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larch 363 > vocab > Flashcards

vocab Flashcards

1
Q

ecology

A

the study of relationships between organisms and their environment

1866: coined as “oecology” by Ernst Haekel

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2
Q

an ecosystem is…

A

all the organisms in a given area, along with the nonliving (abiotic) factors with which they all interact

coined as “eqo-system” by Arthur Tansley (1871-55)

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3
Q

landscape ecology

A

the applied study of the relationship between spatial pattern and ecological processes over a range of scales

  • inclusive of humans / human influences (dir & ind)
  • interdisciplinary

Coined as “landschaftsoekologie” by Carl Troll (1899-75)

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4
Q

nature

A

orig: the phenomena of the physical world collectively, including plants, animals, the landscape, and other features and products of the earth, as opposed to humans or human creations

new: that which we may design or influence, but which posesses components or processes fundamentally apart from human origin

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5
Q

ecological design - utilitarian vs. philosophical

A

this course: design + planning + ecology

util: take contemporary ecological conditions and expand their capacity to respond to changes over time
phil: apply our knowledge of nature to create high-performing landscapes in which our design goals and natural processes go hand in hand

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6
Q

your actions are built from (3)

A
  1. what you know about ecology
  2. what you value about nature
  3. your perception of humans in nature
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7
Q

nature as an ideal: constructed transcendence

A
  • 1850-1890
  • 1860: Central Park
  • 1872: Yellowstone
  • know: Oecology coined by Haekel (1866)
  • value: escape (transcendence) from industrialized cities; pastoral aesthetic
  • relationship: capture the dying frontier (Yellowstone);
  • D&P: rock-strewn swamps of NYC have no value -> flooded to make central park lake, creating the natural ideal
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8
Q

nature as identity: regionalism

A
  • early 20th century; esp. Jens Jensen
  • know: ecology infancy
    • Warming: Oecology of Plants - 1895
    • Theories of Plant Succession - 1899
  • value: Identity & Beauty
    • American Plants for American Gardens (1929)
  • relationship: preserve and protect -> NPS
    • Mt. Rainier NP: 1899
    • Zion NP: 1919
  • D&P
    • Civilian Conservation Corps - ‘american vernacular’
    • more natural aesthetic; emph. native plants
    • Local & Participatory: 1936 Lincoln Park planted w/ native plants from home states of Lincoln
    • use of succession: Jensen
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9
Q

nature as designer: environmentalism

A
  • mid 20th century; esp. R. Buckminster Fuller
  • know: Clements/Odum: climax community
    • max niche partitioning
    • max nutrient retention
    • max stability
    • Dichotomy: industry vs. nature
    • nature is efficient & stable (Leopold/Odum)
  • relationship: We have harmed nature; it is apart from us and broken
  • D&P:
    • McHargian Overlays
    • Ahead of its time: Back Bay Fens, Boston (eliot/olmstead); salt-tolerant plants arranged in pastoral landscape aesthetic
      *
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10
Q

nature as healer: letting nature back in

A
  • Late 20th century
  • known: ecology & computers lead to new perspectives
    • climate sci., GIS, long term monitoring, evolution
  • value: economic benefits of ecos. services
    • no net loss of wetlands
    • use of controlled burns
  • relationship: working to redefine
    • Bill McKibben - end of nature - 1989
    • William Cronon - uncommon ground - 1996
  • D&P:
    • Crosby arbor., cont. burns - Andropogon - 1991
    • Gasworks park - R. Haag - 1975
    • Landschaftspark, Duisburg, Ge. - Peter Latz ‘91
      *
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11
Q

nature as partner: sharing a future

A
  • new millenium
  • known: New Paradigm - ecosystems are dynamic, there is no ‘sustainable state’, only factors that affect size & frequency of changes… and the ability to reorganize afterward
  • value: ecos. provide measurable services (PRCS); exposure to nature provides immeasurable value
  • relationship: family: we both depend upon and care for each other
  • D&P:
    • Oly. sculpture park & Sea wall -
      • Charles Anderson - 2007
    • Magnuson Park - 1975
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12
Q

What do we learn from history?

A
  • Nature is powerful as local heritage & identity
  • Aesthetics can influence connection to nature
  • Designers of Public Spaces influence how society defines nature
  • There is a concerted effort in design community to use best available science… but that science might not always be right
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13
Q

critical actions: conservation

A

actions that slow the rate of consumption & degradation

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14
Q

critical actions: regeneration

A

actions that expand natural capital through repair & renewal

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15
Q

critical actions: stewardship

A

actions that emit a quality of care in our relations to surroundings through careful maintenance & continual reinvestment

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16
Q

ecological design goals: sustainable design

A

development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs (Brundtland Commission, Our Common Future, 1987)

  • Human use of resources
  • Efficiency
  • Conservation
  • 3 Pillars: Society + Economy + Environment
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17
Q

ecological design goals: resilient design

A
  • Anticipates distrubance
  • Allows for change
  • maintains core functions
  • 3 concepts: Adaptive + Redundant + Diverse
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18
Q

ecological design goals: regenerative design

A
  • improve environmental conditions over time
  • spiral resource production & ecological integrity upwards
  • closed loops: waste becomes valuable
  • build cultural capital & stewardship
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19
Q

ecological design tools (3)

A
  • Use a systems approach:
    • relationships
    • patterns & processes
  • apply best available science
    • landscape ecology
  • promote resilience
    • adaptive
    • redundant
    • diverse
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20
Q

ecological design strategies (3)

A
  • celebration of ecology
    • education
    • interpretation
    • inspiration
  • mimic functions of ecology
    • flood control
    • water purification
    • nutrient cycling
  • ecology as prime directive
    • enhance & provide ecos. services
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21
Q

ecosystem services are…

A

the benefits people obtain from ecosystems that also maintain the conditions for life on earth

PRCS

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22
Q

PRCS

A
  • provisioning: food, water, wood/fiber, medicine
  • regulating: flood & disease control, climate reg (C fix)
  • cultural: spiritual, recreational, & cultural benefits
  • supporting: nutrient cycling, soil formation, biodiversity
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23
Q

Systems Theory / a system is… and has (3)

A

an interconnected set of components that are organized and relate to one another to achieve some function

  • function (ecos. serv.)
  • relationships (flows & patterns)
  • components (abiotic & biotic)
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24
Q

complex adaptive system (3)

A
  • self-organizing
    • diverse, aggregating
  • connected by flows
    • nutrient cycling, etc
  • non-linear
    • small moves -> big changes
      • ex: phosphorus -> eut. lake
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25
Q

concerns over wetland mitigation banks (4)

A
  • still too soon to gauge success (need 30-60 yrs)
  • gives green light to develpment
  • great difficulties establishing soils, carbon seq., and nutrient cycling
  • we are pushing good ecosystems outside our cities
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26
Q

main point about ecosystem building

A

ecosystem building is already part & parcel of existing methods

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27
Q

what is a wetland? (3)

A
  • has wetlands hydrology (20/22 days standing water during growing season)
  • presence of hydric soil
    • mottling / greying
    • high volume of organic matter
  • presence of wetland-adapted plants
    • ex: arenchyma of Lotus root - pushed O2 into soil so roots can breathe
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28
Q

Take Homes for Design

A
  1. set things up right and let the system do the work
    • ex: Spiral Jetty (Robert Smithson)
      • function: art
      • relationship: evaporation
      • components: rock, water, salt
  2. Be aware of site nutrient dynamics
    • possible scarcity or excess
  3. Use flows to enhance system performance
    • carbon storage
    • nitrogen removal
  4. Create a closed system
    • use energy, nutrients, biomass as many times as possible, then re-use
  5. Never assume you have a closed system; something always gets out
  6. Use succession as a model but anticipate change
  7. Work in design teams when possible: more eyes & more perspectives = better analysis
  8. Examine influence above & below project scale to understand:
    • site dynamics
    • constraints | opportunities
    • signifigance of project
29
Q

2 key ecosystem relationships

A
  1. Processes: flows
  2. Patterns: sequences or arrangements over space and time
30
Q

ecos. relationships: processes: flows (5)

A
  1. energy
    • auto, hetero, chemoautotroph
    • trophic levels, cascades
  2. nutrient
    • sources, sinks, txfrs of C N P
  3. organisms
  4. water
  5. culture
31
Q

carbon cycle

A

​main structural component for all life

  • source: atmospheric CO2
  • sinks: soil, rocks, fossil fuels, standing biomass
  • transfers: mediated by life
    • photosynth: carbon fixation by primary producers
    • respiration: heterotrophs breakdown biomass into CO2, harvesting energy
32
Q

managing carbon (3)

A
  1. fast-growing, slow decaying species (Eucalyptus)
  2. perennial grasslands - high carbon storage
  3. keep it wet - prevent respiration
33
Q

nitrogen cycle

A

significant for proteins and amino acids

  • source: atmospheric N2
  • sinks: soil organic matter, standing biomass
  • transfers:
    • N fixation: atmos. N2 -> ammonia (diazotrophs)
      • req’s O2
    • Nitrification: ammonia -> nitrate, moves through soil
    • DeNitrification: back to N2 gas
      • what we do w/ sewage
      • req’s low O2
34
Q

managing nitrogen

A
  • fluctuate O2 to speed up N cycle
    • fast water = high O2 & nitrification
    • slow water = low O2 & denitrification
    • but monitor it, as incomplete denitri. = greenhouse gases (NO2, NO3)
  • maximize surface area (floating wetlands)
  • mind your N-fixers (ex: lupine, Scot’s Broom)
35
Q

phosphorus cycle

A
  • essential molecule for cellular metabolism (ATP)
  • source: lithosphere
  • sinks: soil, standing biomass
  • transfers
    • chemical/physical weathering
  • typically the most limiting nutrient
36
Q

processes - flows: water

A
  • transporter & architect: where, when, how much, how often, why?
  • water cycle keys: surface runoff, snowmelt, groundwater discharge
  • hydroperiod: duration, depth, periodicity of water saturation; determines veg community in wetlands
  • flow regime: describes peak flow events in rivers
    • timing, magnitude, duraion
  • hydrogeomorphology: how water shapes and is shaped by the land
37
Q

processes - flows: organisms

A
  • migration & dispersal:
    • by foot, wing, wind, water, hitchhike
38
Q

processes - flows: culture

A
  • stewardship & value
  • economic, social, political factors dictate ecos. serv.
39
Q

ecosystem relationships: patterns (3)

A
  • hierarchy
  • scale
  • feedback loops
40
Q

ecos. patterns: hierarchy

A
  • ranked levels of organization
  • two types
    • structural (streams -> rivers -> sea)
    • control (trophic levels)
  • watershed planning based on hierarchy theory
    • what happens upstream will be revealed downstream
41
Q

ecos. patterns: scale

A
  • context in space & time
  • what influences your site from boundaries?
  • how does your site influence surroundings?
  • how will site change over time?
  • microclimate: local factors make a difference
    • ex: UHI; extreme shade
    • Look for: light, drainage, nutrient content, pH, competition, aspect (S? W?), exposure (wind)
  • Verticality: look up, get down
  • Temporality: succession, disturbance
42
Q

ecos. patterns: feedback loops

A
  • positive: promotes change to a new state
    • pop growth; melting arctic ice
  • negative: stabilizes & reinforces
    • predator/prey; grazing sheep speeds up N cyclin
43
Q

ecos. components

A
  • abiotic:
    • climate
    • geology
    • substrate
  • biotic:
    • biodiversity
    • engineers & keystone species
    • mutualisms
    • functional groups
44
Q

Macronutrients: C. HOPKINS CaFe Mighty good

A
  • Carbon
  • Hydrogen
  • Oxygen
  • Phosphorus
  • Potassium
  • Iodine
  • Nitrogen
  • Sulfur
  • Calcium
  • Iron
  • Magnesium
45
Q

micronutrients

A
  • Cu - copper
  • Mn - manganese
  • Se - selenium
  • I - Iodine… ?
46
Q

keystone species

A

has a disproportionately large effect on its ecosystem compared to its biomass

47
Q

ecosystem engineers

A

provide structure

48
Q

biodiversity: richness vs. evenness vs. adundance

A
  • richness: # of different species
  • abundance: amount of ind’s for a given species
  • evenness: equality in the abundance of each species
49
Q

life history

A

suite of traits possessed by an organism that enable survival in a particular environment

50
Q

niche partitioning

A

competition for resources drives species to specialize in strategies to take unique advantage of thier habitat

51
Q

2 things that help delineate boundaries for ecos, especially sensitive habitat

A

life history & niche partitioning

52
Q

mutualisms

A
  • close connections
  • enhanced abilities (myc. root assocs)
  • sensitive indicators of ecos. health
    • lichen (algae + fungus)
    • Indian pipe (late succ. forests)
53
Q

functional groups

A
  • organisms that all occupy a similar role in a food web / trophic pyramid
  • metabolic bottlenecks occur when services are only performed by a small # of organisms
54
Q

functional redundancy

A

how many species play similar roles

55
Q

landscape

A
  • a heterogenous area consisting of homogeneous elements organized in a mosaic-like pattern
  • landscapes exist w/in distinct spatial & temporal contexts
56
Q

landscape forms (6) (spatial patterns)

A
  1. Matrix
  2. Mosaic
  3. Patch: a relatively homogenous area that differs from its surroundings
    • form follows
  4. Edge:
  5. Corridor
  6. Intersection / node
57
Q

matrix

A

dominant land cover in an area

58
Q

mosaic

A

mixed landscape forms imposted on a background matrix

59
Q

patch

A
  • a relatively homogenous area that differs from its surroundings
  • form follows process
  • patches follow historical processes
  • patches follow disturbances or dictate their effect
  • patches follow current human uses / technology
  • have edges
60
Q

edge

A

a boundary or perimeter of patch (or corridor) ecosystem with environmental condition that differ from the interior

61
Q

corridors

A

connecting elements that assist in the tfr of materials, energy, species…

62
Q

intersections

A

points of highest interaction and integration

63
Q

landscape functions (ecol. processes) (6)

A
  1. Conduit
  2. Barrier
  3. Filter
  4. Source
  5. Sink
  6. Habitat
64
Q

old paradigm (directed & static)

  • biol. communites are usually close to equilibrium and maximize available resources
  • patches w/in a mosaic are relatively closed to outside influences
  • strong interactions b/t species quickly restore to a state of equilibrium after a disturbance
A

new paradigm (dynamic)

  • biological communities are in constant flux over space & time
  • patches are strongly influences by the flux of energy & material flows across system borders
  • interactions b/t species form a dynamic set of processes that shift to new states after a disturbance
65
Q

island biogeography

A

key players: EO Wilson, Robert MacArthur

  • bioD controlled not just by habitats but by balance of immigration & local extinction
  • patterns of bioD are determined by island size & isolation
  • can use stepping stones or corridors to increase patch connectivity
66
Q

Resilience Theory

A
  • resilience = the ability of a system to maintain key fx & processes in the face of stress or pressure, including:
    • the ability to adapt to impacts of stress
    • the ability to resist pressures from disturbance
67
Q

resilience: lat/res/prec

A
  • lattitude: range of system adaptation over which ecosystem services are preserved
  • resistance: strength of “pull” back towards equilibrium
  • precariousness: proximity to regime shift
  • threshhold: point beyond which regime shift occurs
68
Q

resilience: panarchy

A
  • nested adaptive cycles
  • systems stabilize & evolve through top down and bottom up control
  • similar to “ecosystem memory”

larch 363 (1 decks)

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