Towards a thermodynamic theory for ecological systems / Sven Erik Jørgensen, Yuri M. Svirezhev.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Jørgensen, Sven Erik, 1934-

Contributor:

Svirezhev, I︠U︡. M.

Class of 1924 Book Fund.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Biotic communities.

Thermodynamics.

Physical Description:

xiv, 366 pages : illustrations (some color) ; 24 cm

Edition:

First edition.

Place of Publication:

Amsterdam ; Boston : Elsevier, 2004.

Summary:

The book presents a consistent and complete ecosystem theory based on thermodynamic concepts. The first chapters are devoted to an interpretation of the First and Second Law of Thermodynamics in an ecosystem context. Then Prigogine's use of far from equilibrium thermodynamic is used on ecosystems to explain their reactions to perturbations. The introduction of the concept exergy makes it possible to give a more profound and comprehensive explanation of the ecosystem's reactions and growth-patterns. A tentative Fourth Law of Thermodynamics is formulated and applied to facilitate these explanations. The trophic chain, the global energy and radiation balance and pattern, and the reactions of ecological networks are all explained by the use of exergy. Finally, there is a discussion on how the presented theory can be applied more widely to explain ecological observations and rules, to assess ecosystem health and to develop ecological models.

Contents:

Chapter 1 Thermodynamics as a Method: A Problem of Statistical Description 1

1.1 Literary introduction 1

1.2 Ontic openness 5

1.3 The scope of this volume 9

Chapter 2 The Laws of Classical Thermodynamics and Their Application to Ecology 13

2.2 Matter and energy in mechanics and thermodynamics. Energy conservation as the first law of thermodynamics. Fundamental Gibbs Equation 16

2.3 Entropy and the second law of thermodynamics. Nernst's theorem 20

2.4 Maximal work which the system can perform on its environment. Characteristic functions or thermodynamic potentials 23

2.5 Chemical equilibrium, chemical affinity and standard energies of biochemical reactions. Function of dissipation 26

2.6 Illustrations of thermodynamics in ecology 30

2.7 Ecosystem as a biochemical reactor 36

2.8 Summary of the important ecological issues 39

Chapter 3 Second and Third Law of Thermodynamics in Open Systems 41

3.1 Open systems and their energy balance 41

3.2 The second law of thermodynamics interpreted for open systems 43

3.3 Prigogine's theorem and the evolutionary criterion by Glansdorff-Prigogine 47

3.4 The third law of thermodynamics applied on open systems 50

3.5 Thermodynamics of living organisms 53

3.6 Quantification of openness and allometric principles 56

3.7 The temperature range needed for life processes 62

3.8 Natural conditions for life 63

Chapter 4 Entropy, Probability and Information 69

4.1 Entropy and probability 69

4.2 Entropy and information 70

4.3 The system as a text and its information entropy 72

4.4 Diversity of biological communities 75

4.5 Simple statistical models of biological communities 77

4.6 Information analysis of the global vegetation pattern 80

4.7 Diversity of the biosphere 84

4.8 Information and evolutionary paradigm: selection of information 87

4.9 Genetic information contained in an organism: hierarchy of information and its redundancy 90

4.10 Summary of the important ecological issues 91

Chapter 5 Work, Exergy and Information 95

5.1 The work done by a system imbedded into an environment 95

5.2 What is exergy? Different interpretations of the exergy concept 100

5.3 Thermodynamic machines 102

5.4 Exergy far from thermodynamic equilibrium 106

5.5 Exergy and information 111

5.6 Exergy of solar radiation 115

5.7 How to calculate the exergy of living organic matter? 118

5.8 Other methods for the exergy calculation 122

5.9 Why have living systems such a high level of exergy? 124

5.10 Summary of the important ecological issues 125

Chapter 6 Stability in Mathematics, Thermodynamics and Ecology 127

6.1 Introduction. Stability concepts in ecology and mathematics 127

6.2 Stability concept in thermodynamics and thermodynamic measures of stability 128

6.3 Model approach to definitions of stability: formal definitions and interpretations 133

6.4 Thermodynamics and dynamical systems 135

6.5 On stability of zero equilibrium and its thermodynamic interpretation 137

6.6 Stability of non-trivial equilibrium and one class of Lyapunov functions 139

6.7 Lyapunov function and exergy 141

6.8 One more Lyapunov function 142

6.9 What kind of Lyapunov function we could construct if one or several equilibrium coordinates tends to zero 143

6.10 Once more ecological example 144

6.11 Problems of thermodynamic interpretation for ecological models 147

6.12 Complexity versus stability 150

6.13 Summary of the ecological important issues 151

Chapter 7 Models of Ecosystems: Thermodynamic Basis and Methods. I. Trophic Chains 153

7.2 General thermodynamic model of ecosystem 154

7.3 Ecosystem's organisation: trophic chains 159

7.4 Dynamic equations of the trophic chain 163

7.5 Prigogine-like theorems and the length of trophic chain 165

7.6 The closed chains with conservation of matter. Thermodynamic cost of biogeochemical cycle 169

7.7 Complex behaviour: cycles and chaos 174

7.8 What kind of exergy dynamics takes place when the enrichment and thermal pollution impact on the ecosystem? 177

7.9 Embodied energy (emergy) 182

7.10 Summary of the ecological important issues 186

Chapter 8 Models of Ecosystems: Thermodynamic Basis and Methods. II. Competition and Trophic Level 189

8.2 Thermodynamics of a competing community 189

8.3 Community trajectory as a trajectory of steepest ascent 195

8.4 Extreme properties of the potential W and other potential functions. Entropy production and Prigogine-like theorem 198

8.5 The system of two competing species 205

8.6 Phenomenological thermodynamics of interacting populations 208

8.7 Community in the random environment and variations of Malthusian parameters 212

8.8 Summary of the ecological important issues 219

Chapter 9 Thermodynamics of Ecological Networks 221

9.2 Topology of trophic network and qualitative stability 223

9.3 Dynamic models of trophic networks and compartmental schemes 225

9.4 Ecosystem as a metabolic cycle 227

9.5 MacArthur's diversity index, trophic diversity and ascendancy as measures of organisation 229

9.6 How exergy helps to organise the ecosystem 233

9.7 Some dynamic properties of trophic networks 235

9.8 Stability and reactions of a bog in the temperate zone 238

9.9 Summary of the ecological important issues 241

Chapter 10 Thermodynamics of Vegetation 243

10.1 Introduction. Energetics of photosynthesis 243

10.2 Thermodynamic model of a vegetation layer. Fluxes of heat, water vapour and other gases 244

10.3 Energy balance of a vegetation layer and the energy efficiency coefficient 249

10.4 Thermodynamic model of vegetation: internal entropy production 250

10.5 Vegetation as an active surface: the solar energy degradation and the entropy of solar energy 253

10.6 Vegetation as an active surface: exergy of solar radiation 255

10.7 Simplified energy and entropy balances in the ecosystem 261

10.8 Entropy overproduction as a criterion of the degradation of natural ecosystems under anthropogenic pressure 264

10.9 Energy and chemical loads or how to convolute the vector data 266

10.10 Summary of the ecological important issues 269

Chapter 11 Thermodynamics of the Biosphere 271

11.2 Comparative analysis of the energetics of the biosphere and technosphere 273

11.3 Myth of sustainable development 276

11.4 Thermodynamics model of the biosphere. 1. Entropy balance 277

11.5 Thermodynamics model of the biosphere. 2. Annual increment of entropy in the biosphere 279

11.6 Exergy of solar radiation: global scale 281

11.7 Exergy of the biosphere 287

11.8 Exergy and the evolution 290

11.9 Summary of the ecological important issues 298

Chapter 12 Teleology and Extreme Principles: A Tentative Fourth Law of Thermodynamics 301

12.2 The maximum power principle 302

12.3 Hypothesis: a thermodynamic law of ecology 306

12.4 Supporting evidence 309

12.5 Other ecosystem theories 314

12.6 Toward a consistent ecosystem theory 316

12.7 Some final comments 322

Chapter 13 Application of Exergy as Ecological Indicator and Goal Function in Ecological Modelling 325

13.2 Exergy and specific exergy as ecological indicators 328

13.3 Assessment of ecosystem integrity. An example: a lake ecosystem 333

13.4 Thermodynamics of controlled ecological processes and exergy 338

13.5 Modelling the selection of Darwin's finches 341

13.6 Exergy of the global carbon cycle: how to estimate its potential useful work 346.

Notes:

Colour version of p. 284-285 inserted.

Includes bibliographical references (pages [355]-366).

Local Notes:

Acquired for the Penn Libraries with assistance from the Class of 1924 Book Fund.

ISBN:

0080441661

008044167X

OCLC:

55067137