A theoretical framework proposing that biological systems (organisms, populations, ecosystems) and ecological systems share the
core traits and characteristics of dynamical complex systems—nonlinearity, feedback loops, emergence, self‑organization, and sensitivity to initial conditions. The
theory applies concepts from chaos theory and complexity science to understand how living systems evolve, adapt, and respond to disturbances. It rejects reductionist models that
treat organisms as simple machines, instead emphasizing that life emerges from dynamic interactions across scales, from molecular to biospheric. Biodynamical systems theory informs fields
like systems
biology, ecological modeling, and evolutionary dynamics.
Example: “Biodynamical systems theory explained how a small
change in
predator population could cascade through the food web, not linearly but through feedback loops that amplified or dampened the effect unpredictably.”