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Fig. 2.4
Example organism viability curves for reproduction, growth and survival, from Begon
et al. (
2006
)
physiochemical features of the environment (e.g. temperature, pH, wind speed). An
organism's presence may change the conditions of its local environment (e.g. one
species of plant may modify local light levels to that which another species is
adapted for). Conditions may vary in cyclic patterns or be subject to the uncertainty
of prevailing environmental events. Conditions can also serve as stimuli for other
organisms. Resources, on the other hand, are consumed by organisms in the course
of their growth and reproduction. One organism may become or produce a resource
for another through grazing, predation, parasitism or symbiosis, for example.
For any particular condition or resource, an organism may have a preferred value
or set of values that favour its survival, growth and reproduction. Begon et al. (
2006
)
define three characteristic curves, which show different “viability zones” for sur-
vival, growth and reproduction (Fig.
2.4
).
In developing artworks, we can abstract these concepts significantly as long as
we are clear about the functional relationships between conditions, resources and
organism. From here on we will consider the organism as a “component” of an
ecosystem, this more genetic term useful to remind us of the abstractions in play.
Components may often be called “agents” in a computer simulation, typically rep-
resenting autonomous entities with parameterised, possibly evolving, behaviours.
2.4.2 Self-observation and Feedback
Self-observation gives rise a type of feedback process, similar to a governor or more
simply “rein control” (Harvey
2004
). Here “observation” means the system mon-
itoring of environmental conditions or resources that are necessary for reproduc-
tion, growth and survival and shifting its configuration in response. A component is
causally coupled to the environment through relevant conditions or resources within
its environment. Observation may be implicit or explicit, local or global. Observa-
tion forms a critical connection between a component's effect on the environment
and its ability to modify its behaviour in response, typically to retain homeostasis
in local conditions or resources. The use of the term “observation” is deliberately a
loaded one. It is used in the cybernetic sense and does not imply a necessary concept
of agency (although it does not preclude it). It might be considered the most simple
precursor to more complex observational intelligence. It also suggests a system-level
