Re: Is biodiversity an ecosystem function?
I've always had difficulty understanding how a static measure (such as biodiversity, or even something like biomass) can be called a function. This is partly just a semantic issue, but largely a real issue as well. Casey -- Casey terHorst Department of Biological Science CON 115 Florida State University Tallahassee, FL 32306 [EMAIL PROTECTED] Quoting Fabrice De Clerck [EMAIL PROTECTED]: I have a quick question for the listserve for which I would be interested in hearing people's opinions, and experiences. The question is: Is biodiversity an ecosystem service? Those of us that work in biodiversity and ecosystem functioning studies typically regard biodiversity at the provider of services and functions. Tilman's biodiversity and productiity, the biodiversity and stability work, biodiversity and pollination (Klein), biodiversity and pest control (Perfecto). Meanwhile in much of the development and economics literature, biodiversity itself is a unique service and function where it is not uncommon to see people state that we will work with farmers to improve the capacity of coffee farms to provide critical ecosystem services such as carbon sequestration, biodiversity and water. Are both correct or is it important to distinguish between biodiversity serving as a function, and biodiversity as the provider of services. All comments are welcome on- or off the listserve. Cheers, Fabrice * Fabrice De Clerck PhD Landscape Ecologist/Ecologo de Paisaje Dept. Agricultura y Agroforesteria CATIE 7170, Turrialba, Costa Rica Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Phone: (506) 558-2596 Fax: (506) 558-2046 Web: www.catie.ac.cr Adjunct Associate Tropical Agriculture Program The Earth Institute at Columbia University Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Skype: fadeclerck Web:www.earthinstitute.columbia.edu/mvp/ *** Everything not given is lost
Re: Is biodiversity an ecosystem function?
I agree with Casey. It is problematic, both linguistically and conceptu= ally, to refer to biodiversity as =93an=94 ecosystem service. I think i= t would be helpful to use the terminology and the typology of natural ca= pital set forth by Daly and Farley in their textbook on ecological econo= mics. Natural capital can take the form of stocks, from which goods flo= w, or funds, from which services flow. Some elements of natural capital= , including biodiversity, may take either form. ?xml:namespace prefix =3D o ns =3D urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:o= ffice / Biodiversity may be viewed firstly as a stock from which goods flow, esp= ecially biodiversity at the species level. Examples of goods flowing fr= om the stock of biodiversity include live stock, food, furs, fibers, etc= . At the genetic level, the most obvious goods would be genes, for exam= ple in genetic engineering. = = Biodiversity may also be viewed as a fund from which services flow, and = really there is no one authoritative or comprehensive list of such servi= ces, but they would include all of the services performed by species and= of value to humans (e.g., pollination, decomposition) and, at the genet= ic level, more nuanced services such as the provision of evolutionary ca= pacity. At the ecosystem level, one could argue that the =93services=94= flowing from the fund of biodiversity would include semi-marketable fun= ctions such as the provision of aesthetic pleasure, and in such cases th= e services overlap with older typologies of values provided by nature.= = = For more details I suggest the Daly/Farley textbook. = = Cheers, Brian Czech, Ph.D., President Center for the Advancement of the Steady State Economy SIGN THE POSITION on economic growth at: www.steadystate.org/PositiononE= G.html . EMAIL RESPONSE PROBLEMS? Use [EMAIL PROTECTED] -- Casey terHorst [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: I've always had difficulty understanding how a static measure (such as biodiversity, or even something like biomass) can be called a function. = This is partly just a semantic issue, but largely a real issue as well. Casey -- Casey terHorst Department of Biological Science CON 115 Florida State University Tallahassee, FL 32306 [EMAIL PROTECTED] Quoting Fabrice De Clerck [EMAIL PROTECTED]: I have a quick question for the listserve for which I would be interested in hearing people's opinions, and experiences. The question is: Is biodiversity an ecosystem service? Those of us that work in biodiversity and ecosystem functioning studies typically regard biodiversity at the provider of services and functions. Tilman's biodiversity and productiity, the biodiversity and stability work, biodiversity and pollination (Klein), biodiversity and pest control (Perfecto). Meanwhile in much of the development and economics literature, biodiversity itself is a unique service and function where it is not uncommon to see people state that we will work with farmers to improve the capacity of coffee farms to provide critical ecosystem services such as carbon sequestration, biodiversity and water. Are both correct or is it important to distinguish between biodiversity serving as a function, and biodiversity as the provider of services. All comments are welcome on- or off the listserve. Cheers, Fabrice * Fabrice De Clerck PhD Landscape Ecologist/Ecologo de Paisaje Dept. Agricultura y Agroforesteria CATIE 7170, Turrialba, Costa Rica Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Phone: (506) 558-2596 Fax: (506) 558-2046 Web: www.catie.ac.cr Adjunct Associate Tropical Agriculture Program The Earth Institute at Columbia University Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Skype: fadeclerck Web:www.earthinstitute.columbia.edu/mvp/ *** Everything not given is lost
Research assistant – biogeochemistry lab at Duke
DUKE UNIVERSITY DURHAM, NC The Bernhardt lab at Duke University (read more at http://biology.duke.edu/bernhardtlab/) is looking to hire research technicians to work on two independently-funded research projects. The first project examines the effects of elevated CO2 and N availability on root exudation in a loblolly pine plantation (Duke Forest FACE facility). The second project involves studying nutrient transformations between soil, water and atmosphere in a large-scale wetland restoration project in coastal North Carolina. Technicians will be expected to perform routine field sampling and preparation and analysis of soil and water samples in the laboratory. Successful applicants will gain experience in both aquatic and terrestrial biogeochemical methods. Employment duration: We are accepting applications from those seeking short-term (2-3 months in summer of 2007) or longer-term employment (12 months from May 2007 to May 2008). Job Requirements: Ability to conduct moderately physical activity in the field under adverse conditions (i.e. heat, high humidity, and insects). Previous experience in soil and /or water chemical analysis is strongly preferred. Qualifications: B.S. degree and coursework in ecology, biogeochemistry, soils and/or hydrology (or related fields). Salary: Commensurate with experience Please send cover letter, resume, list of pertinent courses and references (with phone numbers) by email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Please include Biogeochemistry Research Assistant in the title of your email. For specific questions or more information on this position, please contact: Dr. Emily S. Bernhardt Department of Biology Box 90340 Duke University, Durham, NC 27708 Telephone: (919) 660-7318 http://www.biology.duke.edu/bernhardtlab/ Duke University is an equal opportunity employer
Re: Is biodiversity an ecosystem function?
Could biodiversity be viewed as structure and function be reserved for nutrient cycling etc.? Scott --- Scott Ruhren, Ph.D. Senior Director of Conservation Audubon Society of Rhode Island 12 Sanderson Road Smithfield, RI 02917-2600 401-949-5454 -Original Message- From: Ecological Society of America: grants, jobs, news [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Friday, April 20, 2007 12:12 PM To: ECOLOG-L@LISTSERV.UMD.EDU Subject: Re: Is biodiversity an ecosystem function? I agree with Casey. It is problematic, both linguistically and conceptu= ally, to refer to biodiversity as =93an=94 ecosystem service. I think i= t would be helpful to use the terminology and the typology of natural ca= pital set forth by Daly and Farley in their textbook on ecological econo= mics. Natural capital can take the form of stocks, from which goods flo= w, or funds, from which services flow. Some elements of natural capital= , including biodiversity, may take either form. ?xml:namespace prefix =3D o ns =3D urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:o= ffice / Biodiversity may be viewed firstly as a stock from which goods flow, esp= ecially biodiversity at the species level. Examples of goods flowing fr= om the stock of biodiversity include live stock, food, furs, fibers, etc= . At the genetic level, the most obvious goods would be genes, for exam= ple in genetic engineering. = = Biodiversity may also be viewed as a fund from which services flow, and = really there is no one authoritative or comprehensive list of such servi= ces, but they would include all of the services performed by species and= of value to humans (e.g., pollination, decomposition) and, at the genet= ic level, more nuanced services such as the provision of evolutionary ca= pacity. At the ecosystem level, one could argue that the =93services=94= flowing from the fund of biodiversity would include semi-marketable fun= ctions such as the provision of aesthetic pleasure, and in such cases th= e services overlap with older typologies of values provided by nature.= = = For more details I suggest the Daly/Farley textbook. = = Cheers, Brian Czech, Ph.D., President Center for the Advancement of the Steady State Economy SIGN THE POSITION on economic growth at: www.steadystate.org/PositiononE= G.html . EMAIL RESPONSE PROBLEMS? Use [EMAIL PROTECTED] -- Casey terHorst [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: I've always had difficulty understanding how a static measure (such as biodiversity, or even something like biomass) can be called a function. = This is partly just a semantic issue, but largely a real issue as well. Casey -- Casey terHorst Department of Biological Science CON 115 Florida State University Tallahassee, FL 32306 [EMAIL PROTECTED] Quoting Fabrice De Clerck [EMAIL PROTECTED]: I have a quick question for the listserve for which I would be interested in hearing people's opinions, and experiences. The question is: Is biodiversity an ecosystem service? Those of us that work in biodiversity and ecosystem functioning studies typically regard biodiversity at the provider of services and functions. Tilman's biodiversity and productiity, the biodiversity and stability work, biodiversity and pollination (Klein), biodiversity and pest control (Perfecto). Meanwhile in much of the development and economics literature, biodiversity itself is a unique service and function where it is not uncommon to see people state that we will work with farmers to improve the capacity of coffee farms to provide critical ecosystem services such as carbon sequestration, biodiversity and water. Are both correct or is it important to distinguish between biodiversity serving as a function, and biodiversity as the provider of services. All comments are welcome on- or off the listserve. Cheers, Fabrice * Fabrice De Clerck PhD Landscape Ecologist/Ecologo de Paisaje Dept. Agricultura y Agroforesteria CATIE 7170, Turrialba, Costa Rica Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Phone: (506) 558-2596 Fax: (506) 558-2046 Web: www.catie.ac.cr Adjunct Associate Tropical Agriculture Program The Earth Institute at Columbia University Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Skype: fadeclerck Web:www.earthinstitute.columbia.edu/mvp/ *** Everything not given is lost
Re: Is biodiversity an ecosystem function?
Fabrice De Clerck wrote: I have a quick question for the listserve for which I would be interested in hearing people's opinions, and experiences. The question is: Is biodiversity an ecosystem service? A good summary which seeks to answer the above question can be found at: http://www.ecospherics.net/pages/MosqEcoFun5.html The above identifies and describes the various functions provided by biodiversity and ecodiversity that have been instrumental in bringing about the evolution of the Ecosphere. The article identifies 19 functions (things that organisms and ecosystems do for the Ecosphere (which includes the bio part) to have caused it to come to be the way it is). It also summarizes two papers which look at ecological services or ecosystem services only from the human-centered or anthropocentric value system, i.e. what good do these functions provide for humans and the organisms that feed humans?. Thus, Costanza et al list 17 such human centered services to us while Daily identifies 13 (see above URL for refs.). Meanwhile in much of the development and economics literature, biodiversity itself is a unique service and function where it is not uncommon to see people state that we will work with farmers to improve the capacity of coffee farms to provide critical ecosystem services such as carbon sequestration, biodiversity and water. In the above, this reminds me of ecologist Stan Rowe's comment Inaccurate language muddles thought. Are both correct or is it important to distinguish between biodiversity serving as a function, and biodiversity as the provider of services. To say that biodiversity serves a function does indeed muddle thought. The latter (provider of services of various types) would be more accurate but at the same time biodiversity is really not separable from ecodiversity. Cheers, Ted -- Ted Mosquin Box 279, Lanark, Ontario K0G 1K0 Canada Anthology of Ecospheric Ethics www.ecospherics.net http://www.ecospherics.net A Manifesto for Earth (files at:www.ecospherics.net http://www.ecospherics.net)
Fwd: Global Warming Swindle
Hello fellow propagandists, I just received this link to a video supposedly contradicting the recent media hype on global warming. You owe it to yourself to take a look. To paraphrase the final line it would be hilarious if it weren't such a sad rhetorical example of poor debate. No data is presented other than the observations that climate has changed in the past and that the recession of the 1970's should have resulted in cooling. I'm curious as to whether the scientists quoted really understand the feedbacks and lags involved in the carbon cycle or even the physical connect between CO2 and IR absorption. Perhaps they've never heard of an IRGA. Cheers, David Bryant Begin forwarded message: From: Insight [EMAIL PROTECTED] Date: April 19, 2007 11:25:35 AM EDT To: Insight [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Global Warming Swindle If you believe the prejudice-based science of Al Gore and Sheryl Crow, you need to look at this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aJSupf6rkgEmode=relatedsearch=
Re: ECOSYSTEM Function Service Re: Is biodiversity an ecosystem function?
Wayne, The questions I have reflected on and can comment on are the last three: The distinction between functions and services I thought has always been an human based distinction where services are those functions that have important human values. Don't ask me though to then list those that are functions and those that are services. For question number 5 in my biodiversity is the provider of functions. For six, absolutely it is more than numbers, composition plays a huge role, and the functional ecologist, would argue that the traits of the species present in a community or ecosystem are important. We also have plenty of evidence that for particular function, one species can indeed bet better than many, at least over the short term, which also answers number 7, the numbers, or identities must be able to change over time, which is in large part the foundation of the diversity stability debate. Cheers, Fabrice On Apr 20, 2007, at 11:33 AM, Wayne Tyson wrote: I'm a bit confused too. terHorst makes a good point, but I suspect that if there is a truth beneath the semantics and the labels and the presumptions and the homeocentric bias, it might be at once more complex and simple that we understand--or are capable of understanding. But that's why ecology is endlessly interesting, eh? Once upon a time, long, long ago, I was blatting on about ecosystem function. Then Dick Vogl said, I don't know what 'ecosystem function' is. That set me to thinking--critically, about my assumptions, because I considered Vogl to be an ecology prodigy, if not genius. One thing about him--he thought WAY out of the box, but always tied it to more or less conventional theory so those around him would have something solid to cling to while Vogl spun his magic. So perhaps terHorst's remarks should at least not be overlooked, perhaps given serious thought. 1. What IS ecosystem function? 2. What is an ecosystem service? 3. What are the differences between the two? 4. Are they related at all, and if so, just how? 5. Where does biodiversity fit into each? 6. Is there more to biodiversity than numbers? 7. Are those numbers valid in a dynamic sense over time? WT At 07:47 AM 4/20/2007, Casey terHorst wrote: I've always had difficulty understanding how a static measure (such as biodiversity, or even something like biomass) can be called a function. This is partly just a semantic issue, but largely a real issue as well. Casey -- Casey terHorst Department of Biological Science CON 115 Florida State University Tallahassee, FL 32306 [EMAIL PROTECTED] Quoting Fabrice De Clerck [EMAIL PROTECTED]: I have a quick question for the listserve for which I would be interested in hearing people's opinions, and experiences. The question is: Is biodiversity an ecosystem service? Those of us that work in biodiversity and ecosystem functioning studies typically regard biodiversity at the provider of services and functions. Tilman's biodiversity and productiity, the biodiversity and stability work, biodiversity and pollination (Klein), biodiversity and pest control (Perfecto). Meanwhile in much of the development and economics literature, biodiversity itself is a unique service and function where it is not uncommon to see people state that we will work with farmers to improve the capacity of coffee farms to provide critical ecosystem services such as carbon sequestration, biodiversity and water. Are both correct or is it important to distinguish between biodiversity serving as a function, and biodiversity as the provider of services. All comments are welcome on- or off the listserve. Cheers, Fabrice * Fabrice De Clerck PhD Landscape Ecologist/Ecologo de Paisaje Dept. Agricultura y Agroforesteria CATIE 7170, Turrialba, Costa Rica Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Phone: (506) 558-2596 Fax: (506) 558-2046 Web: www.catie.ac.cr Adjunct Associate Tropical Agriculture Program The Earth Institute at Columbia University Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Skype: fadeclerck Web:www.earthinstitute.columbia.edu/mvp/ *** Everything not given is lost * Fabrice De Clerck PhD Landscape Ecologist/Ecologo de Paisaje Dept. Agricultura y Agroforesteria CATIE 7170, Turrialba, Costa Rica Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Phone: (506) 558-2596 Fax: (506) 558-2046 Web: www.catie.ac.cr Adjunct Associate Tropical Agriculture Program The Earth Institute at Columbia University Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Skype: fadeclerck Web:www.earthinstitute.columbia.edu/mvp/ *** Everything not given is lost
Re: Fwd: Global Warming Swindle
In case anyone is interested, a link to the full length 1 hour 13 minute version. http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=4499562022478442170q=global+warming+swindlehl=en http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=4499562022478442170q=global+warming+swindlehl=en David M Bryant wrote: Hello fellow propagandists, I just received this link to a video supposedly contradicting the recent media hype on global warming. You owe it to yourself to take a look. To paraphrase the final line it would be hilarious if it weren't such a sad rhetorical example of poor debate. No data is presented other than the observations that climate has changed in the past and that the recession of the 1970's should have resulted in cooling. I'm curious as to whether the scientists quoted really understand the feedbacks and lags involved in the carbon cycle or even the physical connect between CO2 and IR absorption. Perhaps they've never heard of an IRGA. Cheers, David Bryant Begin forwarded message: From: Insight [EMAIL PROTECTED] Date: April 19, 2007 11:25:35 AM EDT To: Insight [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Global Warming Swindle If you believe the prejudice-based science of Al Gore and Sheryl Crow, you need to look at this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aJSupf6rkgEmode=relatedsearch=
