Patterns in Nature
THIS IS PART OF: Patterns and Processes in Ecology
Regular spatial patterns abound in natural systems. Understanding how patterns arise in ecosystems provides insights into how these ecosystems function.
Spatial patterns occur in different ecosystems at various scales. In semi-arid ecosystems patterns in vegetation reflect the amount of water stress and how the ecosystem might respond to future changes. Another striking pattern in the African savanna is the regular arrangement of termite mounds across the landscape. The pattern arises from competition and conflict and results in optimal packing of termite mounds across the landscape. Mathematical modeling suggests that the spatial arrangement of the mounds makes the entire ecosystem more likely to withstand and recover from periods of drought.
PermaculturePower 