Re: [Fis] Re: Continuing Discussion of Social and Cultural Complexity

On Fri, 2 Feb 2007, Pedro Marijuan wrote:

> Dear Igor and colleagues,
>
> Your question is fascinating, perhaps at the time being rather puzzling or
> even un-answerable...

Pedro, Yes, unanswerable in the absolute sense, but there are some
quantitative approximations that yield helpful insights.

For example, in looking at ecological trophic networks, we have discovered
that all known, quantified networks fall into a particular "window of
vitality" that ranges from an effective link density of 1 up to ca. 3.01
and an effective numer of trophic roles (levels) that ranges from 2.0 to
ca. 4.5. There are hueristic explanations for three sides of this window,
although the 4.5 boundary remains enigmatic.

Anyone interested may look at

<http://www.cbl.umces.edu/~ulan/zorach.pdf>

Please note Figure 11 on p75.

The best,
Bob

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Robert E. Ulanowicz | Tel: (410) 326-7266
Chesapeake Biological Laboratory | FAX: (410) 326-7378
P.O. Box 38 | Email <ulan@cbl.umces.edu>
1 Williams Street | Web <http://www.cbl.umces.edu/~ulan>
Solomons, MD 20688-0038 |
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Received on Mon Feb 5 15:32:47 2007