Desert networks: a conceptual model for the impact of scarce, variable and patchy resources
Social actors in arid regions must develop strategies to respond to available resources, which are scarce, variable, patchy and unpredictable relative to other regions. We explore our observations of relationships amongst people and organisations in Australian deserts using a stylised network model...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Journal Article |
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Elsevier
2011
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/37791 |
| _version_ | 1848755144869543936 |
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| author | McAllister, R. Holcombe, S. Davies, J. Cleary, J. Boyle, A. Tremblay, P. Stafford Smith, D. Rockstroh, D. LaFlamme, M. Young, M. Rola-Rubzen, Maria Fay |
| author_facet | McAllister, R. Holcombe, S. Davies, J. Cleary, J. Boyle, A. Tremblay, P. Stafford Smith, D. Rockstroh, D. LaFlamme, M. Young, M. Rola-Rubzen, Maria Fay |
| author_sort | McAllister, R. |
| building | Curtin Institutional Repository |
| collection | Online Access |
| description | Social actors in arid regions must develop strategies to respond to available resources, which are scarce, variable, patchy and unpredictable relative to other regions. We explore our observations of relationships amongst people and organisations in Australian deserts using a stylised network model of the structure of social networks in arid systems. Results suggest that temporal resource variability drives increased network density, but with fewer strong ties; sparse populations drive a relatively higher proportion of strong ties, and that networks develop a hub configuration as resource endowments become more patchy spatially. These ideas highlight some issues that warrant improved understanding by actors seeking to enhance livelihoods and local resilience in these extreme environments. |
| first_indexed | 2025-11-14T08:51:38Z |
| format | Journal Article |
| id | curtin-20.500.11937-37791 |
| institution | Curtin University Malaysia |
| institution_category | Local University |
| last_indexed | 2025-11-14T08:51:38Z |
| publishDate | 2011 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| recordtype | eprints |
| repository_type | Digital Repository |
| spelling | curtin-20.500.11937-377912017-09-13T14:28:06Z Desert networks: a conceptual model for the impact of scarce, variable and patchy resources McAllister, R. Holcombe, S. Davies, J. Cleary, J. Boyle, A. Tremblay, P. Stafford Smith, D. Rockstroh, D. LaFlamme, M. Young, M. Rola-Rubzen, Maria Fay wiry ties weak ties institutions norms social networks rangelands Arid Social actors in arid regions must develop strategies to respond to available resources, which are scarce, variable, patchy and unpredictable relative to other regions. We explore our observations of relationships amongst people and organisations in Australian deserts using a stylised network model of the structure of social networks in arid systems. Results suggest that temporal resource variability drives increased network density, but with fewer strong ties; sparse populations drive a relatively higher proportion of strong ties, and that networks develop a hub configuration as resource endowments become more patchy spatially. These ideas highlight some issues that warrant improved understanding by actors seeking to enhance livelihoods and local resilience in these extreme environments. 2011 Journal Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/37791 10.1016/j.jaridenv.2010.09.009 Elsevier restricted |
| spellingShingle | wiry ties weak ties institutions norms social networks rangelands Arid McAllister, R. Holcombe, S. Davies, J. Cleary, J. Boyle, A. Tremblay, P. Stafford Smith, D. Rockstroh, D. LaFlamme, M. Young, M. Rola-Rubzen, Maria Fay Desert networks: a conceptual model for the impact of scarce, variable and patchy resources |
| title | Desert networks: a conceptual model for the impact of scarce, variable and patchy resources |
| title_full | Desert networks: a conceptual model for the impact of scarce, variable and patchy resources |
| title_fullStr | Desert networks: a conceptual model for the impact of scarce, variable and patchy resources |
| title_full_unstemmed | Desert networks: a conceptual model for the impact of scarce, variable and patchy resources |
| title_short | Desert networks: a conceptual model for the impact of scarce, variable and patchy resources |
| title_sort | desert networks: a conceptual model for the impact of scarce, variable and patchy resources |
| topic | wiry ties weak ties institutions norms social networks rangelands Arid |
| url | http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/37791 |