Hybridizing Mechanism and MaxEnt - Ecological Theory for the Anthropocene

Explore a seminar that delves into the hybridization of mechanism and maximum entropy principles to create a dynamic ecological theory for the Anthropocene. Learn about pervasive patterns in ecosystems, including species richness scaling, abundance distributions, and metabolic rate distributions. Discover how the maximum entropy principle accurately predicts these patterns in static ecosystems, but falls short in anthropogenically stressed environments. Examine the innovative approach of combining mechanism with MaxEnt to develop a theory capable of describing ecosystems responding to disturbances. Gain insights from John Harte of the University of California, Berkeley and Santa Fe Institute as he presents this cutting-edge research in ecological theory.