1.2 Systems

Question 1

system

Answer 1

an assemblage of interconnected parts working together to form a functional whole

Question 2

system approach

Answer 2

a way of visualizing a complex set of interactions which may be ecological or societal

Question 3

reductionism

Answer 3

dividing a system into its constituent parts and studying each of these separately

Question 4

synergy

Answer 4

the interaction or cooperation of two or more organisms, systems, or processes to produce a combined effect greater than the sum of their separate parts

Question 5

Gaia hypothesis

Answer 5

Earth’s living and non-living components form a single, self-regulating system that actively maintains conditions suitable for life

Question 6

biosphere

Answer 6

the global ecosystem, the place where all life on Earth exists

Question 7

regeneration

Answer 7

the ability of an ecosystem to renew and recover from damage

Question 8

matter

Answer 8

anything that occupies space and has mass

Question 9

direct relationship

Answer 9

when one variable increases or decreases, the other does as well

Question 10

emergent properties

Answer 10

a property which a collection or complex system has, but which the individual members do not have

Question 11

model

Answer 11

a simplified version of reality, often used to represent a system

Question 12

flows

Answer 12

processes that may be either transfers (a change in location) or transformation (a change in the chemical nature, a change in state or a change in energy)

Question 13

inputs

Answer 13

the energy, matter, or information that enters a system

Question 14

outputs

Answer 14

the materials and energy that leave a system

Question 15

ecosystem

Answer 15

a community of living and non-living things that work together

Question 16

resilience

Answer 16

the magnitude of disturbance that a system can absorb before it flips to another state

Question 17

energy

Answer 17

the capacity to do work or create change - drives physical, chemical, and biochemical processes

Question 18

indirect relationship

Answer 18

when one variable increases, the other variable decreases, and vice versa

Question 19

transfer

Answer 19

when the flow of energy or materials does not involve a change of form

Question 20

storage

Answer 20

the reservoirs where energy or matter is held

Question 21

processes

Answer 21

change elements from on form to another

Question 22

assemblage

Answer 22

a combination of physical and abstract elements that, together, produce effects in the world while depending and being dependent on other assemblages for their existence and effects

Question 23

matter

Answer 23

anything that occupies space and has mass

Question 24

transformation

Answer 24

a change in state of either matter or energy (Eg potential energy to kinetic energy)

Question 25

tipping point

Answer 25

the minimum amount of change within a system that will destabilize it, causing it to reach a new equilibrium or stable state

Question 26

dynamic equilibrium

Answer 26

a state where a system, like an ecosystem, maintains a relatively constant state despite ongoing changes within it (eg. predator-prey population relationships)

Question 27

open system

Answer 27

exchanges both energy and matter across its boundary

Question 28

closed system

Answer 28

exchanges only energy across its boundary

Question 29

stock

Answer 29

a quantity of something held at a particular time, like the amount of water in a reservoir or the number of individuals in a population

Question 30

boundaries

Answer 30

the limits or edges that define a system, whether it's a population, ecosystem, or the Earth itself

Question 31

steady state

Answer 31

a state where the input and output of a system are equal, resulting in a constant condition over time

Question 32

positive feedback

Answer 32

Stimulates change and it is responsible for the sudden appearance of rapid changes within ecosystems. When part of the system increases, another part of the system also changes in a way that makes the first part increase even more.

Question 33

negative feedback

Answer 33

a mechanism where the output of a system reduces the input or changes the direction of the original stimulus

Question 34

stable equilibrium

Answer 34

allows a system to return to its original state following a disturbance