Integration of Ecosystem Theories: A Pattern: A PatternThe book presents an integration of existing ecosystem theories in such a comprehensive way as to enable a full ecological and theoretical pattern to be presented. It shows that ecosystems and their reactions may be understood, provided that all basic systems ecology is applied to different aspects of the properties of ecosystems. Since the publication of the previous two editions of this book, ongoing research and discussions on an international scale have greatly clarified and enhanced this pattern. This progress is presented as Chapter 16 in this new, third edition. It is shown that the integrated ecosystem theory presented can be applied to explain various ecological observations and rules. Audience: Researchers and decision makers whose work involves the study of ecosystems and ecology. This book is also recommended for use in graduate courses. |
Contents
INTRODUCTION RECENT TRENDS IN SCIENCE | 1 |
12 Physics versus Ecology | 3 |
13 Ecology and Physics | 4 |
14 Recent Trends in Science | 6 |
15 The Ecosystem as an Object of Research | 9 |
DO WE NEED A NEW HOLISTIC ECOLOGY? | 13 |
22 Complexity of Ecosystems | 18 |
23 Ecology and Quantum Theory | 38 |
CHAOS FRACTALS AND ECOLOGY | 247 |
102 Bifurcation and Fractal Dimension | 249 |
103 Ecological Implications | 253 |
104 Parameter Estimations and Chaos | 255 |
ECOSYSTEM HEALTH | 265 |
112 Ecosystem Integrity and Environmental Changes | 266 |
113 Exergy Structural Exergy and Buffer Capacities as Ecological Indicators | 269 |
114 A Practical Procedure to Assess Partially Ecosystem Health | 272 |
MODELS IN ECOLOGY | 47 |
32 Modelling Elements | 48 |
33 The Modelling Procedure | 52 |
34 Types of Models | 60 |
35 Complexity of Models | 63 |
36 Modelling Constraints and Recent Developments in Ecological Modelling | 68 |
37 Application of Models as Scientific Experimental Tools | 71 |
ENERGY AND ECOLOGY | 75 |
42 Energy Flows in Ecosystems | 83 |
43 The Maximum Power Principle | 87 |
44 Embodied EnergyEmergy | 93 |
ENTROPY AND ECOLOGY | 97 |
52 Information and Entropy | 100 |
53 Ecosystems Generate Entropy | 103 |
54 Ecosystems Are Nonisolated Systems | 106 |
55 Energy Sources and Sinks Establish Order | 113 |
56 Selforganization | 121 |
57 The Maximum Entropy and Maximum Energy Dissipation Theory | 123 |
EXERGY AND ECOLOGY | 131 |
62 Exergy and Information | 135 |
63 Application of the Third Law of Thermodynamics to Ecosystem Theory | 141 |
64 Application of Exergy in Ecosystem Theory and Darwins Theory | 144 |
65 Computation of Exergy | 150 |
66 Exergy and Modelling | 159 |
67 The Tentative Fourth Law of Thermodynamics | 164 |
NETWORK AND HIERARCHICAL CONCEPTS OF ECOSYSTEMS | 175 |
72 Network Concepts | 176 |
73 Hierarchical Theory of Ecosystems | 180 |
74 Network Thermodynamics | 187 |
UTILITY THEORY INDIRECT EFFECT AND ASCENDANCY | 193 |
82 Energy Transfer and Utilization Coefficients in Networks | 195 |
83 Indirect Effects in Networks | 202 |
84 Ascendancy | 214 |
CATASTROPHE THEORY AND ECOLOGY | 223 |
92 Application of Catastrophe Theory to Explain Shifts in Oxygen Concentration as a Function of Time in a Stream | 225 |
93 Application of Catastrophe Theory to a Lake Ecosystem | 230 |
94 General Application of Catastrophe Theory in Ecology | 238 |
95 Ecosystems and Catastrophe Theory | 240 |
115 Assessment of Ecosystem Health A Lake Ecosystem Example | 273 |
116 Agroecological Sustainability and Ecosystem Maturity | 277 |
DEVELOPMENT OF ECOSYSTEMS | 281 |
123 Response of Growth to Seasonal Changes | 286 |
124 Ecosystem Properties | 288 |
DYNAMICS OF ECOSYSTEMS | 295 |
133 Constraints on Ecological Parameters | 299 |
134 Application of Exergy as a Goal Function in Ecological Modelling | 302 |
135 Structurally Dynamic Models of Ecosystems | 306 |
136 The Intermediate Disturbance Hypothesis IDH and Structurally Dynamic Models | 318 |
137 Structurally Dynamic Models in Population Dynamics | 323 |
138 Conclusions | 325 |
GOAL FUNCTIONS ECOLOGICAL INDICATORS AND ORIENTORS | 327 |
142 Review of Goal Functions | 328 |
143 Comparison of Goal Functions by Use of Models | 330 |
144 Other comparisons of Goal Functions | 335 |
145 Cosmological Considerations | 336 |
146 Exergy StorageExergy Destruction | 337 |
147 Conclusions | 340 |
A TENTATIVE PATTER OF ECOSYSTEM THEORIES | 343 |
152 A Central Law of Ecosystem Theories | 344 |
153 Relations to Other Theories | 351 |
Networks and Models | 354 |
155 Propositions and Ecosystem Properties | 356 |
156 The Application of the ELT in Specific Cases | 361 |
TOWARDS A CONSISTENT ECOSYSTEM THEORY | 365 |
162 A Reformulation | 366 |
163 A Theoretical Network is needed in Ecology | 369 |
164 Further Examples of Ecological Observations that can be derived from Thermodynamic Hypotheses | 372 |
165 A consistent Pattern of Ecosystem Theories has been formed | 379 |
166 A Model of the three Growth Forms | 391 |
167 Closing Remarks | 396 |
EPILOGUE | 397 |
APPENDIX 1 DEFINITIONS OF CONCEPTS | 399 |
| 401 | |
| 419 | |
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Common terms and phrases
able algae applied ascendancy behaviour biological biomass buffer capacities calibration catastrophe theory changes Chapter chemical compartment Complexity of ecosystems components concept considered cycling day¹ decrease detritus dissipation ecological models ecosystem theory embodied energy energy flow entropy production environment environmental equation eutrophication evolution example explain external factors feedback Figure fish forcing functions fractal dimension genes give goal functions gradients growth forms H.T. Odum higher highest exergy holistic hypothesis implies increase indirect effects inorganic input interactions Jørgensen lake law of thermodynamics maximum growth rate maximum power principle measure negentropy nitrogen observations Odum organisms parameters pattern phosphorus phytoplankton plotted versus possible predation presented processes r-strategists ratio reactions relationship relative respiration second law selection shown solar radiation species stability steady structural dynamic models structural exergy survival system ecology Table temperature tentative fourth law thermodynamic equilibrium tion trophic levels Ulanowicz uptake utilization values variables zooplankton