Towards a thermodynamics of biological systems

This paper presents a tentative ecosystem theory based on the thermodynamic variable eco-exergy, which measures an ecosystem’s distance from thermodynamic equilibrium. The hypothesis, as a basis for the ecosystem theory, may be formulated as follows: a system that receives a flow of exergy (e.g. solar radiation) will use this flow of exergy, after the exergy needed for maintenance of the system has been covered, to move the system further from thermodynamic equilibrium, reflected by the growth of gradients. If there is more than one pathway to depart from equilibrium, the one yielding the most storage of exergy in the form of gradients under the prevailing conditions, i.e. gives the most ordered structure furthest from equilibrium, will tend to be selected. Three possible types of application of this hypothesis have been presented to: (i) provide a theoretical explanation for ecological observations, (ii) develop a structurally dynamic modelling approach that can describe adaptation and shifts of species composition, and (iii) use exergy and specific exergy as ecological indicators to describe the development of ecosystems.As these applications have been promising they are also a support for the hypothesis.

[1]  Ludwig von Bertalanffy,et al.  Ètude thermodynamique des phénomènes irréversibles , 1949, Nature.

[2]  B. C. Patten,et al.  Ecosystems emerging:: 4. growth , 2000 .

[3]  Sven Erik Jørgensen,et al.  Improved calibration of a eutrophication model by use of the size variation due to succession , 2002 .

[4]  Jorgensen,et al.  The growth rate of zooplankton at the edge of chaos: ecological models , 1995, Journal of theoretical biology.

[5]  S. E. Jørgensen,et al.  Does the intermediate disturbance hypothesis comply with thermodynamics? , 1996, Hydrobiologia.

[6]  Sven Erik Jørgensen,et al.  Emergy, environ, exergy and ecological modelling , 1995 .

[7]  G. Bendoricchio,et al.  Application of structural dynamic approach to estimate space variability of primary producers in shallow marine water , 1997 .

[8]  S. Carpenter,et al.  Catastrophic shifts in ecosystems , 2001, Nature.

[9]  James J. Kay,et al.  Thermodynamics and Measures of Ecological Integrity , 1992 .

[10]  Sven Erik Jørgensen,et al.  Analysis of the properties of exergy and biodiversity along an estuarine gradient of eutrophication , 1997 .

[11]  S. Jørgensen.  Integration of Ecosystem Theories: A Pattern , 1994, Ecology & Environment.

[12]  Sven Erik Jørgensen,et al.  EXERGY AND ECOLOGICAL BUFFER CAPACITY , 1979 .

[13]  Sven Erik Jorgensen,et al.  Toward a Consistent Pattern of Ecosystem Theories , 2001, TheScientificWorldJournal.

[14]  Brian D. Fath,et al.  Application of thermodynamic principles in ecology , 2004 .

[15]  S. Jørgensen,et al.  The use of structural dynamic models to explain successes and failures of biomanipulation , 1998, Hydrobiologia.

[16]  Brian D. Fath,et al.  Modelling the selective adaptation of Darwin’s Finches , 2004 .

[17]  Sven Erik Jørgensen,et al.  Thermodynamic Orientors: Exergy as a Holistic Ecosystem Indicator: A Case Study , 1998 .

[18]  Sven Erik Jørgensen,et al.  Hysteresis in vegetation shift: Lake Mogan prognoses , 2003 .

[19]  R. Peters.  The Ecological Implications of Body Size , 1983 .

[20]  E. Odum.  The strategy of ecosystem development. , 1969, Science.

[21]  H. Shugart.  Terrestrial Ecosystems in Changing Environments , 1998 .

[22]  Sven Erik Jørgensen,et al.  Parameters, ecological constraints and exergy , 1992 .

[23]  Sven Erik Jørgensen,et al.  A holistic approach to ecological modelling , 1979 .

[24]  I. Prigogine,et al.  From Being to Becoming: Time and Complexity in the Physical Sciences , 1982 .

[25]  Sven Erik Jørgensen,et al.  A structurally dynamic modelling—Lake Mogan, Turkey as a case study , 2003 .

[26]  D. Mindell.  Fundamentals of molecular evolution , 1991 .

[27]  S. E. Jørgensen,et al.  The application of a model with dynamic structure to simulate the effect of mass fish mortality on zooplankton structure in Lago di Annone , 1997, Hydrobiologia.

[28]  Sven Erik Jørgensen,et al.  Impact of eutrophication and river management within a framework of ecosystem theories , 2003 .

[29]  Sven Erik Jørgensen,et al.  Complex ecology : the part-whole relation in ecosystems , 1995 .

[30]  James J. Kay,et al.  Self-Organization In Living Systems , 2006 .

[31]  Sven Erik Jørgensen,et al.  Ecological buffer capacity , 1977 .

[32]  Sven Erik Jørgensen,et al.  Calculations of exergy for organisms , 2005 .