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Perspectives for the Study of the Galapagos Islands: Complex Systems and Human–Environment Interactions

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Science and Conservation in the Galapagos Islands

Part of the book series: Social and Ecological Interactions in the Galapagos Islands ((SESGI,volume 1))

Abstract

Complexity theory and complex adaptive systems offer a theoretical framework to examine dynamic and coupled natural–human systems within a policy-relevant context. We advocate an Island Biocomplexity perspective that encompasses the coevolution and adaptive resilience of island ecosystems with a new island ecology that incorporates human impacts in coupled natural–human systems. Agent-based models (ABMs), as implementation tools, are described as an approach to examine “what-if” scenarios of change of linked social–ecological systems that involve heterogeneous agents (i.e., individuals and households), a dynamic environment, and exogenous forces and endogenous factors that combine in complex ways to alter social, terrestrial, and marine subsystems in the Galapagos Islands. Despite the fact that most of the new ABM advances are still experimental with few practical applications and few are being used in policy making, these frameworks offer a new way to understand the local interactions and regional patterns within the Galapagos Islands.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geography, Center for Galapagos Studies, Galapagos Science Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA

    Stephen J. Walsh

  2. College of Biological and Environmental Sciences, Galapagos Science Center, University of San Francisco, Quito, Ecuador

    Carlos F. Mena

Authors
  1. Stephen J. Walsh
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  2. Carlos F. Mena
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Correspondence to Stephen J. Walsh .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Center for Galapagos Studies, Univ of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, 27599-3220, USA

    Stephen J. Walsh

  2. UNC_USFQ Galapagos Science Center, Life and Environmental Sciences, Universidad San Francisco de Quito, Av Pampite, Quito, EC1701, Ecuador

    Carlos F. Mena

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Walsh, S.J., Mena, C.F. (2013). Perspectives for the Study of the Galapagos Islands: Complex Systems and Human–Environment Interactions. In: Walsh, S., Mena, C. (eds) Science and Conservation in the Galapagos Islands. Social and Ecological Interactions in the Galapagos Islands, vol 1. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-5794-7_3

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