Will a Large Complex System be Stable? Revisited
TLDR
This paper re-examines Robert May's complexity-stability debate using a new mathematical approach, challenging his original conclusion.
Key contributions
- Re-examines Robert May's complexity-stability argument.
- Uses a novel mathematical approach, bypassing random matrix theory.
- Offers detailed insights into ecological system stability mechanisms.
- Challenges May's conclusion that system complexity inherently reduces stability.
Why it matters
This paper reopens a foundational debate in ecology, offering a fresh perspective on system stability. By introducing new mathematical tools, it provides a more nuanced understanding of how complex ecological systems maintain stability, potentially shifting long-held paradigms.
Original Abstract
Over fifty years ago, Robert May applied random matrix theory to show that as ecological systems grow in size, stability decreases. What emerged from this and the critique that followed was decades of what has been called the complexity-stability debate. However, decades of critique over the assumptions that Robert May applied in carrying out his analysis have not been enough to fully dispel the strength of his conclusion and close the debate. Drawing on a mathematical approach that had not yet been fully developed in the early 70s, it is possible to revisit the argument without the use of random matrix techniques, and provide more detailed understanding of the mechanisms that play a deciding role in stability of ecological systems, countering the broad conclusion that led to the complexity-stability debate.
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