Directionality measures in evolutionary ecological networks: Insights from the Tangled Nature model

Abstract

The myriad microscopic interactions among the individual organisms that constitute an ecological system collectively give rise, at the macroscopic scale, to evolutionary trends. The ability to detect the directionality of such trends is crucial for understanding and managing the dynamics of natural systems. Nevertheless, identifying the key observable quantities that capture such directional behaviour poses a major challenge. In this study, we propose that translating ecological data into a network framework is a valuable strategy to measure system stability and evolution. We examine the Tangled Nature model as a test case, evaluating network entropy, species diversity, and the clustering coefficient as metrics of network stability and directionality.