Hierarchy Theory - · PDF file• Unicellular organisms have no levels between the cell ... Divisions Ecoregion Domains Biosphere. 9 ... A Short Annotated Bibliography of Hierarchy

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Course 2.1.1: Basics of Ecosystem AnalysisCourse 2.1.1: Basics of Ecosystem Analysis

Hierarchy TheoryHierarchy Theory

Paweł LeśniewskiPaweł LeśniewskiSzczecin Szczecin UniversityUniversity ofof TechnologyTechnology, , PolandPoland

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IntroductionIntroduction

What is hierarchy theory ?What is hierarchy theory ?•• A theory of system organization (King 1997)A theory of system organization (King 1997)

•• Originally designed to understand middle Originally designed to understand middle –– number systems number systems (Allen & Starr 1982)(Allen & Starr 1982)

System: A collection of objects joined in a constitutive System: A collection of objects joined in a constitutive relationship of interactions that forms a wholerelationship of interactions that forms a whole

And what are hierarchical systems ?And what are hierarchical systems ?•• A system organized as a system of systems within systems (King A system organized as a system of systems within systems (King

1997)1997)•• A system composed of subsystems nested within other subsystemsA system composed of subsystems nested within other subsystems

Nestedness: An important attribute of hierarchiesNestedness: An important attribute of hierarchies

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MiddleMiddle––number systems number systems -- (hmm…?)(hmm…?)

•• Have too many components to describe each with its Have too many components to describe each with its own equation…own equation…

•• … and too few components to obtain reliable mean … and too few components to obtain reliable mean properties by averagingproperties by averaging

•• Includes most of biology !Includes most of biology !•• Systems and phenomena that are idiosyncratic and Systems and phenomena that are idiosyncratic and

difficult to understand and predict difficult to understand and predict

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Two (luckily…) kinds of hierarchiesTwo (luckily…) kinds of hierarchies

1a.1a. Costitutive: Costitutive: Units Units atat each level are each level are of the units of the units atatnext higher levelnext higher level

1b.1b. Cumulative constitutive Cumulative constitutive hierarchieshierarchies2. 2. AggregativeAggregative::

Units are physical entities organized into Units are physical entities organized into collections, but they are collections, but they are andandremain soremain so

physical partsphysical parts

physically independentphysically independent

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Examples of Hierarchies in BiologyExamples of Hierarchies in Biology

The Somatic Hierarchy (Eldredge 1985)The Somatic Hierarchy (Eldredge 1985)

•• Subatomic particle / atom / molecule / organelle / cell Subatomic particle / atom / molecule / organelle / cell / tissue / organ / organ system / individual organism/ tissue / organ / organ system / individual organism

•• Unicellular organisms have no levels between the cell Unicellular organisms have no levels between the cell level and the organism levellevel and the organism level

•• Note that the hierarchy stops at the organism level Note that the hierarchy stops at the organism level and does not proceed to the population level and does not proceed to the population level !!

•• This is a This is a constitutiveconstitutive hierarchyhierarchy

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The Ecological HierarchyThe Ecological Hierarchy•• Individual organism / population / communityIndividual organism / population / community•• This is an aggregative hierarchyThis is an aggregative hierarchy•• Should not be combined with the constitutive somatic Should not be combined with the constitutive somatic

hierarchy hierarchy !!

The Genetic HierarchyThe Genetic Hierarchy•• Nucleotide bases / chromosomes Nucleotide bases / chromosomes / / genome genome / / gene pool gene pool / /

collection of gene poolscollection of gene pools•• This is a mixed hierarchy with both systemsThis is a mixed hierarchy with both systems•• Should not be combined with the constitutive somatic Should not be combined with the constitutive somatic

hierarchy hierarchy

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And finally the most interesting…And finally the most interesting…The Ecosystem HierarchyThe Ecosystem Hierarchy

•• / / / / / / / /

•• This is a land This is a land –– based constitutive hierarchybased constitutive hierarchy•• Ecosystem is a dual organization determined by :Ecosystem is a dual organization determined by :

1. Structural constraints on organisms &1. Structural constraints on organisms &2. Functional constraints on processes2. Functional constraints on processes

EcosystemEcosystem Ecoregion ProvincesEcoregion Provinces EcoregionEcoregionEcoregion Domains Ecoregion Domains BiosphereBiosphereDivisionsDivisions

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The Ecosystem HierarchyThe Ecosystem Hierarchy

•• Ecosystem can be conceptualized as a nested Ecosystem can be conceptualized as a nested spatialspatialhierarchy hierarchy (holarchy)(holarchy) of geographic units of geographic units (holons)(holons) all all embedded within the biosphereembedded within the biosphere

•• Ecosystem has structure and function. Each level of Ecosystem has structure and function. Each level of the ecosystem hierarchy displays emergent properties the ecosystem hierarchy displays emergent properties

•• Their geography is sufficiently homogenous to be Their geography is sufficiently homogenous to be ecologically consistent, e.g., a watershedecologically consistent, e.g., a watershed

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The Ecosystem HierarchyThe Ecosystem Hierarchy

•• At the base of an ecosystem’s hierarchy are At the base of an ecosystem’s hierarchy are individual organismsindividual organisms

•• These make up species which in turn make up the These make up species which in turn make up the assemblage of species found in the ecosystem assemblage of species found in the ecosystem (ecological community)(ecological community)

•• There are also aggregations of ecosystems, with the There are also aggregations of ecosystems, with the largest aggregation of all being all of the ecosystems largest aggregation of all being all of the ecosystems found on a planetfound on a planet

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ExamplesExamples ofof HierarchiesHierarchies inin BiologyBiology

HolonsHolons

•• SelfSelf--organisingorganising entitiesentities ofof interestinterest•• WatershedWatershed, , oror perhapsperhaps a a communitycommunity, , oror thethe homehome

rangerange ofof a a speciesspecies, etc., etc.•• A A delineationdelineation isis requiredrequired•• KeyKey relationshipsrelationships betweenbetween holonsholons mustmust be be establishedestablished•• TheThe contextcontext ofof thethe holonholon mustmust be be exploredexplored

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Hierarchy structureHierarchy structure

LL L

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LL L

LL L

L+1

L+1

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L L

LL L

L+1

L+1

L-1

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So (as we’ve seen)

•• Hierarchies have a triodic structure:Hierarchies have a triodic structure:,, &&

•• Fully ordered, ranked, nestedFully ordered, ranked, nestedfocal level (L)focal level (L) higher (L+1)higher (L+1) lower (Llower (L--1)1)

•• Each level is made up of unitsEach level is made up of units

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Hierarchical Theory & Geographic RepresentationHierarchical Theory & Geographic Representation

May YuanMay YuanTitle: Professor; Associate Title: Professor; Associate Dean; Director of Center for Dean; Director of Center for Spatial Analysis Spatial Analysis Dept: GeogDept: GeogPhone: (405) 325Phone: (405) 325--42934293EE--mail: mail: [email protected]@ou.edu

mailto:[email protected]

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„Hierarchical theory can provide conceptual and „Hierarchical theory can provide conceptual and logical frameworks to organize GIS data based on the logical frameworks to organize GIS data based on the underline processes and their relationships, to underline processes and their relationships, to enhance the levels of spatial and temporal enhance the levels of spatial and temporal information that can be extracted from a GIS information that can be extracted from a GIS database, and furthermore, to offer a theoretical database, and furthermore, to offer a theoretical foundations for the design of GIS representations.”foundations for the design of GIS representations.”

May YuanMay Yuan

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„Hierarchical theory is a theory that applies hierarchy to „Hierarchical theory is a theory that applies hierarchy to organize concepts and interpret ecological complexity”organize concepts and interpret ecological complexity”

Ahl & Allen (1996)Ahl & Allen (1996)

„„Any complex system in the world must be Any complex system in the world must be hierarchical, or otherwise we would have no way to hierarchical, or otherwise we would have no way to acquire it.”acquire it.” Simon (1973)Simon (1973)

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Hierarchy ProcessesHierarchy Processes

Spatial patterns produced through time (t) by Spatial patterns produced through time (t) by hierarchy processeshierarchy processes

SourceSource

t = 0t = 0 t = 1t = 1 t = 2t = 2 t = 3t = 3

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Hierarchy ProcessesHierarchy Processes

•• These occur when interaction between regions is These occur when interaction between regions is controlled by the position of each region in a controlled by the position of each region in a structural dependence based upon level in a structural dependence based upon level in a „hierarchy”„hierarchy”

•• How such systems generate not only central place, How such systems generate not only central place, but also shopping trip and other interactive but also shopping trip and other interactive phenomena (Ravenstein <1885>, Berry <1962>)phenomena (Ravenstein <1885>, Berry <1962>)

•• How some stages of the measles diffusion process in How some stages of the measles diffusion process in Southern England are controlled by hierarchy effectsSouthern England are controlled by hierarchy effects

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A Summary of The Principles of Hierarchy TheoryA Summary of The Principles of Hierarchy Theory

Timothy F. H. AllenTimothy F. H. Allen

Professor of Botany Professor of Botany and Environmental and Environmental StudiesStudiesPh.D. (1968) Ph.D. (1968) University College of University College of North Wales, North Wales, University of WalesUniversity of Wales

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A Summary of The Principles of Hierarchy TheoryA Summary of The Principles of Hierarchy Theory

Robert V. O'Neill Robert V. O'Neill

PioneerPioneer researcherresearcher ininecosystemecosystem theory, theory, ecologicalecologicalmodelingmodeling, , errorerror analysisanalysis, , hierarchy theory, hierarchy theory, andandlandscapelandscape ecologyecology andand thethedevelopmentdevelopment of of basicbasicapplicationsapplications inin riskriskassessmentassessment andand regionalregionalenvironmentalenvironmental analysisanalysis..

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A A ShortShort AnnotatedAnnotated BibliographyBibliography of Hierarchy Theoryof Hierarchy Theory

•• AllenAllen, T. F. H. , T. F. H. andand T. B. T. B. StarrStarr. 1982. . 1982. Hierarchy: Hierarchy: perspectivesperspectives for for ecologicalecological complexitycomplexity.. UniversityUniversityChicago Chicago PressPress. .

•• SaltheSalthe, S. 1985. , S. 1985. EvolvingEvolving HierarchicalHierarchical SystemsSystems: : theirtheirstructurestructure andand representationrepresentation.. Columbia Columbia UniversityUniversityPressPress, New York , New York

•• O'NeillO'Neill, R. V., D. , R. V., D. DeAngelisDeAngelis, J. , J. WaideWaide andand T. F. H. T. F. H. AllenAllen. 1986. . 1986. A A hierarchicalhierarchical conceptconcept of of ecosystemsecosystems..PrincetonPrinceton UniversityUniversity PressPress..

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A A ShortShort AnnotatedAnnotated BibliographyBibliography of Hierarchy Theoryof Hierarchy Theory

•• AllenAllen T. F. H. T. F. H. andand T. T. HoekstraHoekstra. 1992. . 1992. TowardToward a a unifiedunified ecologyecology.. Columbia Columbia UniversityUniversity PressPress..

•• AhlAhl, V. , V. andand T. F. H. T. F. H. AllenAllen. 1996. . 1996. Hierarchy theory, a Hierarchy theory, a visionvision, , vocabularyvocabulary andand epistemologyepistemology.. Columbia Columbia UniversityUniversity PressPress..

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ThankThank youyoufor for youryour attentionattention !!

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Hierarchy Theory - · PDF file• Unicellular organisms have no levels between the cell ... Divisions Ecoregion Domains Biosphere. 9 ... A Short Annotated Bibliography of Hierarchy