Talk:Ecological network

Mutualistic/Non-trophic

Mutualistic interactions are a specific type of non-trophic interactions. I do not know of any non-trophic ecological networks that are not mutualistic networks (but please advise me if I am wrong). Therefore, it makes sense to use the more specific term, since using "non-trophic" is a loss of information. Shinobaren (talk) 19:42, 7 May 2008 (UTC)

complexity is not linkage density...

Hi there: I would like to argue that the bit about complexity in ecological networks is imprecise. It states that "Complexity (linkage density): the average number of links per species. Explaining the observed high levels of complexity in ecosystems[1] has been one of the main challenges and motivations for ecological network analysis, since early theory predicted that complexity should lead to instability". I am OK with including network complexity as a real and important problem, but perhaps toward the end of the article and not related to linkage density only. Complexity in networks might relate to feedback loops, spontaneous order, robustness, forms of emergent and hierachical organization, perhaps it should be included in a section about ecological network patterns such as modularity and nestedness. Linkage density is a simple descriptor of networks and does not define how complex it is or appears to be. --MiltonMendonca (talk) 01:41, 16 August 2016 (UTC)