A New Ecology: Systems Perspective
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Table of contents
- Cover
- A New Ecology: Systems Perspectiveiii
- Copyright pageiv
- Contentsv
- Prefaceix
- Chapter 1. Introduction: A New Ecology is Needed1
- 1.1 Environmental Management has Changed1
- 1.2 Ecology is Changing2
- 1.3 Book Outline3
- Chapter 2. Ecosystems have Openness (thermodynamic)7
- 2.1 Why must Ecosystems be open?7
- 2.2 An Isolated System would die (Maximum Entropy)8
- 2.3 Physical Openness13
- 2.4 The Second Law of Thermodynamics Interpreted for Open Systems18
- 2.5 Dissipative Structure20
- 2.6 Quantification of Openness and Allometric Principles22
- 2.7 The Cell30
- 2.8 What about the Environment?31
- 2.9 Conclusion32
- Chapter 3. Ecosystems have Ontic Openness35
- 3.1 Introduction35
- 3.2 Why is Ontic Openness so Obscure?36
- 3.3 Ontic Openness and the Physical World39
- 3.4 Ontic Openness and Relative Stability49
- 3.5 The Macroscopic Openness: Connections to Thermodynamics50
- 3.6 Ontic Openness and Emergence53
- 3.7 Ontic Openness and Hierarchies55
- 3.8 Consequences of Ontic Openness: A Tentative Conclusion56
- Chapter 4. Ecosystems have Directionality59
- 4.1 Since the Beginnings of Ecology59
- 4.2 The Challenge from Thermodynamics60
- 4.3 Deconstructing Directionality?62
- 4.4 Agencies Imparting Directionality63
- 4.5 Origins of Evolutionary Drive66
- 4.6 Quantifying Directionality in Ecosystems68
- 4.7 Demystifying Darwin74
- 4.8 Directionality in Evolution?76
- 4.9 Summary77
- Chapter 5. Ecosystems have Connectivity79
- 5.1 Introduction79
- 5.2 Ecosystems as Networks80
- 5.3 Food Webs82
- 5.4 Systems Analysis84
- 5.5 Ecosystem Connectivity and Ecological Network Analysis86
- 5.6 Network Environ Analysis Primer86
- 5.7 Summary of the Major Insights Cardinal Hypotheses (CH) from Network Environ Analysis92
- 5.8 Conclusions101
- Chapter 6. Ecosystems have Complex Dynamics (Growth and Development)103
- 6.1 Variability in Life Conditions103
- 6.2 Ecosystem Development105
- 6.3 Orientors and Succession Theories112
- 6.4 The Maximum Power Principle115
- 6.5 Exergy, Ascendency, Gradients, and Ecosystem Development120
- 6.6 Support for the Presented Hypotheses125
- 6.7 Toward a Consistent Ecosystem Theory133
- 6.8 Exergy Balances for the Utilization of Solar Radiation139
- 6.9 Summary and Conclusions141
- Chapter 7. Ecosystems have Complex Dynamics – Disturbance and Decay143
- 7.1 The Normality of Disturbance143
- 7.2 The Risk of Orientor Optimization151
- 7.3 The Characteristics of Disturbance152
- 7.4 Adaptability as a Key Function of Ecosystem Dynamics156
- 7.5 Adaptive Cycles on Multiple Scales160
- 7.6 A Case Study: Human Disturbance and Retrogressive Dynamics164
- 7.7 Summary and Conclusions166
- Chapter 8. Ecosystem Principles have Broad Explanatory Power in Ecology167
- 8.1 Introduction167
- 8.2 Do Ecological Principles Encompass other Proposed Ecological Theories?: Evolutionary Theory168
- 8.3 Do Ecological Principles Encompass other Proposed Ecological Theories?: Island Biogeography176
- 8.4 Do Ecological Principles Encompass other Proposed Ecological Theories?: Latitudinal Gradients in180
- 8.5 Do Ecological Principles Encompass other Proposed Ecological Theories?: Optimal Foraging Theory184
- 8.6 Do Ecological Principles Encompass other Proposed Ecological Theories?: Niche Theory187
- 8.7 Do Ecological Principles Encompass other Proposed Ecological Theories?: Liebig’s Law of the Mi191
- 8.8 Do Ecological Principles Encompass other Proposed Ecological Theories?: The River Continuum Conc194
- 8.9 Do Ecological Principles Encompass other Proposed Ecological Theories?: Hysteresis in Nature196
- 8.10 Conclusions198
- Chapter 9. Ecosystem Principles have Applications199
- 9.1 Introduction199
- 9.2 Entropy Production as an Indicator of Ecosystem Trophic State200
- 9.3 The use of Ecological Network Analysis (ENA) for the Simulation of the Interaction of the Americ206
- 9.4 Applications of Network Analysis and Ascendency to South Florida Ecosystems210
- 9.5 The Application of Eco-Exergy as Ecological Indicator for Assessment of Ecosystem Health218
- 9.6 Emergy as Ecological Indicator to Assess Ecosystem Health221
- 9.7 The Eco-Exergy to Empower Ratio and the Efficiency of Ecosystems228
- 9.8 Application of Eco-Exergy and Ascendency as Ecological Indicator to the Mondego Estuary (Portuga231
- 9.9 Conclusions241
- Chapter 10. Conclusions and Final Remarks243
- 10.1 Are Basic Ecological Properties Needed to Explain our Observations?243
- 10.2 Previous Attempts to Present an Ecosystem Theory243
- 10.3 Recapitulation of the Ecosystem Theory245
- 10.4 Are there Basic Ecosystem Principles?246
- 10.5 Conclusion248
- References251
- Index273
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
* 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