Jørgensen / Fath / Bastianoni A New Ecology

Systems Perspective
1. Auflage 2011
ISBN: 978-0-08-049739-6
Verlag: Elsevier Science & Techn.
Format: EPUB
Kopierschutz: 6 - ePub Watermark

E-Book, Englisch, 289 Seiten

A New Ecology presents an ecosystem theory based on the following ecosystem properties: physical openness, ontic openness, directionality, connectivity, a complex dynamic for growth and development, and a complex dynamic response to disturbances. Each of these properties is developed in detail to show that these basic and characteristic properties can be applied to explain a wide spectrum of ecological obsevations and convections. It is also shown that the properties have application for environmental management and for assessment of ecosystem health.
* Demonstrates an ecosystem theory that can be applied to explain ecological observations and rules
* Presents an ecosystem theory based upon a systems approach
* Discusses an ecosystem theory that is based on a few basic properties that are characteristic for ecosystmes

Brian D. Fath is Associate Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at Towson University (MD, USA). He teaches courses in ecosystem ecology, environmental biology, networks, and human ecology and sustainability. Dr. Fath has also taught short-courses on ecological modelling in Portugal, Croatia, and Denmark. Since 2002, he is a regular summer research scientist at the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (Austria).
Dr. Fath graduated in 1990 from Miami University (OH) with degrees in Physics and Aeronautics. He completed an M.S. degree in Environmental Science at Ohio State University (1993) and earned a Ph.D. in Ecology from the University of Georgia in 1998. He was a Post-Doctoral Fellow at the University of Georgia (1998-2000) and the U.S. EPA in Cincinnati (2000-2001).
Dr. Fath researches system sustainability using ecological network analysis, integrated environmental assessment, and information theory. He has published research papers in Journal of Theoretical Biology, Ecological Modelling, Biosystems, Ecological Complexity, Environmental Modelling and Software, and Ecosystems. He has co-authored the book A New Ecology: Systems Perspective. Professional Service includes: Associate Editor for the journal Ecological Modelling (since 2005), Associate Editor-in-chief for the Encyclopedia of Ecology, President, North American Chapter of International Society for Ecological Modelling (since 2006), Editorial Board, The Scientific World Journal (2001-present), Editorial Board, International Journal of Ecodynamics (2004-present), Board of Directors, International Environmental Modelling and Software Society (2004-present), Baltimore County Commission on Environmental Quality (2005-present).

Autoren/Hrsg.

Jørgensen, Sven Erik

Fath, Brian D.

Fath, Brian

Bastianoni, Simone

Marques, Joao C.

Muller, Felix

Nielsen, S. Nors

Patten, Bernard D.

Tiezzi, Enzo

Ulanowicz, Robert E.

Inhaltsverzeichnis

1;Cover;1
2;A New Ecology: Systems Perspective;4
3;Copyright page;5
4;Contents;6
5;Preface;10
6;Chapter 1. Introduction: A New Ecology is Needed;14
6.1;1.1 Environmental Management has Changed;14
6.2;1.2 Ecology is Changing;15
6.3;1.3 Book Outline;16
7;Chapter 2. Ecosystems have Openness (thermodynamic);20
7.1;2.1 Why must Ecosystems be open?;20
7.2;2.2 An Isolated System would die (Maximum Entropy);21
7.3;2.3 Physical Openness;26
7.4;2.4 The Second Law of Thermodynamics Interpreted for Open Systems;31
7.5;2.5 Dissipative Structure;33
7.6;2.6 Quantification of Openness and Allometric Principles;35
7.7;2.7 The Cell;43
7.8;2.8 What about the Environment?;44
7.9;2.9 Conclusion;45
8;Chapter 3. Ecosystems have Ontic Openness;48
8.1;3.1 Introduction;48
8.2;3.2 Why is Ontic Openness so Obscure?;49
8.3;3.3 Ontic Openness and the Physical World;52
8.4;3.4 Ontic Openness and Relative Stability;62
8.5;3.5 The Macroscopic Openness: Connections to Thermodynamics;63
8.6;3.6 Ontic Openness and Emergence;66
8.7;3.7 Ontic Openness and Hierarchies;68
8.8;3.8 Consequences of Ontic Openness: A Tentative Conclusion;69
9;Chapter 4. Ecosystems have Directionality;72
9.1;4.1 Since the Beginnings of Ecology;72
9.2;4.2 The Challenge from Thermodynamics;73
9.3;4.3 Deconstructing Directionality?;75
9.4;4.4 Agencies Imparting Directionality;76
9.5;4.5 Origins of Evolutionary Drive;79
9.6;4.6 Quantifying Directionality in Ecosystems;81
9.7;4.7 Demystifying Darwin;87
9.8;4.8 Directionality in Evolution?;89
9.9;4.9 Summary;90
10;Chapter 5. Ecosystems have Connectivity;92
10.1;5.1 Introduction;92
10.2;5.2 Ecosystems as Networks;93
10.3;5.3 Food Webs;95
10.4;5.4 Systems Analysis;97
10.5;5.5 Ecosystem Connectivity and Ecological Network Analysis;99
10.6;5.6 Network Environ Analysis Primer;99
10.7;5.7 Summary of the Major Insights Cardinal Hypotheses (CH) from Network Environ Analysis;105
10.8;5.8 Conclusions;114
11;Chapter 6. Ecosystems have Complex Dynamics (Growth and Development);116
11.1;6.1 Variability in Life Conditions;116
11.2;6.2 Ecosystem Development;118
11.3;6.3 Orientors and Succession Theories;125
11.4;6.4 The Maximum Power Principle;128
11.5;6.5 Exergy, Ascendency, Gradients, and Ecosystem Development;133
11.6;6.6 Support for the Presented Hypotheses;138
11.7;6.7 Toward a Consistent Ecosystem Theory;146
11.8;6.8 Exergy Balances for the Utilization of Solar Radiation;152
11.9;6.9 Summary and Conclusions;154
12;Chapter 7. Ecosystems have Complex Dynamics – Disturbance and Decay;156
12.1;7.1 The Normality of Disturbance;156
12.2;7.2 The Risk of Orientor Optimization;164
12.3;7.3 The Characteristics of Disturbance;165
12.4;7.4 Adaptability as a Key Function of Ecosystem Dynamics;169
12.5;7.5 Adaptive Cycles on Multiple Scales;173
12.6;7.6 A Case Study: Human Disturbance and Retrogressive Dynamics;177
12.7;7.7 Summary and Conclusions;179
13;Chapter 8. Ecosystem Principles have Broad Explanatory Power in Ecology;180
13.1;8.1 Introduction;180
13.2;8.2 Do Ecological Principles Encompass other Proposed Ecological Theories?: Evolutionary Theory;181
13.3;8.3 Do Ecological Principles Encompass other Proposed Ecological Theories?: Island Biogeography;189
13.4;8.4 Do Ecological Principles Encompass other Proposed Ecological Theories?: Latitudinal Gradients in Biodiversity;193
13.5;8.5 Do Ecological Principles Encompass other Proposed Ecological Theories?: Optimal Foraging Theory;197
13.6;8.6 Do Ecological Principles Encompass other Proposed Ecological Theories?: Niche Theory;200
13.7;8.7 Do Ecological Principles Encompass other Proposed Ecological Theories?: Liebig’s Law of the Minimum;204
13.8;8.8 Do Ecological Principles Encompass other Proposed Ecological Theories?: The River Continuum Concept (RCC);207
13.9;8.9 Do Ecological Principles Encompass other Proposed Ecological Theories?: Hysteresis in Nature;209
13.10;8.10 Conclusions;211
14;Chapter 9. Ecosystem Principles have Applications;212
14.1;9.1 Introduction;212
14.2;9.2 Entropy Production as an Indicator of Ecosystem Trophic State;213
14.3;9.3 The use of Ecological Network Analysis (ENA) for the Simulation of the Interaction of the American Black Bear and its Environment;219
14.4;9.4 Applications of Network Analysis and Ascendency to South Florida Ecosystems;223
14.5;9.5 The Application of Eco-Exergy as Ecological Indicator for Assessment of Ecosystem Health;231
14.6;9.6 Emergy as Ecological Indicator to Assess Ecosystem Health;234
14.7;9.7 The Eco-Exergy to Empower Ratio and the Efficiency of Ecosystems;241
14.8;9.8 Application of Eco-Exergy and Ascendency as Ecological Indicator to the Mondego Estuary (Portugal);244
14.9;9.9 Conclusions;254
15;Chapter 10. Conclusions and Final Remarks;256
15.1;10.1 Are Basic Ecological Properties Needed to Explain our Observations?;256
15.2;10.2 Previous Attempts to Present an Ecosystem Theory;256
15.3;10.3 Recapitulation of the Ecosystem Theory;258
15.4;10.4 Are there Basic Ecosystem Principles?;259
15.5;10.5 Conclusion;261
16;References;264
17;Index;286