Lesson 11 Four Laws of Ecology (1) ---Barry Commoner

Chunyan Shao (Shandong University)

Introuduction

Organization

The First Law Part I (p. 4-9) The stabilization of the

self-balancing system Part II (p. 10-11) The danger of

collapse Part III (p. 12-16) The rate of its

turnover and the complexity of the system determines the extent it can bear stress.

Part IV (p. 17) The amplification of a small perturbation

P. 1 LPs & Question In outline---generally speaking Niche---A situation or an activity specially suited

to a person's interests, abilities, or nature Immediate---Close at hand; near

What is this paragraph about? The interaction within the environmental cycle What is a life process composed of? --respiration, nutrition, growth, moving, being

sensitive or responding, excretion, reproduction

P. 2 LPs

Intricate---Having many complexly arranged elements; elaborate.

Pollen--- 花粉 Fungi--- 真菌类 Degrade---To cause (an organic

compound) to undergo degradation Make up---put together, construct /

compose

P. 2 Analysis Outline the linkage among species

insects blood juice/pollen

mountain lion deer plants bacteria

internal tissue organic waste

fungi

P. 3 LPs & Questions

Explicitly---fully and clearly Cohesive---well-integrated Exemplify---To serve as an example

of

Why is ecology a young science? --a small section of the network --no cohesive, simplifying

generalizations

Ps. 4 & 5 LPs Population--- All the organisms that constitute

a specific group or occur in a specified habitat. Multiple--- manifold Act on—have an effect on Picture---describe Cybernetics--- 控制论 The theoretical study of

communication and control processes in biological, mechanical, and electronic systems, especially the comparison of these processes in biological and artificial systems.

Owe to--- be indebted to

P. 6 LPs & Questions

Helmsman---A person who steers a ship

Rudder--- 舵 , 方向舵 Veer---To turn aside from a course,

direction, or purpose; swerve Deflect---To turn aside or cause to

turn aside; bend or deviate

What is this paragraph about? How does cybernetics work?

P. 6 Analysis: Cybernetics Ship off-course Needle Interpreted by helmsman

Rudder turned rudder turned too far Ship swung back ship swung excessively Needle in position needle deflected Interpreted by helmsman rudder turned ship swung back needle in position

P. 7 Aquatic cycle

fish

Organic waste

Bacteria of decay

Inorganic

product

algae

P. 7 Aquatic cycle back to balance

Aquatic

cycle

Excess in algae

Ease for fish

Reduce algae

Increase fish waste

Inorganic products

Ps. 8 & 9

Unwavering---resolute, not hesitant Agent---A force or substance that

causes a change Oscillate---To swing back and forth

with a steady, uninterrupted rhythm Periodic---Having or marked by

repeated cycles Die off---To undergo a sudden, sharp

decline in population

P. 9 Questions & Analysis

Describe the relation between rabbits and lynx in your own words.

Ten-year fluctuation Many rabbits—lynx prosper—rising population—

increasingly ravage—reducing rabbit—scarce—insufficient food—numerous lynx—die off—less fiercely hunted—increase in number

Oscillation, positively / negatively related

What specific words does the author use to refer to the big and small number of the animal?

Adverb, verb, adjective, phrase, noun

Ps. (4-9): The stabilization of the system by its self-compensating properties

Law: interconnection (p. 4) Example: cybernetics (p. 5-6) Our issue: ecological cycle (p.7) Features of the system: example (p.

8)

Feature (p. 9)

P. 10 Analysis

Under what conditions will the system collapse?

The words to describe the negative effect

Eat all—no longer reproduce—starve—consumed—drop—die off

P. 11 LPs Eutrophication--n. 富 ( 养 ) 化作用 ; 水体加富过程 a process by which pollution from such sources as sewage

effluent or leachate from fertilized fields causes a lake, pond, or fen to become overrich in organic and mineral nutrients, so that algae and cyanobacteria grow rapidly and deplete the oxygen supply

Intrinsic-- Of or relating to the essential nature of a thing; inherent.

Die back-- The gradual dying of plant shoots, starting at the tips, as a result of various diseases or climatic conditions.

Debris--The scattered remains of something broken or destroyed; rubble or wreckage

Decay--To break down into component parts; rot

P. 11 Analysis

How does eutrophication lead to aquatic collapse?

Nutrient level in water—rapid growth of algae—algae density / thickness increases—light sharply diminished—strong overgrowth of algae—die back—organic debris great—decay depletes oxygen—bacteria of decay die off—aquatic collapse

Words used to describe the process

P 10: Analysis

The overstress of properties lead to collapse

P. 10: Structure Law: out of balance (S. 1) Example: Lynx eat up rabbits (S. 2) Deduction: no longer reproduce

(S. 3) Analysis: Starve, no

compensation (S. 4) Result: Lynx die off (S. 5) Consequence: The system

collapse (S. 6)

Ps. 12 & 13 Analysis How does the author express time duration? Frequency Speed Rate Swings in fractions of a second (V+Prep P) Takes some seconds (V+ Object) Respond over a time of minutes (V+Prep P) The time be some months (NP) A matter of days (be+NP) Reproduce in a few days (V+Prep P)

P. 14 LPs

Turnover-- The number of workers hired by an establishment to replace those who have left in a given period of time

Dump-- To release or throw down in a large mass

Exceed—surpass Intrude—enter as an improper

element

P. 14 Analysis: deviation from normal How is this paragraph organized? What can we learn about writing from this

paragraph? What is the Law (S2)? What is the Specific Rule (S3)? What will happen in Idealized situation( S4)? What might be the Problem( S5)? How does Reasoning / deduction( S6) work? What Result (S7) will that cause? Then what Conclusion (S8) can be drawn? Why (S9)?

P. 14 Writing assignment

What will happen if someone breaks the law?

P. 15 LPs & Questions Marine--Of or relating to the sea Shoreline--The edge of a body of water Alfalfa--[ 植 ] 紫花苜蓿 In what ways are ecosystems differ? Which turns over faster, the aquatic or soil

ecosystem? How many times does aquatic ecosystem produce

more organic material than soil ecosystem does? How much more does aquatic ecosystem produce

organic material than soil ecosystem does? Why does the soil cycle turn over more slowly?

P. 16 LPs

Pathway--A course usually followed by a body part or process

Crisscross--To move back and forth through or over

Fabric--A complex underlying structure

Strand-- rope, thread, or yarn Vulnerable--Susceptible to attack

P. 16 Analysis: Writing

What writing strategy can we learn from the paragraph?

Law (Determinant of amount of stress)

Explanation (the more…the more…)

Example (Lynx-rabbit) How does the example Support the

topic?Reality: More complexExample (net-strand)Analogy to our topic (environment-

net)

Ps. 12-16: Rate of turnover and complexity of system determines its capacity to stress.

Feature: Rate of constituents determines the behavior of the system (p. 12-13)

Idealized situation: The slowest rate maintain the whole system (p. 14)

Second feature: Rate differs and points of collapse differ (p. 15):

Another feature: complexity determines the capacity (p. 16)

P. 17 LPs

Amplify-- To make larger or more powerful; increase

Magnitude—greatness in size, extent, etc.

Oxidize– To combine with oxygen; make into an oxide

Incorporate--To cause to merge or combine together into a united whole

Earthworm-- 蚯蚓 Woodcock--[ 鸟 ] 鸟鹬

P. 17 Analysis: Writing strategy Law: feedback and intensification

(topic) Example: Law: food chain (small-

bigger) Problem (greater

amount) Result (greater

demand) Problem (concentration on top) Result (explain the topic)

P. 18 LP & Analysis

Perturbation--The state of being perturbed; agitation

How is everything connected to everything else?

P. 19: LPs

Indestructible--Impossible to destroy Excrete--To separate and discharge

(waste matter) from the blood, tissues, or organs

Respiratory--Of, relating to, used in, or affecting respiration

Nitrate--[ 化 ] 硝酸盐 , 硝酸钾 Phosphate-- 磷酸盐

P. 20 LPs Surface--To emerge after concealment Incinerator--One that incinerates, especially an

apparatus, such as a furnace, for burning waste Emit—give or send out matter or energy Stack--A chimney or flue Toxic—poisonous Condense--To become more compact Convert—change or transform Methyl-- 甲基：单价碳氢基 Soluble--That can be dissolved, especially easily

dissolved Deposit--To lay down or leave behind by a natural

process

P. 20 Analysis Trace the path of the mercury Battery—container of rubbish—incinerator

—vapor—rain/snow—earth—lake—fish—man

What verbs does the author use to describe the process?

Place—collect—take—heat—produce—emit—carry—bring—enter—condense—sink—act on—convert—take up—metabolize—accumulate—catch—eat--deposit

P. 21 LPs

Counteract--To oppose and mitigate the effects of by contrary action; check

Prevalent--Widely or commonly occurring, existing, accepted, or practiced

Extract--To obtain from a substance by chemical or mechanical action, as by pressure, distillation, or evaporation

Discharge--

Conclusion: Writing strategy Definition Analogy Examples Pattern General law Specific rule Example Issue Problem Result Conclusion