Simplifying Complexity Food webs, humans and cod - Part 1
Aug 5, 2024
In this discussion, Jennifer Dunne, a leading ecologist and Vice President for Science at the Santa Fe Institute, sheds light on building food webs, particularly in the Gulf of Alaska. She elaborates on the interplay between humans and ecosystems, emphasizing positive impacts. The conversation transitions from plant ecology to the complexities of food webs, underlining the importance of including human influences. Dunne also explores the intriguing strategies of ecological generalists in adapting to resource changes, showcasing the resilience of species within dynamic environments.
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Integrating Humans into Ecology
- Dunne's work shifted from excluding humans to integrating them as part of the ecological system.
- This change considers the human role within the ecology rather than treating humans as an external force.
Aleutian Islands Biocomplexity Project
- Dunne got a call to apply food web research to a biocomplexity project in the Aleutian Islands.
- This project was the first to create a detailed food web including humans, with over 500 species.
Food Web Analysis
- Jennifer Dunne uses degree distribution to analyze food webs, showing how many links each species has.
- Most species specialize, eating few things, while some, like humans and cod, are super-generalists.