Course review
Review each learning objective in this topic, then open its concept explanation or question set.
Learning objective
• Sets of interacting or interdependent components • Components organized to create functional whole
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Learning objective
• Holistic way of visualizing complex interactions • Applied to ecological or societal situations • Has storages and flows (inputs and outputs of energy and matter)
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Learning objective
• Storages: rectangular boxes • Flows: arrows (direction indicates flow direction)
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Learning objective
• Transfers: change in location of energy or matter • Transformations: change in chemical nature, state, or energy
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Learning objective
• Open: exchanges both energy and matter across boundary • Closed: exchanges only energy across boundary • Most systems are open (e.g., local ecosystem, Biosphere 2) • Global geochemical cycles approximate closed systems
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Learning objective
• Encompasses biosphere, hydrosphere, cryosphere, geosphere, atmosphere, anthroposphere • Gaia hypothesis: Earth as single integrated system
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Learning objective
• Small-scale: bromeliad in rainforest • Large-scale: entire rainforest • Global: atmospheric circulation, Gaia hypothesis
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Learning objective
• Output inhibits/reverses same process to reduce change • Stabilizing, counteract deviation • Example: Daisyworld model (temperature regulation)
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Learning objective
• Maintained by stabilizing negative feedback loops • Steady-state equilibrium: inputs constantly balanced with outputs • Tendency to return to equilibrium following disturbance
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Learning objective
• Disturbance leads to amplification of disturbance • Destabilizing, drives system away from equilibrium • Examples: population decline → reduced reproduction → further decline • Melting ice → reduced albedo → greater warming
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Learning objective
• Positive feedback drives system towards tipping point • Minimum change causing destabilization • System shifts to new equilibrium/stable state
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Learning objective
• Small alteration → large overall changes • Result in regime shifts between alternative stable states • Example: nutrient concentrations → eutrophication
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Learning objective
• Simplified representation of reality • Used to understand system function and predict responses • Forms: graphs, diagrams, equations, simulations, words
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Learning objective
• Simplification involves approximation • Results in loss of accuracy • Example: climate change predictions, population growth projections
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Learning objective
• Appear from component interactions • Components themselves don't have these properties • Examples: predator-prey oscillations, trophic cascades
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Learning objective
• Tendency to avoid tipping points and maintain stability • Capacity to resist damage and recover from disturbance
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Learning objective
• Diversity within systems • Size of storages • Affect speed of response to change (time lags) • Example: prairie systems vs. monoculture crops
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Learning objective
• Reducing storages and diversity • Example: deforestation reduces storage size and diversity
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