An informational synthesis of ecosystem structure and function

Ulanowicz, Robert E.; Abarca-Arenas, Luis Gerardo

doi:10.1016/s0304-3800(96)00032-4

Cited by 112 publications

(36 citation statements)

References 11 publications

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“…Yet, systemspecific attributes within estuarine and coastal ecosystems may result in large differences in their sensitivity and susceptibility to eutrophication (Cloern 2001). Ulanowicz and Abarca-Arenas (1997) further predicted that different ecological processes within coastal ecosystems may also have different patterns of nutrient limitation. Thus, a major challenge for ecologists is to develop a predictive and holistic understanding of how nutrient loading alters ecosystem function and stoichiometry of coastal systems (Downing 1997;Sterner and Elser 2002).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The objective of this study was to test the hypothesis that alleviating different kinds of nutrient limitation will have different effects on ecosystem structure and function in natural systems (Littler and others 1988;Ulanowicz and Abarca-Arenas 1997;Feller and others 2003a, b;Sundareshwar and others 2003). A comparison of fertilization experiments in N-versus P-limited forests at Twin Cays, Belize and the Indian River Lagoon (IRL), Florida provides a model system to test this hypothesis.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Nutrient Addition Differentially Affects Ecological Processes of Avicennia germinans in Nitrogen versus Phosphorus Limited Mangrove Ecosystems

2007

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Nutrient over-enrichment is a major threat to marine environments, but system-specific attributes of coastal ecosystems may result in differences in their sensitivity and susceptibility to eutrophication. We used fertilization experiments in nitrogen (N)-and phosphorus (P)-limited mangrove forests to test the hypothesis that alleviating different kinds of nutrient limitation may have different effects on ecosystem structure and function in natural systems. We compared a broad range of ecological processes to determine if these systems have different thresholds where shifts might occur in nutrient limitation. Growth responses indicated N limitation in Avicennia germinans (black mangrove) forests in the Indian River Lagoon (IRL), Florida, and P limitation at Twin Cays, Belize. When nutrient deficiency was relieved, A. germinans grew out of its stunted form by increasing wood relative to leaf biomass and shoot length relative to lateral growth. At the P-limited site, P enrichment (+P) increased specific leaf area, N resorption, and P uptake, but had no effect on P resorption. At the N-limited site, +N increased both N and P resorption, but did not alter biomass allocation. Herbivory was greater at the P-limited site and was unaffected by +P, whereas +N led to increased herbivory at the N-limited site. The responses to nutrient enrichment depended on the ecological process and limiting nutrient and suggested that N-versus P-limited mangroves do have different thresholds. +P had a greater effect on more ecological processes at Twin Cays than did +N at the IRL, which indicated that the P-limited site was more sensitive to nutrient loading. Because of this sensitivity, eutrophication is more likely to cause a shift in nutrient limitation at P-limited Twin Cays than N-limited IRL.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Nutrient Addition Differentially Affects Ecological Processes of Avicennia germinans in Nitrogen versus Phosphorus Limited Mangrove Ecosystems

2007

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“…An increase in AMI signifies that the system is becoming more constrained and is channeling flows along more specific pathways (Ulanowicz & Abarca-Arenas, 1997). The AMI was calculated as follows (Ulanowicz, 1986):…”

Section: Indicators Of Organization and Degree Of Ordermentioning

confidence: 99%

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Hernández‐Padilla

Ruiz-Barreiro

Salcedo-Bojórquez

et al. 2017

Turk. J. Fish. Aquat. Sci.

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Opisthonema libertate (Pacific thread herring) and Cetengraulis mysticetus (Pacific anchovy) are the two most important herring stocks exploited in the south-eastern Gulf of California (SGC). The certification of these stocks is currently planned for achieving sustainable fisheries. This study analysed the role of these two species in the structure, organization and functioning of the ecosystem in this region. Twenty-four indicators of the ecosystem's structure and its organization were obtained based on the output of an Ecopath model of the SGC. The relationships of the functional groups with the ecosystem's indicators were identified using multivariate statistical techniques, and the results indicated similar roles for the Pacific thread herring and the Pacific anchovy in the ecosystem of the SGC. Both species make large contributions to the maintenance of the ecosystem's order (i.e., its structure and organization). These results are directly related to one of the criteria that are evaluated by the Marine Stewardship Council's certification process. Defining the remaining biomass level at sea after fishing would guarantee the sustainability of fisheries in the ecosystem.

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“…Ulanowicz and Abarca-Arenas [23] assert that ascendency incorporates aspects of both a system's size and constitutive nature. T, the total system throughput, gauges the level of overall system activity; the index I measures the organization by which exchanges among components are transacted.…”

Section: Ascendencymentioning

confidence: 99%

05/01293 Temporal and spatial change of exergy and ascendency in different benthic marine ecosystems

2005

Fuel and Energy Abstracts

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Holistic indicators such as exergy and ascendency have been widely employed to assess the health of ecosystems given by their structure, function and organization. In this study we calculate the exergy, specific exergy and ascendency for the microbenthic loop that represents a major sub-system within the marine food chain. The analysis of the microbenthic loop investigated in terms of organic matter, bacteria, microphytobenthos and meiofauna reflected changes occurring in the trophic state of benthic ecosystems and provided a tool for comparison between different environments. Temporal and spatial variability of the holistic indicators were evaluated using benthic measures collected at different times for different environments in the Mediterranean Sea. Exergy was strongly correlated with the organic contents of the sediments, and did not provide a useful description of the investigated system. In contrast, specific exergy resulted related to the microbenthic loop structure and complexity while Ascendency mostly reflected its activity and organization. Temporal analysis showed that in natural ecosystems specific exergy and ascendency showed convergence and follow similar seasonal trends. On the contrary in strongly eutrophicated systems an uncoupling between the two indicators occurred indicating a malfunctioning of the microbenthic loop that become strongly dissipative.As a result specific exergy and ascendency calculated within the microbenthic loop appeared to be sensitive to changes in environmental conditions and trophic state and may be proposed as useful tools for the health assessment of marine benthic ecosystems. #

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An informational synthesis of ecosystem structure and function

Cited by 112 publications

References 11 publications

Nutrient Addition Differentially Affects Ecological Processes of Avicennia germinans in Nitrogen versus Phosphorus Limited Mangrove Ecosystems

Nutrient Addition Differentially Affects Ecological Processes of Avicennia germinans in Nitrogen versus Phosphorus Limited Mangrove Ecosystems

Untitled

05/01293 Temporal and spatial change of exergy and ascendency in different benthic marine ecosystems

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