Lotka, Alfred James
Published: August 18, 2006, 7:08 pm
Updated: August 18, 2006, 7:08 pm
This article has been reviewed by the following Topic Editor:
Peter Saundry
Alfred James Lotka (1880-1949), an American biophysicist best known for his proposal of the predator-prey model, developed simultaneously but independently of Vito Volterra. The Lotka-Volterra model is still the basis of many models used in the analysis of population dynamics in ecology.
Lotka published Elements of Physical Biology in 1925, the first book on mathematical biology (re-issued as Elements of Mathematical Biology in 1956).
Lotka is also known for his energetic perspective of evolution. He proposed that natural selection was, at its root, a struggle among organisms for available energy; organisms that survive and prosper are those that capture and use energy at a rate and efficiency more effective than that of its competitors. Lotka extended his energetic framework to human society. In particular, he suggested that the shift in reliance from solar energy to nonrenewable energy would pose unique and fundamental challenges to society.
These theories made Lotka an important forerunner to the development of biophysical and ecological economics, advanced by Odum and others in the 1970s and 1980s.
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Citation
Cutler J. Cleveland (Lead Author);Peter Saundry (Topic Editor) "Lotka, Alfred James". In: Encyclopedia of Earth. Eds. Cutler J. Cleveland (Washington, D.C.: Environmental Information Coalition, National Council for Science and the Environment). [First published in the Encyclopedia of Earth August 18, 2006; Last revised Date August 18, 2006; Retrieved May 26, 2013 <http://www.eoearth.org/article/Lotka,_Alfred_James>
The Author
Cutler J. Cleveland is Professor of Earth and Environment at Boston University, where he also is on the faculty of the Center for Energy and Environmental Studies. Professor Cleveland is Editor-in-Chief of the Encyclopedia of Energy (Elsevier, 2004), winner of an American Library Association award, the Dictionary of Energy (Elsevier, 2005), Handbook of Energy (Elsevier, forthcoming), and is the Founding Editor-in-Chief of the Encyclopedia of Earth. He is the recipient of the Adelma ... (Full Bio)
Alfred James Lotka (1880-1949), an American biophysicist best known for his proposal of the predator-prey model, developed simultaneously but independently of Vito Volterra. The Lotka-Volterra model is still the basis of many models used in the analysis of population dynamics in ecology.
Lotka published Elements of Physical Biology in 1925, the first book on mathematical biology (re-issued as Elements of Mathematical Biology in 1956).
Lotka is also known for his energetic perspective of evolution. He proposed that natural selection was, at its root, a struggle among organisms for available energy; organisms that survive and prosper are those that capture and use energy at a rate and efficiency more effective than that of its competitors. Lotka extended his energetic framework to human society. In particular, he suggested that the shift in reliance from solar energy to nonrenewable energy would pose unique and fundamental challenges to society.
These theories made Lotka an important forerunner to the development of biophysical and ecological economics, advanced by Odum and others in the 1970s and 1980s.
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