Self Organization Flashcards
What three simple rules give rise to apparently coordinated complex patterns
Stay as close as possible to neighbours
Keep same speed as neighbours
Orient towards the centre of the group
Define entropy
Measure of disorder
Describe the cooling of a hot cup of coffee in the context of entropy
Energy in the form of heat is concentrated in the coffee. Because it is far warmer then it’s environment, entropy theory dictates that the heat be dispersed away from the coffee which continues until the temp of the coffee is equal to that of the room
Link Schrodingers order from chaos lecture to ecosystem successional processes. Specifically why succession only ever moves in one direction
He observed that life continually moves to add order by assembling simple raw materials. It increases complexity and never develops in decreasing order/ structure. As a result ecological systems only ever progress from simple to complicated and not in the other order
What process is the only way to turn back the development clock in ecological systems
A disturbance such as primary or secondary succession
Describe the PLA and PMA
PLA: is that the system will work to dissipate max energy
PMA: is that organisms will work to attain max energy and dissipate min energy
How do ecological systems simultaneously satisfy both PLA and PMA
Community will self organize to max the greatest possible amount of energy harvested from the environment. As a result the energy density residing in the life forms increases with each successional stage, thus satisfying the principle of the most action for the organism
Organization of complex systems
While there is undeniable complexity embedded in ecosystems, complexity arises from simple dynamics
This complexity does not give rise to completely random assemblages of species and relationships. Ecosystems evolve along partially predictable pathways
Equilibrium
The condition of a system in which all competing influences are balanced
How is energy dissipated
Energy always moves from high density to low density. Energy is always dissipated so as to be as close to equilibrium as possible
Schrodinger lectures
Lectures 1& 2: order from order (mother gives birth to children)
3: order from chaos (how is order created from disorder)
What are the two opposing forces in ecosystems, individuals, …
Physical imperative of least action
And this biological imperative of individuals for most action
The climax or tertiary community is when two come as close as possible to equality
How is structure formed
Structure is a result of ecological systems maximizing energy flow
What pathway is followed
The one allows for energy dissipation be max.
It is maximized by communities being composed of individuals and species best able to harvest and retain energy
