Module 1 - Fundamentals of Ecological Engineering Flashcards
Ecological engineering definition
Engineering solutions that preserve, restore
and create ecosystem services (including via
Services to Ecosystems)
Biotic factors
living things
Abiotic factors
non-living: physical, chemical
Community
Ecosystem
Biosphere
2+ species; same location; biotic
Community + abiotic factors
Part of earth that contains living things
Principles of ecosystem behaviour
- Self-organisation
- Diversity
- Succession
- Growth and development
- Adaptation
- Regulation
- Reciprocity
Self-organisation definition
The development of an overall (global) order which arises from local interactions between parts of an initially disordered system.
Benefits:
The whole is greater than the sum of its parts?
Ability to find balance in a dynamic environment
Increased resilience
Emergent properties vs. Fallacy of division definition
Emergent properties: Properties which a collection or complex system has, but which the individual members do not have.
Fallacy of division definition : This is when it is assumed that something true for the whole must also be true of all or some of its parts.
Succession defintion
Pattern of development, recovery from disturbances
- Primary succession = initial establishment and ecosystem development
- Secondary succession = reestablishment of ecosystem
Key features:
Species composition changes through succession
Early successional species
Late successional species
Diversity definition
The variation in species and their characteristics, habitat properties
Why is diversity important?
Creates resilience in the ecosystem
Can lead to greater productivity
Different opportunities for emergence
Adaptation definition
The process of change by which an organism becomes better suited to survive and grow in its environment
Regulation definition
Ecosystems are controlled by a multitude of factors, each influencing the other. (Self-)regulation is:
- The ability of an ecosystem to maintain ecosystem functioning over the long term (e.g. water, carbon and nutrient cycles)
- Its buffer capacity against disturbances
- Capability to adapt
Associated concepts:
Carrying capacity:
Maximum number of individuals of a species or population that a given environment can sustain
Limits:
The amount of stress that can be tolerated by living systems
Reciprocity definition
Exchange between two entities for mutual benefit
Feedback and change
Cooperation vs competition
Key Species as par of fundamental concepts
Indicator species: tell us the status of other species, habitat health or presence/impacts of stressors
Keystone species: impose greater effects on ecological processes than would be predicted by their abundance or biomass alone
Umbrella species: large area requirements or use multiple habitats
Link species: critical role players in transfer of matter and energy across trophic levels or within complex food web
Foundation species: create or maintain a habitat and therefore provide opportunity for other species
Ecological modifiers: alter the habitat and therefore modify the opportunities for other species
Place - factors that influence ecological processes
Climatic factors Hydrologic factors Soil factors Geomorphic factors Biotic interactions
Landscape
Landcover types influence ecosystem, community and population dynamics
Size
Larger areas can have more local habitat diversity -> more biodiversity
Larger areas can have more species
Shape
Edge to interior space ratio
Spatial relationships
Habitat connectivity (accessibility)
Function/services for adjacent habitats
Bio-mimicry
Copying nature in engineering design
ie bumps on whales reduce turbulence; used on turbines
Precautionary Principle
If an action has a suspected risk of causing harm, then in the absence of scientific consensus, the burden of proof that it is not harmful rests with those undertaking that action……
Options exploration and avoidance vs Defining acceptable risk
Adaptive Management
Management framework that incorporates ongoing monitoring and evaluation to enable continuous improvements in planning and implementation of a project to meet its specified outcomes
Allows self-design to occur
The importance of monitoring and review cycles
Multi-disciplinary teams assessing feedback
Use historical data (passive) or pilot scale testing (active) to inform management decisions
List 4 Ecosystem services
Provisioning services: Products obtained from ecosystems
Supporting services: “that are necessary for the production of all other ecosystem services
Regulating services: Benefits obtained from the regulation of ecosystem processes
Cultural services: Nonmaterial benefits people obtain from ecosystems through spiritual
enrichment, cognitive development, reflection, recreation, and aesthetic
experiences
ecological economics vs. Conventional economics
ecological economics: Ecosystem costs and values included (full life cycle)
Conventional economics: Cost of products/services + transactions only
Social/perceived value (i.e. supply and demand) only
accounted for
Input-Output Rules
Input rule of sustainable economies:
“Harvest rates of renewable resource inputs should be within there generative capacity of the natural system that generates them, and depletion rates of non-renewable resource inputs should be equal to the rate at which renewable substitutes are developed by human intervention and investment.”
Output rule:
“Waste emission from a project should be within the assimilative capacity of the local environment to absorb without unacceptable degradation of its future waste absorptive capacity or other important services.”
5 Current system limitations of GDP
- Lack of information
- Externalities
- Common access resources/sinks
- Voluntary services/bequests not accounted for
- Discounting the future using Net Present Value
Development of classic economic theory occured when..
Evolved at a time when:
a. Human population densities were low
b. Ecological life-support systems (i.e. ecosystem services) seemed limitless
Dichotomy of beliefs
A. Believe technology will develop fast enough to compensate for spent resources, or
B. Believe the planet’s capacity to absorb society’s wastes (discharges) and provide raw materials (harvests) and energy is limited and finite
Growth vs Development
Growth: quantitative increase
Development: qualitative increase
The Daly Rule
Never reduce the stock of natural capital below a level that generates a sustained yield unless good substitutes are available for the services generated
Index of Sustainable Economic Welfare
Intended to replace GDP as an economic measure
ISEW comprised of:
Total output
+ Unpaid work
- Costs of environmental destruction and degradation
- Costs of environmental improvement measures
- Depreciation of human-made capital
± Welfare distribution effect
Genuine Progress Indicator
GPI = A + B - C - D + I
Includes:
A is income weighted private consumption
B is value of non-market services generating welfare
C is private defensive cost of natural deterioration
D is cost of deterioration of nature and natural resources
I is increase in capital stock and balance of international trade
If GDP is like gross profit, then GPI is like net profit (gross minus costs incurred)
