Wallace, Rodrick and Wallace, Deborah (2008) Punctuated equilibrium in statistical models of generalized coevolutionary resilience: How sudden ecosystem transitions can entrain both phenotype expression and Darwinian selection. [Preprint]

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Abstract

We argue that mesoscale ecosystem resilience shifts akin to sudden phase transitions in physical systems can entrain similarly punctuated events of gene expression on more rapid time scales, and, in part through such means, slower changes induced by selection pressure, triggering punctuated Darwinian evolutionary transitions on geologic time scales. The approach reduces ecosystem, gene expression, and Darwinian genetic dynamics to a least common denominator of information sources interacting by crosstalk at markedly different rates. Pettini's 'topological hypothesis', via a homology between information source uncertainty and free energy density, generates a statistical model of sudden coevolutionary phase transition based on the Rate Distortion and Shannon-McMillan Theorems of information theory which links all three levels. Holling's (1992) extended keystone hypothesis regarding the particular role of mesoscale phenomena in entraining both slower and faster dynamical structures produces the result. A main theme is the necessity of a cognitive paradigm for gene expression, mirroring I. Cohen's cognitive approach to immune function. Invocation of the necessary conditions imposed by the asymptotic limit theorems of communication theory enables us to penetrate one layer more deeply before needing to impose a phenomenological system of 'Onsager relation' recursive stochastic differential equations. Extending the development to second order via a large deviations argument may permit modeling the influence of human cultural structures on ecosystems.

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Item Type:	Preprint
Creators:	Creators Email ORCID Wallace, Rodrick Wallace, Deborah
Keywords:	coevolution, cognitive paradigm, gene expression, information theory, phase transition, punctuated equilibrium, rate distortion, source coding
Subjects:	Specific Sciences > Biology > Evolutionary Theory
Depositing User:	Rodrick Wallace
Date Deposited:	04 Feb 2008
Last Modified:	07 Oct 2010 15:16
Item ID:	3865
Subjects:	Specific Sciences > Biology > Evolutionary Theory
Date:	February 2008
URI:	https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/id/eprint/3865

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