Fragile Dominion: Complexity and the Commons

This book is written by a world renown, Princeton University biologist. I found it to be very thorough and quite inspiring. One of my favorite passages: "Thus, biodiversity is distributed, like stars and gasses and dust in the sky, into nebulae and galaxies of determinate and indeterminate structure, producing a picture whose intricacies defy simple discription." Well said! Biodiversity is truly a treasure beyond measure! Unfortunately for us, kooky consevatives, and their ilk, are attacking science on many fronts, trying, and many times succeeding, in blocking scientific progress. What a shame! Now it's biology that's "alamist." While the globe is warming, glaciers are melting to such a degree, that it's benefiting archeology; human caused extinctions of flora and fauna are reaching epochal proportions; huge area of oceans, lakes, and bays, have dead zones due to the lack of oxygenation; our environmental laws, here in the States, such as the Endangered Species Act, are under constant attack by Neanderthals in Congress; ad nauseum, the rest of us should just bury our collective heads in the proverbial sand! But when an emminet biologist tells the truth about where our planet's precious biodiversity is heading, he's "alamist." This one of the most apolitical books I've ever read! But I'm certainly glad the author didn't have his book vetted by conservative lunatics, or their corporate and government allies!

Levin has produced a rich, nuanced and detailed account of how complexity theory may further our understanding of ecological processes. He does not shy away from the tough questions: How do ecosystems assemble themselves? What is the relationship between an ecosystem's structure and function? Does evolution increase the resiliency of an ecosystem? In addressing these and other questions, Levin offers both real world examples and sophisticated theory. Regrettably, Levin often fails to distinguish between what he knows as a scientist and what he has decided to take on faith based on the statements of environmentalist advocacy groups. As a result, the book is a strange amalgam of excellent "popular" science and overearnest environmental alarmism.

Fragile Dominion addresses an important topic, biodiversity. It discusses the use and development of models, particularly a certain type of mathematical model, for better understanding the biosphere. The emphasis on the effects of environmental degradation on the human condition and the call to "think locally" are vital if real progress is to be made in bettering the "commons."Levin rationally discusses the Gaia hypothesis and touches upon subjects such as fitness landscapes in population genetics, evolutionary stable strategies, the evolution of altruism, disturbance and recolonization in forest and tidal systems, self-organizing criticality, and the important notion that pattern and process are not necessarily the same everywhere.Throughout the book, Levin effectively uses economic examples, such as diversity in a stock portfolio, as parallels for ecological systems.One drawback is that the book's level of mathematical and ecological sophistication is perhaps aimed a bit too high for the popular audience for which it is intended. Conversely, it is pitched too low for use in a scholarly setting.It should be noted that the mathematical aesthetic for this work comes from only one school of thought, that of the Santa Fe Institute.

I have known Levin just short of 30 years. He has been my mentor, my friend, my protector, and my pride. The eloquent prose and playful humor within his novel echoes the past 4 decades of Levin's teachings. It is a biographical chronicle of a lifetime of colleagues and their works, an adoration of classical music, and a relentless passion for mental conundrums and for quizzing for sport. Levin's tireless devotion to accrue knowledge and to interact with each of his colleagues and students at universities and workshops around the globe has armed him with the intuit and insight which he imparts in Fragile Dominion. Levin is known for humbling his opponent on the squash court, for his command of biology and mathematics, and for his hilarious antics and quick wit. This revered scientist will now be known for synthesizing the field of ecology in a powerful, succinct novel. A delightful read for the scientist and nonscientist alike, Fragile Dominion, like the life about which it provides commentary, is worth the ride.

Levin takes complexity theory off the academic shelf, elaborating its theories in ways that make us feel optimistically empowered in influencing our global ecology. While others are paralyzed by complexity, Levin points out that complexity is actually an opportunity for each of us, as localities to have global influence.If we are to succeed in restoring the ecological balance of the biosphere, then we must realize that each of our actions on a local level has global impact; as is characteristic of complex non-linear systems. Capturing the "self-interest attention" of individuals for local action, is more practical than trying to capture attention for global action. Local action propagates outwards and positively impacts the Ecological Adaptive Landscape.Fragile Dominion is more than just a book on ecology. It illuminates "complexity theory", in a warm and friendly way. Empowering us all to realize that we individually make a huge difference. We are like the butterfly that spreads its wings in China, having an impact across the globe.Fragile Dominion is valuable reading for anyone who wants to understand how the new sciences are a liberating force in heading off potential global disorders. It particularly clears the obfuscation of "complexity theory", turning it into a friendly road map to empowerment.