Understanding Complex Ecosystem Dynamics: A Systems and Engineering Perspective takes a fresh
interdisciplinary perspective on complex system dynamics beginning with a discussion of
relevant systems and engineering skills and practices including an explanation of the systems
approach and its major elements. From this perspective the author formulates an ecosystem
dynamics functionality-based framework to guide ecological investigations. Next because
complex system theory (across many subject matter areas) is crucial to the work of this book
relevant network theory nonlinear dynamics theory cellular automata theory and roughness
(fractal) theory is covered in some detail. This material serves as an important resource as
the book proceeds. In the context of all of the foregoing discussion and investigation a view
of the characteristics of ecological network dynamics is constructed. This view in turn is
the basis for the central hypothesis of the book i.e. ecological networks are ever-changing
networks with propagation dynamics that are punctuated local-to-global and perhaps most
importantly fractal. To analyze and fully test this hypothesis an innovative ecological
network dynamics model is defined designed and developed. The modeling approach which seeks
to emulate features of real-world ecological networks does not make a priori assumptions about
ecological network dynamics but rather lets the dynamics develop as the model simulation runs.
Model analysis results corroborate the central hypothesis. Additional important insights and
principles are suggested by the model analysis results and by the other supporting
investigations of this book - and can serve as a basis for going-forward complex system
dynamics research not only for ecological systems but for complex systems in general.
