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

Table 1

Node categories, names, abbreviations, and descriptions of the termite colony ecosystem modeled using the discrete qualitative model (see Figure 1, adapted from [30]).

Name	Initially	Family	Description	Comment
Rp	Present	Inhabitants	Reproductives	The queen, the king, the eggs, and the nymphs
Wk	Absent	Inhabitants	Workers	All termites able to work: the larvae, workers, and pseudo-workers
Sd	Absent	Inhabitants	Soldiers	The termite soldiers
Te	Absent	Inhabitants	Termitomyces	The fungus cultivated by the termites
Ec	Absent	Structures	Egg chambers	All egg chambers plus the royal chamber
Fg	Absent	Structures	Fungal gardens	All the gardens in which the fungus is grown
Md	Absent	Structures	Mound	The upper structure of the colony
Wd	Absent	Resources	Wood	The wood stored inside the colony
Ai	Absent	Resources	Air of the nest	The air inside the colony
Sl	Present	Environment	Soil	The soil around the termite nest
At	Present	Environment	Atmosphere	The air around the termite nest
Ac	Present	Competitors	Ant competitors	All the ant species in competition with the termites