The Rules of the Game

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The Rules of the Game

• The Science of Nature Science, Ecology and Life

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Key Terms

•  science
•  ecology
•  energy and useful energy
•  elements and process
•  cycles
•  balance (homeostasis)
•  life
•  system and ecosystem
•  life-support system

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ScienceWhat is it exactly?

• Science is not a thing, it is a way of doing
  things.
• The Observation, Identification, Description,
  Experimental Investigation, and Theoretical
  Explanation of Natural Phenomena
• The Laws of Science do not change and cannot be
  changed or avoided, but they can be ignoredfor a
  while.

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The limits of science

• We do not know everything.
• New knowledge causes us to rethink everything
  Quantum Physics, Sub-Atomic Physics, Genetic
  Engineering.
• What we know does not always determine what we
  dobelieve it or not.
• A great deal of research is into destruction
  rather than creativity.

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Requirements of Science

• You must be able to repeat the experiment with
  precisely the same result or it is not science.
• You must be able to measure precisely at every
  stage no measurements no science.
• You must not impute into Science any meaning or
  intent, it just is.

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The Objective of Science

• You can simply think of science as finding out
  if you wish, but all science has one fundamental
  purpose. Can you guess what it is?
• It is to be able to PREDICT the consequences of
  known actions.
• Without science, everything would be subjective
  and qualitative, and we would not be where we are
  today. We would be very confused and would seek
  explanations outside science as we did for
  centuries.

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The focus on Process

• Science is about how and why
• In other words we are interested in the process
  by which things happen
• In ecological terms, how does it all work, not
  what does it look like.
• Also, in general, we do not ask what is it all
  for? because in terms of science, it is not for
  anything. It simply is.
• Religions, of course, contradict that view.

This?
Or this?
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Now, what about Ecology?

• Despite the misuse of the word, it is a Science.
  We define it as follows
• The study of the interrelationships between
  organisms (living things) and their environment.
  From the Greek word oikos, meaning "house.
• If its a science, then in Ecology, what do you
  measure? Otherwise, it is not a science. So, what
  do you think it is?
• ENERGY

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Energy

• Energy is everything it is what life is about,
  the ability to put energy to work. Most people
  asked to define Energy would be stumped.
• energy -- ((physics) the capacity of a physical
  system to do work the units of energy are joules
  or ergs "energy can take a wide variety of
  forms")
• ENERGY IS EVERYTHING AND WE CAN REDUCE EVERYTHING
  TO ENERGY. THAT IS THE KEY TO THIS COURSE.

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ALL energy comes from one placewhere?
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Energy

• You cant make it, you cant destroy it
• But you can change its form and put it to work
  for you.
• Agriculture, for instance, is selectively
  rechanneling energy through plants that we can
  use (useful energy) that we call crops. Other
  plants are weeds.
• We are all machines for using energy
• The tsunami demonstrates many classic properties
  of energy.

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Systems

• A system is an integrated machine for using
  energy
• It requires fuel (food in our case) and burns
  that (chemically) to maintain our bodies, and
  allow us to do things (work)
• a group of independent but interrelated elements
  comprising a unified whole (dictionary
  definition)

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Systems are generally self-regulating

• Lets think about this in terms of the system we
  call homo sapiens.
• You need energy, but you cannot absorb it
  directly from the sun. You get it, directly or
  indirectly, from those who can.
• The food is then burned, broken down, and keeps
  the body within the small range of temperature
  tolerance that it needs to function.
• What does the system do if the optimum
  temperature goes up or down? I.e. when the system
  is not functioning properly?

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Life-Support System

• The natural environment is our Life-Support
  System.
• We evolved with it so we are suited to it as it
  isthat is very important.
• So, if we change our habitat, then there is a
  question of messing around with our life-support
  system.

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So, what is an Eco system?

• A dynamic complex of plant, animal and
  micro-organism communities and their non-living
  environment interacting as a functional unit.
• Everything in it will evolve to find its niche of
  unused energy, until there is no more energy to
  exploit and it stabilizes.
• Different parts of the world, with different
  energy characteristics, produce different, but
  stable, ecosystems.

The difference between these two contrasting, but
stable, ecosystems, is the way that the energy is
delivered. For instance, the average temperature,
length of day, seasonality, etc.
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Balance, or homeostasis

• Each ecosystem will evolve to the point where the
  energy coming in, and that going out, are
  balanced. That is why they stay stable.
• If you interfere with the energy equation in one
  part of the system (agriculture) it will have
  repercussions through the entire system.
• Man has the capacity to make more change than any
  other species. Why?
• Because he has harnessed energy

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Cycles

• Everything in Nature is Cycled
• That is, it is used and then renewed
• Think of water and the hydrological cycleand
  there are cycles for everything else oxygen,
  carbon, nitrogen, etc.
• Nature cycles us too. When we die we decompose,
  and the component parts become the diet of
  something else, or the building blocks of the
  future. Round and round it goes.

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This is the only planet we have.
Well, for now.
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A question of perspective.

• There is an additional factor that complicates
  the nature of our relationship with the
  environment
• That is, are we part of nature just like any
  other living thing or are we special?
• Depends on your religion, and your faith in
  science and technology in the service of
  mankind.
• This is a very complicated matter because it does
  not involve science, but faith.

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Other strokes for other folks.

• Euro American                 Other Cultural
  Groups
• Mastery over nature        Harmony with nature
• Personal control over Environment
                       Fate
• Doing-activity                   Being
• Time dominates                Personal
  interaction
• Human equality                Hierarchy
• Individualism/privacy       Welfare of the group
• Youth                                Elders
• Self help                           Birthright
  inheritance
• Competition                      Cooperation
• Future orientation             Past or present
  orientation
• Informality                          Formality
• Directness/openness        Indirectness/ritual
• Practicality/efficiency      Idealism
• Materialism                      
  Spiritualism/detachment

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The Judeo-Christian View of Nature

• Although we humans are part of the natural
  world, we have a unique position in it that makes
  us superior to all other beings. This is not a
  matter of physical size or strength, for on that
  scale of things we are only infinitesimal specks
  on a planet that is itself but a speck in the
  infinite reaches of the universe. Rather, the
  reason humans are regarded as the crown of
  creation is due entirely to our unique spiritual
  endowment. Humans have the ability, unparalleled
  in the natural world, to know God and to attain
  the transcendent purpose
• In the Abrahamic religions, humans are said to
  have been created as God's "viceregents" and
  granted the blessing of dominion over all things.
  All things exist for our benefit, by which we can
  develop ourselves to become co-creators with
  God.

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The Buddhist View

• Respect all forms of life, and then show
  compassion and affection toward all sentient
  beings, with the understanding that everything is
  interdependent - so my happiness and suffering,
  my well-being, very much have to do with others'.
  
• The Dalai Lama.

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Conclusion

• These topics today cover the key terms for you to
  know on the science side.
• Go to the Home Page, and under Supplementary
  Readings click on Introductory Lecture and
  read through that.
• Below that, read Key Concepts and be sure that
  you understand all this.
• Check your Reading Schedule on the Homepage for
  what to read in conjunction with todays
  presentation.