ENV100H1 Lecture Notes - Lecture 11: Photic Zone, Arthur Tansley, Millennium Ecosystem Assessment

• School: UTSG
• Department: School of Environment
• Course: ENV100H1
• Professor: Barbara Murck

Document Summary

Study of interactions among organisms and their physical environment as an integrated system. What separates it is not about the individuals rather the bigger concepts: flows and reservoirs. Looking at it from a big picture: ex. Flows of energy, nutrient transport, carbon budget, etc. systems thinking in the environment. Sir arthur george tansley: one of the original ecologists. Systems are the basic units of nature: one of the seminal concepts, ex. How is that antelope interacting with is physical environment. Way of looking at organisms and their interactions with the environment as an integrated system. Focuses on functions, processes, fluxes, biogeo cycles, etc. A mechanistic basic for understanding the earth system. Layer of earth systems that involves the living world. Ecosystems provide goods and services to society: support life. Human activities are changing ecosystems and therefore the earth system. Good way of understanding the relevance of environmental science. Support life: put dollars and cents value on ecosystems to show benefits.