Closure as a scientific concept and its application to ecosystem ecology and the science of the biosphere

Morowitz, Harold J.; Allen, John P.; Nelson, Mark D.; Alling, A.

doi:10.1016/j.asr.2005.06.045

Cited by 15 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 6 publications

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“…They saw that Biosphere 2 could take the field to the next level, a Vernadskian biospheric one. To create energetically and informationally open but virtually materially-closed systems would allow precise monitoring of the system and the potential to track subtle and small changes over time (Dempster, 2009;Morowitz et al, 2005).…”

Section: Biosphere 2: Real-time and High Profile Ecological Sciencementioning

confidence: 99%

Some Ecological and Human Lessons of Biosphere 2

Nelson¹

2018

European Journal of Ecology

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The Biosphere 2 project, a 1.2 hectare materially-closed mini-biosphere that supported teams of biospherian crews from 1991-1994 provides a host of ecological and human-biosphere lessons relevant to our global biospheric challenges. Because of its high visibility through worldwide media coverage, the project advanced public understanding of what a biosphere is and the roles that humans can constructively play in keeping ecosystems and atmosphere healthy. The present paper reviews the fairly recent scientific understanding of our global biosphere and some of the intriguing results from Biosphere 2. It also examines some of the reasons that Biosphere 2 aroused controversy because of narrow definitions and expectations of how science is to be conducted. The cooperation between engineers and ecologists and the requirement to design a technosphere for Biosphere 2 that supported the life inside without harming it has enormous relevance to what is required in our global home. There was an unexpected and profound connection that the ‘biospherian’ crew inside Biosphere 2 felt to their living biosphere. Biosphere 2 also demonstrated new kinds of roles that can be played by people aware of a biosphere as their life support system.

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Section: Biosphere 2: Real-time and High Profile Ecological Sciencementioning

confidence: 99%

Some Ecological and Human Lessons of Biosphere 2

Nelson¹

2018

European Journal of Ecology

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“…With the exception of the cosmic debris that falls into the atmosphere and the negligible quantities of matter in satellites and the light gases that escape into outer space, the Earth is materially closed (Morowitz et al 2005). We have no real choice other than to survive within this closed system and, more critically, to ensure that it remains sustainable.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 97%

The role of closed ecological systems in carbon cycle modelling

2011

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Acquiring a mechanistic understanding of the role of biotic feedbacks for the links between atmospheric CO 2 concentrations and temperature is essential for trustworthy climate predictions. Currently, computer-based simulations are the only available tool to estimate the global impact of biotic feedbacks on future atmospheric CO 2 and temperatures. Here we propose an alternative and complementary approach by using materially closed, energetically open analogue/physical models of the carbon cycle. We argue that there is unexplored potential in using a materially closed approach to improve our understanding of the magnitude and direction of many biotic carbon feedbacks and that recent technological advances make this feasible. We also suggest how such systems could be designed and discuss the advantages and limitations of establishing physical models of the global carbon cycle. BackgroundAs a species we are effectively "trapped" on a planet which, for all practical purposes, is materially closed, but energetically open (Fuller and Snyder 1969). With the exception of the cosmic debris that falls into the atmosphere and the negligible quantities of matter in satellites and the light gases that escape into outer space, the Earth is materially closed (Morowitz et al. 2005). We have no real choice other than to survive within this closed system and, more critically, to ensure that it remains sustainable. From cells to ecosystems and through to biomes, there is no other biological or ecological scale besides the Biosphere (Vernadsky 1926) at which life is able to persist in the absence of significant matter Climatic Change (2012) 112:709-716

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“…Closed ecological systems of varying size and complexity have been developed over the past few decades: from laboratorysized microbial ecosystems to larger systems capable of human life support that contain considerable biodiversity and a variety of ecosystem types. Just as the concept of closure was crucial to the development of classical thermodynamics and physics, the development of closed ecological systems has opened the study of ecosystems and biospheric systems to a truly experimental approach (Morowitz et al, 2005). Figure 1 shows not only the classical approach to closure, but new possibilities due to the addition of information that is gained through the process of creating closed ecological systems.…”

Section: Introduction: the Emergence Of Closed Ecological Systemsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Lessons Learned from Biosphere 2 and Laboratory Biosphere Closed Systems Experiments for the Mars On Earth Project

Alling

Thillo

Dempster³

et al. 2005

Biol. Sci. Space

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Mars On Earth® (MOE) is a demonstration/research project that will develop systems for maintaining 4 people in a sustainable (bioregenerative) life support system on Mars. The overall design will address not only the functional requirements for maintaining long term human habitation in a sustainable artificial environment, but the aesthetic need for beauty and nutritional/psychological importance of a diversity of foods which has been noticeably lacking in most space settlement designs. Key features selected for the Mars On Earth® life support system build on the experience of operating Biosphere 2 as a closed ecological system facility from 1991-1994, its smaller 400 cubic meter test module and Laboratory Biosphere, a cylindrical steel chamber with horizontal axis 3.68 meters long and 3.65 meters in diameter. Future Mars On Earth® agriculture/atmospheric research will include: determining optimal light levels for growth of a variety of crops, energy trade-offs for agriculture (e.g. light intensity vs. required area), optimal design of soil-based agriculture/horticulture systems, strategies for safe re-use of human waste products, and maintaining atmospheric balance between people, plants and soils.

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Closure as a scientific concept and its application to ecosystem ecology and the science of the biosphere

Cited by 15 publications

References 6 publications

Some Ecological and Human Lessons of Biosphere 2

Some Ecological and Human Lessons of Biosphere 2

The role of closed ecological systems in carbon cycle modelling

Lessons Learned from Biosphere 2 and Laboratory Biosphere Closed Systems Experiments for the Mars On Earth Project

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