for phenomenological analysis of ecological data |
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| Affiliation: | 1. University of Potsdam, Plant Ecology & Nature Conservation, Maulbeerallee 3, 14469 Potsdam, Germany;2. Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research – ZALF, Eberswalder Straße 84, 15374 Müncheberg, Germany;3. Berlin-Brandenburg Institute of Advanced Biodiversity Research – BBIB, Freie Universität Berlin, Institute of Biology, Altensteinstr. 6, 14195 Berlin, Germany;4. Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research – UFZ, Department of Ecological Modelling, Permoserstr. 15, 04318 Leipzig, Germany;1. Department of Animal Genetics and Breeding, Madras Veterinary College, Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Chennai 600007, Tamil Nadu, India;2. Department of Animal Genetics and Breeding, Veterinary College and Research Institute (VCRI), Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Theni 625534, Tamil Nadu, India;3. University Research Farm, Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Chennai 600051, Tamil Nadu, India;1. Behavior, Ecology, Evolution & Systematics Section, School of Biological Sciences, Illinois State University, Normal, IL, U.S.A;2. School of Science and Health, And Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment, Western Sydney University, Penrith, Australia;3. Centre for Ecology and Conservation, University of Exeter, Cornwall Campus, Penryn, U.K |
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| Abstract: | The experimental meaning of the phenomenological differential equations for a competing population is reviewed. It is concluded that it is virtually impossible to construct the differential equations precise enough for studying stability. We consider instead a method of phenomenological analysis which can be applied to a set of population curves. We suggest an ecological index calculated from the population curves, which indicates a group property of the entire system. As a function of time, the index is presumably insensitive to Volterra type fluctuations. A marked increase of the index's value however indicates a marked change of the environmental conditions. It is not easy to deduce the group property from the population curves alone, because a change in population is in general due to the superposition of external disturbances and Volterra fluctuations. |
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