View: System Properties
System properties Overview
The properties identified in this section are created through the interaction of the parts.
Systemic Measurable Variables
The key variables are:
- Carrying capacity of the Ecosystem
- Temperature
- Humidity
- Rainfall per time period and aggregate.
- Concentration of Gasses in the Atmosphere See: EcoSysP_001, GHG Concentration in Atmosphere
- CO2
- NO2
- Other GHG
- Soil Health Variables for agriculture
- Soil pH
- Bulk density
- Porosity
- Soil Moisture
- Number of organisms (microbes, worms, fungi, etc) per area.
- Amount of bacteria (microbes) for nitrogen fixation.
Systemic Capabilities or Functions
These capabilities are properties of the whole Ecosystem not any of the individual parts.
System States
- Alive
- Normal seasonal changes
- Normal ecosystem service provision.
- Distressed
- Fires, floods, storms
- Meteor
- Volcano eruptions
- Pollution
Systemic Quality Properties
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Health
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Biodiversity
System Quantity Properties
- Weight
- Height
- Volume
- Boundary of the area of the ecosystem
Ecological Boundary: a boundary around the ecosystem of interest or a boundary around a subset of the ecosystem.
NOTE:.The Ecological Boundary can be wide or narrow depending upon the boundary. In all cases, the structural model remains the same. The behaviour varies depending on the configuration (type) of ecosystem within the boundary. Here are some examples:
The Planet (Whole Earth) is the Boundary. The whole planet is included.
Biome is the boundary. The characteristics of the Biome determine the behaviours.
Nation is the boundary: The characteristics of the Nation may vary from regions to towns - however, the overall nation can be understood
City or neighbourhood is the boundary: Specific issues or problems can be identified locally and plans taken to address the issues.
Other ecosystem types with a boundary or ecosystem boundaries: These provide a narrow view in a wider context.
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