In this lecture, we wrap up the course by connecting the networking thinking from the previous unit to the resilience thinking introduced earlier in the course. We first cover scale-free networks as a particular kind of small-world network with a notable (and apparently very natural) degree distribution. This helps motivate that metrics of networks can be informative about the processes that are driving the structure of those networks. This lets us pivot to a relatively new result testing the stress-gradient hypothesis in mixed-species bird flocks in South America. That study shows that with increased stresses, social networks of species within observed bird flocks become more connected (and less modular). We connect this observation to previous units on the adaptive cycle and panarchy as well as the current chapter on using resilience thinking for sustainability problems. In particular, we discuss how diversity is an asset in communities under stresses that reduce competitive structure (i.e., diversity increases the robustness of the communities to stressors); however, when there is low stress, communities tend to be shaped by competitive exclusion (and efficiency maximization).
Comments in this lecture were motivated by Walker and Salt (2006, Chapter 6), which presents 9 hypothetical attributes of resilient (and sustainable) societies which are built around "creating space" in those societies/organizations.
Whiteboard notes for this lecture can be found at: https://www.dropbox.com/s/5fozg6957wq4v68/SOS220-LectureJ1-2023-04-20-Taking_a_Resilience_Approach_for_Sustainability.pdf?dl=0
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