The Time Invariance Principle, the absence of ecological chaos, and a fundamental pitfall of discrete modeling

Bo Deng

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

10 Scopus citations

Abstract

This paper is to show that most discrete models used for population dynamics in ecology are inherently pathological that their predications cannot be independently verified by experiments because they violate a fundamental principle of physics. The result is used to tackle an on-going controversy regarding ecological chaos. Another implication of the result is that all dynamical systems must be modeled by differential equations. As a result it suggests that researches based on discrete modeling must be closely scrutinized and the teaching of calculus and differential equations must be emphasized for students of biology.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)287-292
Number of pages6
JournalEcological Modelling
Volume215
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - Jul 24 2008

Keywords

  • Beverton-Holt model
  • Differential equations
  • Discrete modeling
  • Ecological chaos
  • Ecological stability
  • Holling's disc function
  • Logistic Equation
  • Logistic Map
  • One-Life Rule
  • Time Invariance Principle

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Ecological Modeling

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