Evolution from a Thermodynamic Perspective

Evolution from a Thermodynamic Perspective

从热力学角度看进化：对物种保护与农业可持续性的影响
农业经济学

售价：

发货周期：通常付款后3-5周到货！

作者

Jordan Carl F.

出版社

Springer Berlin Heidelberg

出版时间

2022年11月27日

装帧

平装

ＩＳＢＮ

9783030851880

复制

页码

384

开本

9.21 x 6.14 x 0.84

语种

英文

版次

2022

综合评分

暂无评分

图书详情
目次
买家须知
书评（0）
权威书评（0）

图书简介

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 could not have evolved based on selection that favors only reproductive ability. There is nothing inherent in reproductive success alone that could result in higher forms of life. Evolution from a Thermodynamic Perspective presents a non-circular definition of fitness and a thermodynamic definition of evolution. Fitness means maximization of power output, necessary to survive in a competitive world. Evolution is the “storage of entropy”. “Entropy storage” means that solar energy, instead of dissipating as heat in the Earth, is stored in the structure of living organisms and ecosystems. Part one explains this in terms comprehensible to a scientific audience beyond biophysicists and ecosystem modelers. Part two applies thermodynamic theory in non-esoteric language to sustainability of agriculture, and to conservation of endangered species. While natural systems are stabilized by feedback, agricultural systems remain in a mode of perpetual growth, pressured by balance of trade and by a swelling population. The constraints imposed by thermodynamic laws are being increasingly felt as economic expansion destabilizes resource systems on which expansion depends.

Contents.- 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.- Sp

Trade Policy 买家须知