Networks on Networks: The interplay of structure and dynamics in spatial ecological networks

许多复杂网络在空间上是扩展的，因此有两种类型的连接，即网络节点之间的局部连接和不同位置之间的空间连接。一个典型的例子是异质环境中的生态食物网。网络节点代表通过捕食相互作用的生态种群。除了这种（非空间的）食物网结构外，这些物种还生活在空间网络中，因为它们占据了嵌入物理空间的栖息地，并有可能在不同的栖息地之间迁移。我们将以食物网为例，研究这种“网络上的网络”的结构和动态，并探讨局部营养网络结构、空间结构、物种在空间中的分布和种群动态如何相互影响。在计算机上生成真实的网络，在确定食物网动态稳定性和物种持久性的标准方面。

Many complex networks are extended in space and have therefore two types of connections, namely local connections between network nodes and spatial connections between different locations. A typical example are ecological food webs in a heterogeneous environment. The network nodes represent ecological populations interacting through predation. In addition to this (non-spatial) food-web stucture, the species live on a spatial network, since they occupy habitats embedded in physical space, with the possibility to migrate between different habitats. Using food webs as example systems, we will investigate the structure and dynamics of such "networks on networks" and explore how the local trophic network structure, the structure of space, the distribution of species in space, and the population dynamics mutually influence each other Important goals of this study consist in characterizing the structure of such networks on networks, in obtaining the correct spatial scaling of the dynamical terms, in generating realistic networks on the computer, and in identifying criteria for the dynamical stability of such food webs and the persistence of species.