Living Systems from the Biological Perspective

• what are the 3 kinds of systems

  function

  element

  interconnection
• what type of system holds the elements together?

  interconnection
• this system might produce its own pattern or behavior over time

  purpose
• this states that the more highly adapted an organism is, the more it is difficult for it to adapt to different environemnts

  law of specialization
• when a living organism dies it loses its what?

  system-ness
• 2 characteristics of living systems from a biological perspective

  1. living system are organized in a hierarchical manner with progressive specialization of functions and complexity emerging from lower level to higher level of organization
  2. living systems are open systems with purpose
• what are the 12 ecological level-of-organization

  atom

  molecules

  organelles

  cell

  tissue

  organ

  organ system

  organism

  population

  community

  ecosystem

  biosphere/ecosphere
• this is the fundamental unit of all subtances

  atoms
• basic unit of life

  cell
• membrane-bound structure that perform specific functions

  organelles
• set of interacting organs

  organ system
• one celled means?

  unicelluler
• multiple celled means?

  multicellular
• organized array of tissues

  organ
• 11 ecological level-of-organization

  cell

  tissue

  organ

  organ system

  organism

  population

  community

  ecosystem

  landscape

  biome

  ecosphere
• 7 basic functions or transcending factors

  energetics

  development

  behavior

  evolution

  diversity

  integration

  regulation
• it is a study involving energy and matter conversion

  energetics
• what is development at the level of ecosystem

  ecosystem development or succession
• an often-predictable way or pattern by which plant and animal communities develop following disturbances

  succession or ecosystem development
• is about the ability of our own human society to continue indefinitely within these natural cycles

  sustainability
• system made by people/controlled by humans

  man-made systems
• interconnected set of elements which are coherently organized with purpose/goal

  system
• two categories of systems

  man-made systems

  natural systems
• system exist in nature

  natural system
• a change in a controlled factor triggers a response that seeks to restore the factor to normal by moving the factor in the opposite direction of its initial change.

  negative feedback
• the output enhances or amplifies a change so that the controlled variable continues to move in the direction of the initial change.

  positive feedback
• an economic theory related to sustainability


  tragedy of the commons