Abstract
Dynamical processes of the energy flow networks are studied, using the theoretical model, reconstructed from a natural food web by unfolding its network structure. On the basic assumptions concerning the restrictions of energy metabolism, the criteria which determine the numbers of levels (or lengths of food chain) attainable in dynamically stable stationary states were obtained, in terms of parameters γ (the measure of effective energy production at consumer levels) and ε (the gross production rate of autotrophic level). The biomass (standing energy stock) of each level in an equilibrium state was also evaluated; and it was shown that when the highest possible level was filled, the system always exhibits a pyramid type structure of energy biomass.
