An elementary dynamic model for non-binary food webs

Paine [Ecology 69 (1988) 1648] called for a “dynamic rather than static” food web theory which should also take into account the “interaction strength” between the nodes. Here we face the challenge: an elementary food web model is presented which is both, dynamic and non-binary. We introduce the complexity measure for non-binary food webs “medium articulation” which resolves a contradiction in the discussion of stability of ecosystems. We propose a possible standard for establishment of food webs which avoids arbitrariness of both, nodes and links. After consideration of non-binary webs, binary webs are deduced by removing small fluxes and setting remaining fluxes to 1. Comparing both network types, it is argued that non-binary webs are more important than binary webs.