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Résumé |
Natural ecosystems exhibit astounding richness. This suggests that we treat them
as many-variable interacting systems, but is there any evidence to support this
perspective? I will discuss possible footprints of high-dimensionality,
including phase-transitions, and “thermodynamic” variables which determine the
system’s large-scale behavior. The latter are found in a wide range of accepted
models in the field. Then, I’ll present a theory for how interactions organize
to allow many species to coexist. Data from plant-competition experiments
confirms the theoretical predictions, providing evidence for high-dimensionality
in that ecosystem. |
