ABSTRACT
Stability analysis is performed with models, but mathematicians understood that the very mathematical nature of modeling limits any computer simulation to only partial results, in contrast to theoretical modeling which produces general conclusions. In mathematics, the greater is the generalization of the problem formulated, the more difficult will it be to solve. As far as "equilibrium" is concerned, an ecological-minded reader probably might be annoyed with how many times this word has been used throughout the book, for even mathematics’ earliest education at school taught them that nothing is less relevant to living systems than static equilibrium. The mathematical model equilibria are just mathematical abstractions capable of revealing some features of reality—to the extent that models are capable of reflecting reality at all.
