Stefaniak, Elisa (2016) Macroecology:exploring forest investment strategies. Masters thesis, UNSPECIFIED.
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Abstract
In this project a novel approach to modelling allocation is proposed by using quantitative economic theory to describe allocation. Where “investment” has often been used to describe the process of allocation this framework proposes a more literal use of economic theory by the application of econometrics. Forest allocation is described in terms of capital (state), resource capture (process) and investment (allocation decision-making). The system is further bound by its focus on the pho- tosynthetic activity in the economic framework. Photosynthetic capital is therefore defined as all apparatus directly or indirectly involved in harnessing the Sun’s energy. The resource capture (photosynthesis) is then explored within the confines of the economic framework in order to see how capital drives photosynthetic uptake. Finally the investment is explored for the purpose of observing patterns and relations. A final model is then devised showing the following: (1) there is evidence to suggest that forests behave like economies holding a set capital to use for obtaining resources which are then invested within the confines of the system; (2) photosynthetic capital behaves in a productive way meaning that the subsystems of the capital contribute in varying degrees to the final outcome producing a lower result in the winter and an increase over the growing season; (3) marginal return on investment is a significant driver determining how much resource ultimately gets invested into the mechanism obtaining that resource; and finally (4) evergreen and de- ciduous forests show signs of different economic responses, wherein the evergreen forests are much more stable with higher capital but lower overall investment and decays and deciduous forests dedicate much big- ger investment when resources available but show a decrease of capital to almost 0 during winter.