energy and ecosystem
The one – way
flow of ecosystem energy, as a universal phenomenon, is thresult of the
operation of the laws of thermodynamics, which are fundamental concepts of
physics. The first law states, as you may recall, that ecosystem energy may be
transformed from one type (for example, light) into another (for example,
potential energy of food) but is never created or destroyed. The second law of
thermodynamics states that no process involving an ecosystem energy
transformation will occur unless there is a degradation of energy from a
concentrated form into a dispersed form because some energy is always dispersed
into unavailable heat ecosystem energy, no spontaneous transformation (as light
to food, for example) can be 100 percent efficient.
The second law
of thermodynamics is sometimes known as the entropy law; entropy being a
measure of disorder in terms of amounts of unavailable ecosystem energy in a
closed thermodynamic system. Thus although energy is neither created nor
destroyed, it is degraded when used (transformed) to an unavailable form
(dispersed heat) organisms and ecosystem maintain their highly organized, low –
entropy (low – disorder) state by transforming energy from high to low utility
states. 1000 cal of sunlight is not the same as 1000 cal of gasoline. and as
already stressed, ecosystems adapt and organize according to both the kind and
level of energy. If the quantity or quality or quality of energy flow through a
forest or a city is reduced, then the forest or the city literally begins to
degrade – or become more disorderly, as it were – unless or until it can
reorganize at the lower level.
The interaction
of ecosystem energy and materials in the ecosystem is of primary concern to
ecologists. In fact, it may be said that the one – way flow of ecosystem energy
and the circulation of materials are the two great principles or ‘’laws’’ of
general ecology, since these principles apple equally to all environments and
all organisms including man. Furthermore, it is the flow of ecosystem energy
that drives the cycles of materials. To recycle water, nutrients, and so on,
requires energy which is not recyclable, a fact not understood by those who
think that artificial recycling of man’s resources is somehow an instant and
free solution to shortages. Like everything else worthwhile in this world,
there is an energy cost.
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