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Ecosystem Concepts

Ecosystem Concepts. Understanding the Relationships of Humans to “Natural” Ecosystems. Models as Metaphors. Models attempt to depict reality though they are not reality themselves. Ecosystems. Where did the concept come from?. Ecosystems.

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Ecosystem Concepts

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  1. Ecosystem Concepts Understanding the Relationships of Humans to “Natural” Ecosystems

  2. Models as Metaphors • Models attempt to depict reality though they are not reality themselves

  3. Ecosystems • Where did the concept come from?

  4. Ecosystems • Sir Arthur Tansley, a Renaissance man coined the concept in 1935 ~ Studied ecology, Freud

  5. Ecosystems • Sir Arthur Tansley con’t ~ Founded British Nature Conservancy ~ Wrote “The New Psychology”

  6. Ecosystems • Sir Arthur Tansley con’t ~ One of his foci: Plant Communities ~ Went beyond the concept of biotic communities to the term ecosystem--key idea EQUILIBRIUM

  7. Ecosystems • Eugene Odum ~ Took concept of Ecosystem and brought it to the attention of the “ecological community” and made it a fundamental idea in society

  8. Ecosystems • Eugene Odum con’t ~1953 published classic “Fundamentals of Ecology”

  9. Ecosystems • Eugene Odum con’t ~ Figure 2.1 mixes biological systems with physical components

  10. Diagram showing ecological organization from Odum (1959) O R G A N I S M P R O T O P L A S M C E L L T I S S U E O R G A N O R G A N S Y S T E M P O P U L A T I O N C O M M U N I T Y B I O S P H E R E E C O S Y S T E M

  11. Ecosystems • Eugene Odum con’t ~ Faced criticism and developed Figure 2.2

  12. Commun-ities Popula-tions Genes Cells Organs Organisms BIOTIC COMPONENTS Plus Matter Energy ABIOTIC COMPONENTS Equals BIOSYSTEMS Genetic Systems Organ Systems Organismic Systems Population Systems Ecosystems Cell Systems Diagram Showing Ecological Organization From Odum (1971)

  13. Ecosystems • Eugene Odum con’t ~ Advocated using the idea of ecosystem beyond simply biology to the social sciences--New Ecology

  14. Systems Analysis and Cybernetics Ecosystems • Other developments during the 60’s that helped the idea of ecosystem catch on:

  15. Natural Systems Include man who can create Designed Abstract Systems Designed Physical Systems Human Activity Systems Five Classes of Systems Transcendental Systems:

  16. Ecosystems • Current Understanding of Ecosystems ~ How is the term used?

  17. Ecosystems • Current Understanding of Ecosystems cont’ ~ Common usage-- “Everything is related to everything else”

  18. Ecosystems • How specifically are ecosystems and their behavior depicted?

  19. Basic Components of an Ecosystem PRODUCERS Green Plants Bacteria PRIMARY CONSUMERS Herbivores Plant Parasites Basic Plant Nutrients SECONDARY CONSUMERS Omnivores Carnivores Animal Parasites Scavengers DECOMPOSERS Saprophytic bacteria and fungi

  20. Basic Components of an Ecosystem

  21. Ecosystems • Questions that have yet to be fully dealt with:

  22. Notions of equilibrium-- does this happen? Do ecosystems undergo death as individuals do? Ecosystems

  23. Can we draw ecosystem boundaries? What is the place of humankind in ecosystems? Ecosystems

  24. Landscape Ecology

  25. Landscape Ecology • Definition: • How a heterogeneous combination of ecosystems is structured, functions and changes over time

  26. Landscape Ecology

  27. Principles of Landscape Ecology • Landscapes are heterogeneous areas made up of homogeneous elements

  28. Principles of Landscape Ecology • Fluxes and redistributions of materials and energy occur among landscape elements

  29. Principles of Landscape Ecology

  30. Principles of Landscape Ecology • Landscapes are shaped by human cultural elements as well as natural environmental processes which in turn affect each other

  31. Ecosystems • Applications of the Ecosystem concept to human behavior ~ Human Ecology and Cultural Ecology

  32. Ecosystems • Human Ecology and Cultural Ecology ~ Human Ecology began with spatial distribution as main focus ~ Shift to how humans organize to maintain themselves in a given environment

  33. Ecosystems • Human Ecology and Cultural Ecology Key idea collective life as an adaptive process

  34. Ecosystems Human Ecology and Cultural Ecology- Propositions: 1) Adaptations proceed through forming interdependencies among members of a population

  35. Ecosystems • Propositions: 2) System development continues to limits of technology for transportation and communication

  36. Ecosystems • Propositions: 3) Systematic development proceeds again with new information or technology

  37. Reification of Ecosystems What is natural? Ecosystems • Problems/challenges:

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