environmental systems and societies

define ecocentric

nature comes first, humans live within natural limits, humans shouldnt get involved

define anthropocentric

humans should manage wildlife responisbly

define technocentric

trust technology to solve environmental problems, innovation,

define the key term “system”

a set of interacting or interdependent components, organised to create a functional whole

define the key term system approach

holistic way of visualizing a complex set of interactions- applied to ecological or societal situations

what is reductionism

you can figure snth out as a whole by knowing its smaller parts

what is a “model”

simplified representation of reality; it can be used to understand how a system works and to predict how it will respond to change.

what a re limitations of models

involves approximations so loss of accuracy, simpified so not fully realistic, outdated, based on assumptions

strenths of models

simple to understand, spot patterns, make predictions, communicate ideas

what do “systems” have

Connection to different parts, purpose, and exhibit emergent properties.

what are “meregent properties”

characteristics of a system that only appear when individual parts interact

what is the “Gaia hypothesis”

A theory that all living organisms, along with the Earth's physical components, form a complex system that maintains conditions suitable for life.

what is a system boundary

line that separetes system to external wold

define open system

exchanges both matter and energy with exteranl environment

define closed system

exchanges only energy with external environment

how are the storages represented

as rectangular boxes

how are flows trepresented

as arrows, with the direction of each arrow indicating the direction of each flow.

what are flows

movement of matter, energy, or information into or out of a storage in a system, that may be either transfers or transformations. 

what are storages

accumulation of material, energy, or information

what is an inflow

storage increases

what is an outflow

storage decreases

how do we represent boundaries

a cloud outline to represent the unexplored area outside the boundary of our diagram.

sum of all inflows to a storage > than the sum of all outflows from a storage, then the level of the storage will

increase

sum of all outflows from a storage > sum of all inflows to a storage, then the level of the storage will

decrease

sum of all inflows to a storage = sum of all outflows from a storage, then the level of the storage

will not change

what are transfers

involve a change in location of energy or matter, without any change in its state or form.

what are transformations

also move energy and matter, but in the process there is a change in the chemical nature, a change in state, or a change in energy.

negative feedback loops

Negative feedback loops occur when the output of a process inhibits or reverses the operation of the same process in such a way as to reduce change. They are stabilizing as they counteract deviation

positive feedback loop

Positive feedback loops occur when a disturbance leads to an amplification of that disturbance, destabilizing the system and driving it away from its equilibrium. will tend to drive the system towards a tipping point. 

tipping points

exist within a system where a small alteration in one component can produce large overall changes, resulting in a shift in equilibrium.

steady state equilibrium

A situation where there are continuous inputs and outputs of energy or matter to the system that may result in short-term changes and imbalances.

stable equilibrium

The tendency in a system for it to return to a previous equilibrium condition following a disturbance.

What is a causal loop diagram?

type of system diagram that shows the complex relationships between different variables in a system

4 basic elements of a casual loop diagram

• the variables

• the causal connections between the variables (which variable influences the other)

• the type of influence, a 

  direct relationship

   (indicated by + symbol) or 

  inverse relationship

   (indicated by - symbol)

• the type of loop, indicating either negative (balancing) or positive (reinforcing) feedback loops, if such behaviour is present. Negative (balancing) feedback is indicated with a B, and positive (reinforcing feedback) is indicated with an R.

direct relationship

A relationship between variables where an increase in one quantity leads to a corresponding increase in the other, or a decrease in one quantity leads to a corresponding decrease in the other.

inverse relationship

A relationship between variables where an increase in one quantity leads to a corresponding decrease in the other, or a decrease in one quantity leads to a corresponding increase in the other.

Does complexity make an ecosystem MORE stable, or LESS stable? Why?

MORE STABLE - many storage, feedbacks, and flows; therefore, they can withstand stress better because if one pathway is blocked, another can take over.

 resilience of a system, ecological or social, refers to

tendency to avoid tipping points and maintain stability

Factors affecting resilience:

-  quantity

- size

- variety and  genetic diversity

- reproduction rate

- climate

- resource availability

- survival ability 

- living conditions

how can Humans reduce resilience

reducing storage and diversity

define Emergent properties

properties that appear when components of a system interact, that none of the individual components on their own