ENERGY CYCLING IN THE ECOSYSTEM

Abstract The principle that energy does not cycle in ecosystems is examined by path and flow analyses of a small, steady state, energy model of an oyster reef community. Path numbers increase combinatorially without bound as path length increases, at much faster rates with energy storage than without. Energy flows over only very short paths in the nonstorage case, but with storage present most flow is associated with long paths. Cycling results. A cycling index modified from the literature standard to include storage shows 11% cycling in the subject model. Energy does cycle in ecosystems; it differs from matter in its dissipation, not cycling, characteristics. A new result is the role of storage in diversifying path structure and increasing flows in networks. The basis for this is examined through influence theory of mathematical graphs, with the conclusion that energy storage as biomass is the root cause of ecosystem energy cycling. Issues of food chain length and embodied energy are reviewed in light of the long paths and related energy flows present in even small order models.

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