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Updated: Jun 30, 2025

Ecotoxicological Methodologies to Evaluate Biomarkers at Different Scales in Neotropical Anurans
Published on: April 28, 2023
Probabilistic measures for biological adaptation and resilience.
Jorge M Ramirez1, Juan Restrepo1, Valerio Lucarini2
1Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831, USA.
This study introduces a new method to measure ecological resilience in noisy biological systems adapting to environmental changes. The approach quantifies resilience using adaptation dynamics in stressed systems, applicable to diverse biological processes.
Area of Science:
- Ecological resilience
- Nonequilibrium statistical mechanics
- Systems biology
Background:
- Biological systems face episodic disturbances and environmental stress.
- Quantifying resilience in noisy, adaptive systems remains challenging.
- Existing frameworks may not fully capture adaptation dynamics.
Purpose of the Study:
- To introduce a novel measure for ecological resilience in noisy biological systems.
- To quantify resilience in systems undergoing adaptation to environmental perturbations.
- To provide a framework applicable to various biological processes.
Main Methods:
- Incorporating concepts from nonequilibrium statistical mechanics.
- Developing a measure termed "ecological resilience through adaptation."
- Utilizing stochastic linear response theory and ensemble averages.
Main Results:
- A quantitative measure for ecological resilience in noisy, forced systems is proposed.
- The measure is defined via the dynamics of ensemble-averaged observables.
- Methodology allows estimation from simulated or experimental data.
Conclusions:
- The proposed measure offers a robust way to quantify ecological resilience.
- The framework is general and inspired by plant systems, with broader applications.
- This approach aids in understanding system stability and adaptation under stress.
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