QtAC: An R-package for analyzing complex systems development in the framework of the adaptive cycle metaphor

We present the QtAC R-package, which enables the analysis and assessment of general complex systems in terms of the adaptive cycle metaphor. According to the metaphor, complex systems typically develop through alternating phases of consolidation and reorganization, being defined by the systemic properties of potential, connectedness, and resilience. QtAC builds on a recently published universal method of quantifying the adaptive cycle. Based on time series of abundance data, networks of information transfer are estimated, yielding insight into the internal interaction structure of the system and the functional role of its components. Potential, connectedness, and resilience are computed on basis of the information networks, defining the system’s course through the cycle. We illustrate the application of QtAC via an exemplary case study on grassland communities.