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9 - Are ecosystems complex systems?

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  04 August 2010

R. H. Bradbury
Affiliation:
National Resource Information Centre, PO Box Ell Queen Victoria Terrace ACT 2600, AUSTRALIA
D. G. Green
Affiliation:
Charles Sturt University, Albury NSW 2640, AUSTRALIA
N. Snoad
Affiliation:
Australian National University, ACT 0200, AUSTRALIA
Terry R. J. Bossomaier
Affiliation:
Charles Sturt University, Bathurst, New South Wales
David G. Green
Affiliation:
Charles Sturt University, Albury, New South Wales
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Summary

Introduction

It is the living world that first confronts us with real complexity. From coral reefs to rainforests, complex patterns are evident everywhere in the living world. Their intricacy and beauty has always astounded us. Ecology – the study of plants and animals in their environment – emerged as a distinct discipline at the beginning of the twentieth century. Its subject is nothing less than the complexity of the living world itself. Ecology attempts to link patterns to processes. The hope is that hidden within the complexity living systems lie patterns that will enable us to understand the biological processes involved.

In this brief introduction to complexity in ecology we introduce some of the key issues, especially those that relate most closely to the subject of complexity in general.

What is ecological complexity?

Ecological complexity arises from several sources. These include:

  • the sheer abundance of plants and animals – both in numbers and kinds;

  • the richness of the interactions between individuals and populations;

  • the wide variations in environmental conditions that affect organisms and

  • the many different kinds of processes that occur in nature.

Ecologists have taken a variety of approaches to dealing with complexity. Below we look briefly at some of these.

Why is taxonomy relevant?

Our first response to complexity is taxonomy. Whatever the subject we attempt to order and classify phenomena so that we may see a pattern. It is not surprising that taxonomy grew out of biology. Systematic biology – the science of classifying species – represents perhaps the oldest tradition in our attempts to understand the complexity of the living world.

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Complex Systems , pp. 339 - 366
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2000

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  • Are ecosystems complex systems?
    • By R. H. Bradbury, National Resource Information Centre, PO Box Ell Queen Victoria Terrace ACT 2600, AUSTRALIA, D. G. Green, Charles Sturt University, Albury NSW 2640, AUSTRALIA, N. Snoad, Australian National University, ACT 0200, AUSTRALIA
  • Edited by Terry R. J. Bossomaier, Charles Sturt University, Bathurst, New South Wales, David G. Green, Charles Sturt University, Albury, New South Wales
  • Book: Complex Systems
  • Online publication: 04 August 2010
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511758744.009
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  • Are ecosystems complex systems?
    • By R. H. Bradbury, National Resource Information Centre, PO Box Ell Queen Victoria Terrace ACT 2600, AUSTRALIA, D. G. Green, Charles Sturt University, Albury NSW 2640, AUSTRALIA, N. Snoad, Australian National University, ACT 0200, AUSTRALIA
  • Edited by Terry R. J. Bossomaier, Charles Sturt University, Bathurst, New South Wales, David G. Green, Charles Sturt University, Albury, New South Wales
  • Book: Complex Systems
  • Online publication: 04 August 2010
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511758744.009
Available formats
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Save book to Google Drive

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Google Drive.

  • Are ecosystems complex systems?
    • By R. H. Bradbury, National Resource Information Centre, PO Box Ell Queen Victoria Terrace ACT 2600, AUSTRALIA, D. G. Green, Charles Sturt University, Albury NSW 2640, AUSTRALIA, N. Snoad, Australian National University, ACT 0200, AUSTRALIA
  • Edited by Terry R. J. Bossomaier, Charles Sturt University, Bathurst, New South Wales, David G. Green, Charles Sturt University, Albury, New South Wales
  • Book: Complex Systems
  • Online publication: 04 August 2010
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511758744.009
Available formats
×