6. Biological Networks: Rainforests, Coral Reefs, and the Galapagos Islands

Sonia KleindorferJames G. Mitchell

Abstract

This chapter reviews and illustrates the scope and nature of network phenomena in biology. Biology remains the most extensive and complex information network on the planet. In this chapter, Kleindorfer and Mitchell examine the nature of biological networks, including their inherent stability and risks to their resilience. After a general introduction exploring networks and biological systems, this chapter reviews (1) the evolution of biological networks; (2) principles that govern biological networks; and (3) measures of stability, productivity, and efficiency in biological networks. The authors use examples from food (energy) ...

Get The Network Challenge: Strategy, Profit, and Risk in an Interlinked World now with the O’Reilly learning platform.

O’Reilly members experience books, live events, courses curated by job role, and more from O’Reilly and nearly 200 top publishers.