Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
The structural integrity of an arch arises because an angled keystone at the
top of the arch prevents the many (diverse) stones or blocks comprising the
arch from falling into themselves and collapsing.Thus, if a predator that sup-
presses the abundance of a competitively dominant species is lost, species
diversity in that system will collapse.
A limitation of using the food web
diagrams to resolve complexity is that
it assumes that these species interac-
tions remain unchanged over time.
Yet, species populations and hence
their interactions can change over
time because of one of the most fun-
damental processes driving life on
earth: the evolutionary processes. In this process, diversity is effectively rep-
resented as different strategies that are pitted against each other in striving
to achieve one goal: to maximize survival and reproduction.
If a predator that suppresses the
abundance of a competitively domi-
nant species is lost, species diver-
sity in that system will collapse.
Life as a Game
The simple object of life's game is to contribute more genetic copies of
yourself, offspring, to future generations than other members of your pop-
ulation (i.e., accrue as much natural capital as possible over your lifetime).
Doing this successfully requires gaining the most resources possible and out-
witting your enemies (competitors
and predators). In this game, there are
myriad strategies for success ranging
from individuals pitting themselves
against other individuals in outright
competitive struggles to developing
coalitions of cooperating individuals.
Natural populations are ensembles
of individuals of the same species liv-
ing together in some location. The
strategies that individuals in these
populations can use in the game are
constrained by traits such as mor-
phology, physiology, and behavior.
No individual is exactly alike in any
set of traits. Accordingly, no individ-
The simple object of life's game
is to contribute more genetic copies
of yourself, offspring, to future gen-
erations than other members of
your population. Doing this suc-
cessfully requires gaining the most
resources possible and outwitting
your enemies (competitors and
predators). In this game, there are
myriad strategies for success rang-
ing from individuals pitting them-
selves against other individuals in
outright competitive struggles to
developing coalitions of cooperat-
ing individuals.
Search WWH ::




Custom Search