This document discusses the dynamic nature of the environment at various spatial and temporal scales. It introduces the Gaia hypothesis that the biosphere regulates conditions on Earth to be suitable for life. Evidence for this includes the composition of Earth's atmosphere compared to Venus and Mars, which have been altered by life through processes like photosynthesis. The document also discusses feedback controls in ecosystems that maintain stability through mechanisms like redundancy. It concludes that decreasing biotic components would not affect ecosystem control due to this functional redundancy.

1. Dynamic and Control of
Nature

2. “Balan
ce of
Nature
”
“Cha
os!”

3. The Devine Power: Genesis

4. BBA Part1_3 (Gajaseni, 2009)BBA Part1_3 (Gajaseni, 2009) 44
Dynamic of the Physical
Earth: Plate Tectonic
Is the geological evolution

5. BBA Part1_3 (Gajaseni, 2009)BBA Part1_3 (Gajaseni, 2009) 55
Dynamic of
Biological Earth
How do they liveHow do they live
together on thetogether on the
planet?planet?
Natural
selection

6. 66
Man-made environmentMan-made environment
Biotic environmentBiotic environment
Physical environmentPhysical environment
Local Region Country Global
DistanceDistance
FutureFuture
IntermediateIntermediate
FutureFuture
PresentPresent
Ultimate
goal???
Spatio-temporalSpatio-temporal dynamic ofdynamic of
the environment!the environment!

7. 77
Solar capital
Energy budget
Energy in = Energy ou
Earth capital
Water budget
Water up = Water down

8. Environmental
dynamic
at various spatio-
temporal scales!

9. hypothesis
(Lovelock,
1979)
‘The biosphere is a
self-regulating
entity with the
capacity to keep the
Earth healthy by

10. Can we
“falsify” the
Gaia
hypothesis by
“scientific
method”?
Yes, no,
or
unlikely!

11. Comparative study of the
atmosphere of
the Earth, Venus and Mar
• Low CO2 and high O2 and N of the Earth VS. the
reverse on Venus and Mar
• Photosynthesis removes C02 and add O2 to the
Earth Atmosphere
• This biotic community is responsible over time for:
the built up of O2 and reduction of CO2

12. Comparative study of the
atmosphere
of the Earth, Venus and Mar (co
ntinue)• Without chemical
transformation by biotic co
mmunity, soils and waters w
ould be so acidic that only f
ew organisms now on the Ea
rth could survive-no life-sup
port
• A variety of specialized
microorganisms keep the vit
al compounds moving betw
een organic and inorganic s
tates,

13. Gaia isGaia is
““non-sense”!non-sense”!
Domination
of the Earth
by human
mind or
“Noosphere!”

14. What would be the best
survival strategy?
Non
believer
–business as
usual
–if the
hypothesis is
false - fine no
problem
–if the
Believer
– Respect the
Mother Earth
– Protect the
Earth’s norm-
biodiversity
– if the hypothesis is
false-fine no probl
em

15. Hierarchy
of Nature
Ecological
hierarchy
Biological
hierarchy
Chemical-
physical hi
erarchy

16. Each level possess
control mechanism!
Deviation at higher
level will be less!
therefore,
Higher level sets

17. Controls in Ecological
Hierarchy

18. Resilience vs. Resistance
Resilience: The ability of a
system to return to its original
position after
disturbance.
“Which one we are very familiar wit

20. Control of Ecosystem by
Organisms
Top down vs. Bottom up
controls
Top down =
predation
Bottom up =
nutrients,
photosynth
esis

21. Feedback Controls: Positive
and negative
Input Outp
ut
System
Input Outp
ut
System
1ry Sub-system
2ry Sub-system
Outp
utGoal
System
Controller
Input
Sub-system being
controlled
Control specification

22. functional
components
• Different
components with
similar function
• These components
can compensate for
one another
• Providing alternative
pathways for energy
flow and material
cycling
• Achieve controlled

23. Conclusion
‘Because of the
functional
redundancy in
ecosystem,
therefore,
decreasing in
biotic
components will
have no effect
on control of the
ecosystem!’

24. Greenhouse gasses disrupt
energy balance!
What would be the
consequences?