Chapter 9

Catastrophe Theory

Modelling catastrophic change The simplest mathematical equation that represents bifurcations and catastrophic change is a first order differential equation of the form: (eqn. 1)   Solving for the attractors (dX/dt = 0), it is seen that one root is X = 0 and it represents a globally unstable attractor and the other two roots are [...]

By |2024-02-06T11:19:45+00:00July 2nd, 2023|Chapter 13, Chapter 8, Chapter 9|0 Comments

Fishing strategies: an agent-based simulation

Already for decades, ecologists are aware that proper modelling and management of fisheries has to incorporate the behaviour of fishermen. An early example was a model of two different fishing strategies (Allen and McGlade 1987). A more recent analysis investigates different harvesting strategies in an anegnt-based simulation model (ABM) (Brede and de Vries 2009). Let [...]

By |2024-01-08T14:07:19+00:00June 15th, 2023|Chapter 14, Chapter 9|0 Comments

Catastropic change in (eco)systems: case-studies

There are some empirical, illustrative case-studies in which catastrophic did happen. The first classical example is the interactive dynamics between the spruce budworm, its predators and the boreal forest  in North America (Holling 1986; Meadows 2008). When the budworm became a ‘pest’ and northern forests were sprayed with the insecticide known as DDT to control [...]

By |2024-02-07T16:07:17+00:00June 14th, 2023|Chapter 13, Chapter 8, Chapter 9|0 Comments

The Kaibab narrative: management on ill-understood systems

History of Kaibab plateau Numerous models of ecosystems have been made – but sometimes one wonders whether somewhere a reality can be found which more or less is described by such a model. The term empirical validation may be too strong, the aim is model-based story-telling. There are some interesting real-world stories to tell about [...]

By |2024-01-16T16:11:01+00:00March 11th, 2020|Chapter 13, Chapter 9, Narratives|0 Comments

A simple introduction to system dynamics for sustainability – a report by Hördur Haraldson

We humans make mental ‘maps’ of processes around us in order to live and survive. Many of those maps are simplified, based on a limited set of acquired habits and experienced events. The maps also tend to assume single and linear relationships between causes and effects. Assuming that more cars (A) cause more traffic accidents [...]

By |2024-02-22T10:24:29+00:00August 29th, 2016|Book Reviews, Chapter 8, Chapter 9|0 Comments

System dynamics for real-world complexity: a book by Erik Pruyt

In 2013, Dr. Erik Pruyt (Delft Technical University) has released a book on system dynamics, titled Small System Dynamics Models for Big Issues: Triple Jump towards Real-World Complexity. It is set up as an interactive and flexible learning tool. The System Dynamics (SD) methodology is introduced with qualitative exercises in which short descriptive texts are, [...]

By |2024-02-17T14:28:09+00:00August 29th, 2016|Book Reviews, Chapter 8, Chapter 9|0 Comments

Games for sustainability education, research and policy

One way to explore integration of the natural and the social sciences is the construction and use of simulation games and policy exercises (cf. Chapter 10 and 12). Since 2013 several websites have come online about games for sustainability. Some of these are (very) simple games about public goods, used in what has become known [...]

By |2024-01-18T10:54:18+00:00June 20th, 2016|Chapter 8, Chapter 9, Website Reviews|0 Comments
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