A MODEL FOR ANALYSIS OF MULTIVARIABLE SYSTEMS WITH AN APPLICATION TO ECOLOGY

This paper presents a method, based on the deductive approach used in theoretical physics, which permits investigation of the basic function s of some complicated systems. The emphasis of the approach was on the examination of the total (holistic) behaviour of a system with respec t to time. The method (or approach) presented here can describe a syst em (e.g. an ecosystem) and simulate its behaviour over time only in a general macroscopic way; however, the authors believe that the deducti ve and deterministic manner by which conclusions are extracted is of s ignificant value and will be appreciated. The example on the Vistonis estuary in northern Greece is intended to demonstrate the working of t he method and the type of the expected results; work is going on, howe ver, for broadening the model scope, as the first indications on ecolo gical applications are encouraging.