Trophic Network Analysis: Comparison of System-Wide Properties

Abstract Ecological network analysis provides various indices that serve as whole-system properties. Several attempts were made to assess system-level organizational measures and investigate the relationships between them. But the limitations in data availability associated with the difference in type of network models, their aggregation, currency, and timescale make direct comparisons of network properties complicated. To overcome this problem we compared seven empirical trophic networks of geographically close pastoral ecosystems. For comparative network analysis to be valid, the study food webs were similarly constructed with no difference in aggregation, currency, or timescale. We investigated the sensitivity and robustness in the relations between the following network analysis system-wide properties: degree of system connectance, link density, total system throughflow, cycling degree, ascendency, developmental capacity, indirect effects dominance, system aggradation, system synergism, and mutualism.

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