Evolution the ecosystem level: On the evolution of ecosystem patterns (original) (raw)

The Evolution of Ecology

Integrative and Comparative Biology, 1985

SYNOPSIS. In spite of an early history of interaction, progress in the fields of ecology and evolutionary biology during most of this century has been made largely in parallel, with little creative exchange until the past two decades. In contrast, recent history in the two fields shows an exciting and productive trend toward a unified effort in understanding the ecological and evolutionary forces and constraints that together produce the phenomenon of adaptation. Common themes that have drawn the two fields together in the past decade include an intensified appreciation of discontinuities in time and space, an increased awareness of the interaction of history and mechanism, a greater concern for tradeoffs and constraints, and a renewed exploration of the role of hierarchy in producing pattern.

CHAPTER 19. ADAPTATIONS OF ECOSYSTEMS

MACROEVOLUTIONARY SYSTEMATICS OF STREPTOTRICHACEAE OF THE BRYOPHYTA AND APPLICATION TO ECOSYSTEM THERMODYNAMIC STABILITY. , 2017

Evaluation of ecosystems using entropic macroevolutionary method — It is easy to use metaphor and analogy, and make principles and generalities hard-won in other fields apply to one's own innocent study area. The only test for whether these geologic-time and dissilient-genera applications are valuable is to see if they work. That is, if they explain better and predict more accurately than does orthodox, perhaps more limited, immediate crisis and species-based modeling. This chapter presents a new way to look at present crisis in biodiversity. Ecosystem evolution is a metaevolution—evolution at a higher level than that of species. There are parallels with directional and stabilizing selection, competition, and doubtless many other theoretic constructions of standard evolutionary theory that may be examined in future research.

Velasquez_et_al-2018-Ecology_and_Evolution.pdf

The theory of island biogeography predicts that area and age explain species richness patterns (or alpha diversity) in insular habitats. Using a unique natural phenomenon, pumice rafting, we measured the influence of area, age, and oceanic climate on patterns of species richness. Pumice rafts are formed simultaneously when submarine volcanoes erupt, the pumice clasts breakup irregularly, forming irregularly shaped pumice stones which while floating through the ocean are colonized by marine biota.

Epilogue: On the Situation in Evolutionary Biology and Community Ecology

Acta Zoologica Lituanica, 2002

Chemical evolution Rise of life and of a primitive nutrient cycle (ecosystems) The first autotrophic ecosystems appear on the basis of anoxygenic photosynthesis and anaerobic decomposition Stromatolites emerge. Ecosystems are formed on the basis of oxygenic photosynthesis. Nitrogen fixing organisms originate Synthesised by photosynthesisers, oxygen oxidises dissolved in water reduced materials Evolution of oxygen-resistance and aerobic respiration takes place Reduced hydrosphere gradually turns into an oxidised one. Aerobic respiration, oxic and anoxic zones with their local cycles appear. Stromatolitic form of life becomes predominant Aerobic chemolithotrophs emerge to occupy vacant trophic niches resulted in by accumulated in water oxygen. Bacteria form a modern-type ecosystem metabolism (nutrient cycles) Reduced atmosphere becomes an oxidised one. Oxidation of lithospheric materials starts Unicellular algae and the first biophages (protozoans) emerge The first production pyramid is formed-at first two and later three trophic levels. Parasites come into existence The first multicellular organisms rise-the fourth trophic level is formed Diversity of biophages substantially increases in waters. Modern-type production pyramids originate. Life starts to move to land Modern-type nutrient cycles and production pyramids are formed on land Competition between terrestrial biophages grows. Their species compete in reducing environmental resistance Modern atmosphere having formed, biosphere biomass ceases growing. Hominids initiate an unprecedented extinction of species

Introduction to Special Issue on Eco-Evolutionary Dynamics

Natural Resource Modeling, 2015

"[N]atural selection is daily and hourly scrutinising. .. every variation,. .. rejecting that which is bad, preserving and adding up all that is good; silently and insensibly working. .. at the improvement of each organic being in relation to its organic and inorganic conditions of life." Thus Charles Darwin highlights the interplay between evolution and ecology in Origin of Species. In the next sentence, however, Darwin, a confirmed gradualist, posits a significant caveat: "We see nothing of these slow changes in progress, until the hand of time has marked the long lapse of ages, and then so imperfect is our view into long past geological ages, that we only see that the forms of life are now different from what they formerly were" (Darwin 1859). To Darwin, the interplay between evolution and ecology could be perceived only on the scale of geologic time by an examination of the fossil record and through a study of the distribution patterns of related species.

Nature Ecology & Evolution nature ecology & evolution

Reporting for specific materials, systems and methods We require information from authors about some types of materials, experimental systems and methods used in many studies. Here, indicate whether each material, system or method listed is relevant to your study. If you are not sure if a list item applies to your research, read the appropriate section before selecting a response. Materials & experimental systems n/a Involved in the study Antibodies Eukaryotic cell lines Palaeontology and archaeology Animals and other organisms Clinical data Dual use research of concern Methods n/a Involved in the study ChIP-seq Flow cytometry MRI-based neuroimaging

Evolutionary macroecology

2016

Department of Earth Sciences, Environment and Resources, University of Naples ‘Federico II’, Naples, Italy, Department of Geosciences and Geography, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland, Centre for Ecological and Evolutionary Synthesis, Department of Biosciences, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway and Museum für Naturkunde, Leibniz Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity Science, Berlin, Germany