Skip to content

The shape of ecological networks

Michael Lassig, Ugo Bastolla, Susanna C. Manrubia, Angelo Valleriani

nlin.AOarXiv:nlin/0101026

Abstract

We study the statistics of ecosystems with a variable number of co-evolving species. The species interact in two ways: by prey-predator relationships and by direct competition with similar kinds. The interaction coefficients change slowly through successful adaptations and speciations. We treat them as quenched random variables. These interactions determine long-term topological features of the species network, which are found to agree with those of biological systems.

Create a lesson