Wayne, I thought we went through that, a bit back. Ecosystem function is what ecosystems do. They process energy and chemicals. As someone else pointed out, in both cases those functions are mediated through organisms and other compartments.
Evidently some think that the consequences (such as perceived benefits to people, or sequestering of materials in particular compartments) of the functions are the functions. I do not. I think that the consequences are exactly that -- consequences, much in the way that the stabilizing of blood sugar levels is a consequence of the function of the pancreas in secreting insulin. But what do I know, I am old. mcneely ---- Wayne Tyson <[email protected]> wrote: > Ecolog: > > I still want to know what "ecosystem function" is. Just a simple definition, > no more, no less. > > WT > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Matt Chew" <[email protected]> > To: <[email protected]> > Sent: Tuesday, October 02, 2012 11:54 PM > Subject: [ECOLOG-L] Visualizing functional diversity > > > This has been an interesting conversation. Ecological functions entail > putative benefits to some population or individual. It doesn't have to be > a human population, so it doesn't have to be anthropocentric, but that is > the second most common centrism. Biocentrism and ecocentrism are generally > proxies for the most common one: idiocentrism. Biocentrism and ecocentrism > involve benefits to things that benefit the author of the argument. If > this seems dubious, how many times have you seen discussions of "functions" > without benefits, such as "the function of mass extinction" or "the > function of acid precipitation"? That suggests ecosystem function and > ecosystem service are fundamentally identical concepts. Processes are more > benefits-equivocal than functions. A designed system (e.g., a farm) > includes processes more and less beneficial from various points of > reference, but has a designed function benefiting the farmer. An > accumulated system (e.g., an ecosystem) likewise includes processes but > lacks a designer or a function—if your metaphysics will allow. > > Matthew K Chew > Assistant Research Professor > Arizona State University School of Life Sciences > > ASU Center for Biology & Society > PO Box 873301 > Tempe, AZ 85287-3301 USA > Tel 480.965.8422 > Fax 480.965.8330 > [email protected] or [email protected] > https://cbs.asu.edu/people/chew-0<http://cbs.asu.edu/people/profiles/chew.php> > http://asu.academia.edu/MattChew > > > ----- > No virus found in this message. > Checked by AVG - www.avg.com > Version: 10.0.1427 / Virus Database: 2441/5307 - Release Date: 10/03/12 -- David McNeely
