Thermodynamic approaches to ecosystem behaviour: fundamental principles with case studies from forest succession and management history

y definitions & terms ecosystem applications & critiques application to global forest management

History
What is Life? Living systems dissipate energy of pass entropy to their surround-ings to maintain an ordered state far from thermo- dynamic equilibrium

Terms in ecological thermodynamics

defining system boundaries is required to understand system behaviour exergy is the maximum amount of work that can be performed by the system entropy is the portion of total energy that is unable to do work

Terms in ecological thermodynamics

first law of thermodynamics states that energy can not be created or destroyed second law of thermodynamics suggests no system can achieve perfect efficiency

Terms in ecological thermodynamics

Statistical thermodynamics/ mechanics Physics + Statistics + Ecology Thermodynamics of particles + probability + populations

Terms in ecological thermodynamics

Information Theory Information = minimum no. bits Bits = info to make a yes/ no decision unlike energy, information can be lost (e.g., computer disc, ability of DNA to create protein, keystone species)

Ecosystem Applications

SED Ascendancy ELT

Strategy of Ecosystem Development

Strategy of Ecosystem Development

e.g., s e s ( s te r roces eque tem p rests s osys er fo es ec t old i mplif ict tha versi pred O l e d to fa i bon) car

Ascendancy

Thermodynamics + Information Theory + Ecosystem Ecology System with more states and flows has greater ascendancy

Ascendancy
ll flow tems iz e a o s y s acter se ec c h a r iv e r le to hly d o s s ib in h ig y im p c ia lly l N e a r e sp e th s , pa Thermodynamics + Information Theory + Ecosystem Ecology

System with more states and flows has greater ascendancy

Ecological Law of Thermodynamics

Thermodynamics + Statistics + Ecosystem Ecology Ecosystems develop in ways that increase their ability to use solar energy Biological systems tend toward maximum efficiency

Ecological Law of Thermodynamics

Ecological Law of Thermodynamics

t the ic s a t e y n am rpo ra r m o d o in c o e the cult t hasiz ; diffi emp istics over stat a nc e Ma y s e of isturb xpen ole of d e i c al r Thermodynamics + Statistics + Ecosystem c ri t Ecology

Ecosystems develop in ways that increase their ability to use solar energy

Ecological Statistical Mechanics

Thermodynamics + Information Theory + Ecosystem Ecology + Statistics Modeling the information and energy transfers that determine ecosystem behaviour

Global Forest Management

Review of the carbon cycle: http://epa.gov/climatechange/kid s/carbon_cycle_version2.html

Global Forest Management

Kyoto forests or afforestation carbon credits for planting forests in previously unforested areas Bali forests carbon credits for avoiding deforestation

Global Forest Management

Evidence afforestation does NOT mitigate carbon emissions: encroachment of forest into grassland forests often use more water than the vegetation they replace

Global Forest Management

Evidence afforestation does mitigate carbon emissions: reforestation can eliminate saline groundwater incursion into upper soil layers & dry waterlogged soils to reduce flood risks reforested agricultural fields may decrease surface temperatures due to evapotranspiration and water use increased canopy nitrogen content increases canopy albedo

Global Forest Management

Topic for discussion: Theory (or empirical studies?) must fill the gap caused by the lack of studies on the role of forest diversity on productivity and resilience, and established theories must be improved and expanded to guide ecosystem management