Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Landscape Metrics General term that is used for the available collection of
metrics for analyzing and interpreting landscape composition and configuration.
Metapopulation An ecological concept describing the overall dynamics of a
number of sub-populations in space and time. It assumes partially independent
dynamics of the sub-populations, a risk of local extinction and recolonization
events. Thus the overall population may survive under conditions where the sub-
populations would go extinct. In nature conservation this concept has also been
discussed in the context of increasing
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landscape fragmentation .
Michaelis-Menten Equation Mathematical model for enzyme kinetics which
quantitatively relates the reaction speed of the enzyme-substrate complex to the
substrate concentration.
Monod Kinetics Mathematical model that describes enzymatically mediated
chemical reactions depending on the concentration of the substrates. See also
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Michaelis-Menten kinetics .
Monte Carlo Approach Stochastic procedure, based on the law of large num-
bers; uses repeated random sampling techniques to solve complex problems
numerically.
Nonlinear Systems This do not react proportionally to input signals in every case
and usually cannot be solved by first order equations. Many ecological relationships
are nonlinear, e.g. predator-prey population interactions tend to be proportional to
the product of the population sizes.
Numerical Approximation When no explicit analytical solution exists for a
mathematical problem or the solution cannot be obtained without reasonable
costs, numerical computing can be introduced for calculating close estimates.
Percolation Theory Percolation describes the movement of entities or fluids in
porous materials. In landscape ecology it has been used to describe the movement
of organisms in fragmented landscapes and to detect critical levels of connectivity
between habitat patches.
Phase Shifts See alternative stable states and hysteresis .
Phenotypic Plasticity The ability of an organism to change its phenotype (physi-
cal shape) in response to changes in the environmental conditions.
Poisson Distribution A discrete probability distribution that can be obtained by
performing repeated random experiments (e.g. Bernoulli experiments) where
occurrence is independent of the former events.
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