Understanding Ecosystem Complexity via Application of a Process-Based State Space rather than a Potential Surface

Figure 6

Examples of various synthetic representations of system dynamics, including a potential-like surface (a) [16], the epigenetic surface (b) [51], and the drape concept (c) inspired from [32]. Although these representations of dynamic systems appear comparable, they differ substantially in respect of their assumptions and conception of the (eco)system under investigation.

(a)

(b)

(c)