We consider a random network of nonlinear maps exhibiting a wide range of local dynamics, with the links having normally distributed interaction strengths. The stability of such a system is examined in terms of the asymptotic fraction of nodes that persist in a nonzero state. Scaling results show that the probability of survival in the steady state agrees remarkably well with the May-Wigner stability criterion derived from linear stability arguments. This suggests universality of the complexity-stability relation for random networks with respect to arbitrary global dynamics of the system.

• Received 23 October 2003

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevE.71.020902