Evolution from a Thermodynamic Perspective [E-Book] : Implications for Species Conservation and Agricultural Sustainability / by Carl F Jordan.
Survival of the fittest" is a tautology, because those that are "fit" are the ones that survive, but to survive, a species must be "fit". Modern evolutionary theory avoids the problem by defining fitness as reproductive success, but the complexity of life that we see today c...
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Full text |
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Personal Name(s): | Jordan, Carl F., author |
Edition: |
1st edition 2022. |
Imprint: |
Cham :
Springer,
2022
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Physical Description: |
XXVI, 384 pages 1 illustration (online resource) |
Note: |
englisch |
ISBN: |
9783030851866 |
DOI: |
10.1007/978-3-030-85186-6 |
Subject (LOC): |
- C ontents
- Part 1. Theory
- To Understand Economics, Follow the Money: To Understand Ecosystems, Follow the Energy
- Two Views of Ecology, Evolution, and Conservation
- Why I Wrote this Book
- Dualities Still Impede Conservation Efforts
- The Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform of Biodiversity
- Targets for Conservation
- Evolving Objectives
- Literature Review
- Updating Ecosystem Ecology
- References
- What Can We Learn by Studying Ecosystems that We Can't Learn from Studying Populations?
- The Predator-Prey Conundrum
- The Serengeti Ecosystem
- Evolution in the "Ecological Theater"
- Predator-Prey Interactions Tell Only Part of the Story
- Evolution in the "Thermodynamic Theater"
- References
- A Thermodynamic Definition of Ecosystems
- Ecosystems in the 20th Century
- Cycling of Strontium-90
- Cesium-137 in Food Chains
- Recycling of Isotopes in Norwegian Sheep
- Ecological Energetics
- Is it Time to Bury the Ecosystem Concept?
- A Thermodynamic Definition of Life
- A Thermodynamic Definition of Ecosystems
- The Phase Transition between Order and Chaos
- References
- Thermodynamic Characteristics of Ecosystems
- Equilibrium
- The Equilibrium Law
- Thermodynamic Equilibrium
- Open Thermodynamic Systems
- Ecosystems are Thermodynamically Open Non-Equilibrium Systems
- Work is Performed by Non-equilibrium Systems
- Advantage of a Thermodynamically Open System
- 4.3 Ecosystems are Entropic
- 4.4 Ecosystems are Cybernetic
- Cybernetic Systems
- Economic Systems are Cybernetic Ecosystems are Cybernetic
- The Ecosystem Feedback Function
- Indirect vs. Direct Feedback
- Deviation Dampening and Amplifying Feedback
- Set Points
- Ecosystems are Autocatalytic
- Ecosystems have Boundaries
- Ecosystems are Hierarchical
- Hierarchy in Physical Systems
- Hierarchy in Ecological Systems
- Common Currencies
- Macro-and Micro-System Models
- Why an Ecosystem Model that Includes Everything is not Possible
- A Nested Marine Community
- Ecosystems are Deterministic
- Ecosystems are Information Rich
- An Engineering Definition of Information
- Information to Facilitate Exchange
- High Energy Information
- Low Energy Information
- Information Theory
- Genetic Information
- Ecosystems are Non-Teleological
- Criticisms of Ecosystem Models
- References
- Ecosystem Control: A Top-Down View
- Two Ways to Look at Systems
- Composing and Decomposing Trophic Webs
- Decomposers in Soil Organic Matter
- Decomposers in Marshes and Mangroves
- Control of Systems
- Top-Down vs. Bottom-Up
- Top-Down Exogenous Control
- Exogenous Impacts and Stability
- Top-Down Endogenous Control
- Endogenous Control through Nutrient Recycling
- Autocatalysis
- Control of Microbial Activity
- Inhibition of Microbial Activity by Leaf Sclerophylly
- Inhibition of Microbial Activity Chemical Defenses
- Inhibition of Microbial Activity by Ecological Stoichiometry
- The Synchrony Principle
- The Decay Law
- Direct Nutrient Cycling
- The Role of Animals
- Indirect Interactions
- Marine Systems
- Nutrient and Energy Recycling
- Exogenous Control
- Control in Lakes
- Control in Managed Ecosystems
- References
- Ecosystem Control: A Bottom-Up View
- Species as Arbitrageurs of Energy
- Relation Between Rate of Flow and Mass in Hydraulic Systems
- Relation Between Population Biomass and Rate of Energy Flow
- Equilibrium
- Mechanisms of Adjustment
- Adjustments and Climate Change
- Bird Populations
- Dis-equilibrium
- Population Instability vs. Ecosystem Instability
- Control by Interactions: Direct vs. Indirect
- Indirect Interactions
- Direct Interactions
- Predator - Prey
- Mutualisms
- Competition
- Decomposition
- Parasitism and Disease
- Commensalism and Amensalism
- Persistence of Negative Interactions
- References
- Ecosystem Stability
- Background
- A Thermodynamic Definition
- Regime Shift
- Metastability
- Pulsed Stability
- Resistance and Resilience
- Species Richness and Functional Stability
- Species Richness and Cultural Values
- Keystone Species, and Population and Ecosystem Stability
- 7.5.1 Keystone Species in the Yellowstone region of Wyoming
- References
- 8. Case Studies of Ecosystem Control and Stability
- Walden
- "Harmony in Nature"
- Feedback Produces Nature's "Harmony"
- Feedback Mechanisms
- Perturbations in Amazon Rain Forests
- Top-Down Control
- The San Carlos Project: A Small-scale, Low Intensity, Short Duration Disturbance
- 8.3.2 The Jarí Project: A Large-scale, High Intensity, Long Duration Disturbance
- Bottom-Up Control
- The El Verde Project
- The Long-Term Ecological Research Project in Puerto Rico
- The Lago Guri Island Project
- The Biological Dynamics of Tropical Rainforest Fragments Project
- What have Case Studies Taught us about Stability of Tropical Ecosystems?
- Tropical Ecosystems are Stable
- Tropical Ecosystems are Unstable
- Energy Flow in Tropical Savannas and Rain Forests
- Insects in Tropical Ecosystems
- Application of Lessons to Other Regions
- Relevance to Temperate Zones
- Relevance to Aquatic Ecosystems
- The Experimental Lakes Project (Ecosystem Control of Species)
- Lake Mendota Studies (Species Control of Ecosystems)
- 8.7 Case Studies as Tests of Thermodynamic Theory
- References
- Entropy and Maximum Power
- Entropy
- 9.2 Entropy in a Steel Bar
- Thermodynamic Equilibrium
- Entropic Gradients
- Capturing and Storing Entropy
- Evapotranspiration and Entropy Reduction
- Life is a Balance between Storing and Releasing Entropy
- The Law of Maximum Entropy Production
- Energy for Metabolism as well as Growth
- Unassisted Entropy Capture is a Unique Characteristic of Life.-9.6Entropy Storage by Ecosystems
- 9.6.1 What Causes Entropy to be Stored?
- 9.7 Capturing Pressure
- 9.8 Entropy and Time
- 9.8.1 Time's Speed Regulator
- Efficiency of Energy Transformations
- Passage of Time for Cats
- 9.9The Maximum Power Principle.-9.10 Optimum Efficiencies for a Truck and its Driver.-9.11 Sustainability
- References
- A Thermodynamic View of Succession
- 10.1 The Population View
- 10.2 The Thermodynamic View
- 10.2.1 Leaf Area Index and Succession
- 10.2.2 Power Output as a Function of Leaf Area Index
- 10.2.3 What Causes Changes in Leaf Area Index?
- 10.2.4 Maximum Entropy Production Principle
- 10.2.5 Successional Ecosystems Move Further from Thermodynamic Equilibrium
- 10.2.6 Entropy Storage by Animals
- 10.3 The Strategy of Ecosystem Development
- A Problem with Odum's Strategy
- Why Power Output Continues to Increase
- Revised Definition of Maximum Power
- Costs of Ecosystem Stabilization
- Transactional Costs
- Succession, Power Output, and Efficiency
- 10.5.1 Kleiber's Law
- Are Ecosystems Spendthrifts?
- Interactions Between Species Facilitate Increase in Power Output
- Facilitation
- Tolerance
- Inhibition
- Intermediate Disturbance Hypothesis
- Nutrient Use Efficiency during Succession
- Succession Following Logging vs Following Agriculture
- 10.10 Thermodynamic View of Succession: Implications for Resource Management
- References
- Panarchy
- The Universal Cycle of Systems
- Panarchy
- Thermodynamic Interpretation of the Sacred Rules
- 11.2.1 Growth and Consolidation
- 11.2.2 Collapse
- Renewal
- Sub-systems
- Panarchy over 2 Billion Years of Evolution
- Consolidation, Bureaucracy and System Collapse
- Bureaucracy in Action (Case Studies)
- Case Study: Panarchy in the Georgia Piedmont
- Thermodynamic Interpretation
- References
- 12. A Thermodynamic View of Evolution
- 12.1 Life - A Physicist's View
- 12.1.1 Life is Produced by Capturing Entropy
- 12.1.2 The Origin of Life
- 12.2 Two Approaches to Evolution
- 12.2.1 The Eco-Evo-Devo View
- 12.2.2 The Thermodynamic View
- 12.2.3 Fitness
- 12.2.4 The "Goal" of Evolution
- 12.3 The Relationship between Species and Environment
- 12.3.1 Evolution's "Theater"
- 12.3.2 Is Evolution Stochastic or Deterministic?
- 12.4 Ecosystem Evolution
- 12.4.1 Succession was the Clue
- 12.4.2 Ecosystems Moved away from Equilibrium
- 12.4.3 Thermodynamic Mechanisms
- 12.4.4 Biological Mechanisms
- 12.4.5 Ecosystem Fitness
- 12.4.6 Ecosystems Evolve One Step at a Time
- 12.5.
- The Origin of Ecosystems
- 12.5.1 Origin of Feedback Loops
- 12.5.2 Origin of Trophic Levels
- 12.5.3 Why are there Trophic Levels?
- 12.6 The "Goal" of Ecosystem Evolution
- 12.6.1 Conflicting Goals?
- 12.6.2 "Motivations" of Species
- 12.6.3 The Earth Ecosystem
- 12.6.4 Why is there Resistance to the Idea of Ecosystem Evolution?
- 12.6.5 Evolution of Economic Systems
- 12.7 A Thermodynamic Model of Ecosystem Evolution
- 12.7.1 Network Models
- 12.7.2 Increase in Complexity of Trophic Webs
- 12.7.3 Evolution of Trophic Webs
- 12.7.4 Life Moves Ashore
- 12.8 Biodiversity and the Five Great Extinctions
- 12.8.1 The Cretaceous-Tertiary (K-T) Boundary Extinction
- 12.8.2The Amazing Sustainability of Trophic Chains
- 12.8.3 A Test of Thermodynamic Theory
- 12.9 Panarchy and Evolution
- 12.10 Thermodynamic Requirements for Living Systems on Other Planets
- References
- .-Why is Species Diversity Higher in the Tropics?
- 13.1 Tropical Explorations
- 13.2 A Few Theories
- 13.3 A Thermodynamic Explanation
- 13.3.1 The Latitudinal Energy Gradient
- 13.3.2 The Latitudinal Productivity Gradient
- 13.3.3 The Data
- 13.3.4 Other Factors Affecting Productivity
- 13.4 Empirical Evidence for a High Productivity High Diversity Correlation
- 13.5 Humboldt's Enigma
- 13.5.1 Are Productivity and Species Richness Correlated on Tropical
- Mountains?
- 13.6 The Mechanism Linking Productivity and Diversity
- 13.7 Answer to "Why is Species Diversity Higher in the Tropics?"
- 13.7.1 Differences within the Tropics
- 13.8 Why is Species Diversity Low at High Latitudes?
- 13.9 An Economic Perspective on Div.