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Analysing hierarchy in the organization of biological and physical systems
Author(s) -
Jagers op Akkerhuis Gerard A. J. M.
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
biological reviews
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 4.993
H-Index - 165
eISSN - 1469-185X
pISSN - 1464-7931
DOI - 10.1111/j.1469-185x.2007.00023.x
Subject(s) - hierarchy , identification (biology) , universe , computer science , hierarchical organization , complex system , systems analysis , management science , ecology , data science , biology , engineering , artificial intelligence , software engineering , physics , political science , astrophysics , law
A structured approach is discussed for analysing hierarchy in the organization of biological and physical systems. The need for a structured approach follows from the observation that many hierarchies in the literature apply conflicting hierarchy rules and include ill‐defined systems. As an alternative, we suggest a framework that is based on the following analytical steps: determination of the succession stage of the universe, identification of a specific system as part of the universe, specification of external influences on a system’s creation and analysis of a system’s internal organization. At the end, the paper discusses practical implications of the proposed method for the analysis of system organization and hierarchy in biology, ecology and physics.