IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/ecomod/v455y2021ics0304380021001940.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Thermodynamic analysis of an ecologically restored plant community:Number of species

Author

Listed:
  • Chen, Mingli
  • Wu, Zijian
  • Fu, Xinxi
  • Ouyang, Linnan
  • Wu, Xiaofu

Abstract

Conducting a thermodynamic analysis of a plant community can be an approach to macro-ecology that emphasizes not only the diversity and abundances of plant species but also the exchange of matter and energy among species within the community and that with its physical and biological environment. The experimental data used for the test were obtained from an ecological restoration project implemented at a manganese tailing site. The relations derived from the maximal discrete entropy theorem show that the maximum entropy will increase with increase in the total number of species N, suggesting that N has an upper limit Nm at a habitat subject to its heterogeneity in physical conditions and species resource in its surrounding areas. As an important macroscopic property of an ecosystem, N is the number of species that are present at a habitat while its upper limit Nm is the potential number of species that have been or can be adapted to the physical conditions of the habitat, and can thus possibly be present at the habitat. As a function of the maximum entropy, ln(N) is applied as a biodiversity index. As an upper limit of ln(N), ln(Nm) can be regarded as a biodiversity potential index as it takes into account the available number of species distributed in the surrounding areas of the habitat, showing the potential limit for further increase in its biodiversity. Following the thermodynamic laws, given that there is no further change in system enthalpy H, ∆H = 0, the equilibrium number of species Neq can be found at the point ∆N = 0 and Nm can be determined by Nm = Neq2. The restoration of the investigated plant community was shown to be an irreversible process characterized by spontaneous increases in its total biomass and total number of plant species associated with increases in its enthalpy, Gibbs free energy and entropy. The analytical results gave support to the argument that the internal energy factors of a plant community are functions of its productivity and biodiversity and the difference between ln(N) and ln(Nm) determines its internal energy distribution.

Suggested Citation

  • Chen, Mingli & Wu, Zijian & Fu, Xinxi & Ouyang, Linnan & Wu, Xiaofu, 2021. "Thermodynamic analysis of an ecologically restored plant community:Number of species," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 455(C).
  • Handle: RePEc:eee:ecomod:v:455:y:2021:i:c:s0304380021001940
    DOI: 10.1016/j.ecolmodel.2021.109632
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0304380021001940
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only

    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.ecolmodel.2021.109632?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Wu, Zijian & Wu, Xiaofu & Yang, Zhihui & Ouyang, Linnan, 2017. "A simple thermodynamic model for evaluating the ecological restoration effect on a manganese tailing wasteland," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 346(C), pages 20-29.
    2. Jørgensen, Sven E. & Nielsen, Søren Nors & Fath, Brian D., 2016. "Recent progress in systems ecology," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 319(C), pages 112-118.
    3. Patten, Bernard C. & Fath, Brian D., 2018. "Notes from an introductory course on Field Systems Ecology," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 368(C), pages 33-40.
    4. Hall, Charles A.S. & Knickmeyer, Frances & Wiegman, Adrian & Brainard, Andrew & Diaz, Avriel Rose & Huynh, Carolyn & Mead, Jerry, 2018. "A class exercise for Systems Ecology: Synthesis of stream energetics and testing Allen’s paradox," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 369(C), pages 42-65.
    5. Jørgensen, S.E. & Nors Nielsen, Søren, 2007. "Application of exergy as thermodynamic indicator in ecology," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 32(5), pages 673-685.
    6. Wu, Zijian & Wu, Xiaofu & Yang, Zhihui & Ouyang, Linnan, 2018. "Internal energy ratios as ecological indicators for description of the phytoremediation process on a manganese tailing site," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 374(C), pages 14-21.
    7. Wiltshire, Kathryn H & Tanner, Jason E, 2020. "Comparing maximum entropy modelling methods to inform aquaculture site selection for novel seaweed species," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 429(C).
    8. Zhang, Gengxi & Su, Xiaoling & Singh, Vijay P., 2020. "Modelling groundwater-dependent vegetation index using Entropy theory," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 416(C).
    9. Buonocore, Elvira & Donnarumma, Luigia & Appolloni, Luca & Miccio, Antonino & Russo, Giovanni F. & Franzese, Pier Paolo, 2020. "Marine natural capital and ecosystem services: An environmental accounting model," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 424(C).
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Wu, Zijian & Chen, Mingli & Fu, Xinxi & Ouyang, Linnan & Wu, Xiaofu, 2022. "Thermodynamic analysis of an ecologically restored plant community: Ecological niche," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 464(C).

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Wu, Zijian & Wu, Xiaofu & Yang, Zhihui & Ouyang, Linnan, 2018. "Internal energy ratios as ecological indicators for description of the phytoremediation process on a manganese tailing site," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 374(C), pages 14-21.
    2. Wu, Zijian & Chen, Mingli & Fu, Xinxi & Ouyang, Linnan & Wu, Xiaofu, 2022. "Thermodynamic analysis of an ecologically restored plant community: Ecological niche," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 464(C).
    3. Wu, Zijian & Wu, Xiaofu & Yang, Zhihui & Ouyang, Linnan, 2017. "A simple thermodynamic model for evaluating the ecological restoration effect on a manganese tailing wasteland," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 346(C), pages 20-29.
    4. Ye, Sufen & Zhang, Luoping & Feng, Huan, 2020. "Ecosystem intrinsic value and its evaluation," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 430(C).
    5. Christoph Sejkora & Lisa Kühberger & Fabian Radner & Alexander Trattner & Thomas Kienberger, 2020. "Exergy as Criteria for Efficient Energy Systems—A Spatially Resolved Comparison of the Current Exergy Consumption, the Current Useful Exergy Demand and Renewable Exergy Potential," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(4), pages 1-51, February.
    6. Sara Apresentação & Mafalda Rangel & Assunção Cristas, 2024. "Towards Sustainability: A Framework for Evaluating Portuguese Small-Scale Fisheries," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(8), pages 1-14, April.
    7. Wenjia Zhang & Xiaoya Deng & Yi Xiao & Ji Zhang & Cai Ren & Wen Lu & Aihua Long, 2023. "Study on the Suitable Ecological Groundwater Depth and the Suitable Well–Canal Combined Irrigation Ratio in the Weigan River Irrigation District," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(20), pages 1-22, October.
    8. Ali Kharrazi & Brian D. Fath & Harald Katzmair, 2016. "Advancing Empirical Approaches to the Concept of Resilience: A Critical Examination of Panarchy, Ecological Information, and Statistical Evidence," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 8(9), pages 1-17, September.
    9. Diaz-Mendez, S.E. & Sierra-Grajeda, J.M.T. & Hernandez-Guerrero, A. & Rodriguez-Lelis, J.M., 2013. "Entropy generation as an environmental impact indicator and a sample application to freshwater ecosystems eutrophication," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 61(C), pages 234-239.
    10. Mattei, F. & Buonocore, E. & Franzese, P.P. & Scardi, M., 2021. "Global assessment of marine phytoplankton primary production: Integrating machine learning and environmental accounting models," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 451(C).
    11. Jordán, Ferenc, 2022. "The network perspective: Vertical connections linking organizational levels," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 473(C).
    12. Tzanakakis, V.A. & Angelakis, A.N., 2011. "Chemical exergy as a unified and objective indicator in the assessment and optimization of land treatment systems," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 222(17), pages 3082-3091.
    13. Muhamad Taqi & Aam Slamet Rusydiana & Nanik Kustiningsih & Irman Firmansyah, 2021. "Environmental Accounting: A Scientometric using Biblioshiny," International Journal of Energy Economics and Policy, Econjournals, vol. 11(3), pages 369-380.
    14. Chiara Paoli & Paolo Povero & Ilaria Rigo & Giulia Dapueto & Rachele Bordoni & Paolo Vassallo, 2022. "Two Sides of the Same Coin: A Theoretical Framework for Strong Sustainability in Marine Protected Areas," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(10), pages 1-20, May.
    15. Xu, F. & Yang, Z.F. & Chen, B. & Zhao, Y.W., 2011. "Ecosystem health assessment of the plant-dominated Baiyangdian Lake based on eco-exergy," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 222(1), pages 201-209.
    16. Wilson Lara & Stella Bogino & Felipe Bravo, 2018. "Multilevel analysis of dendroclimatic series with the R-package BIOdry," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 13(5), pages 1-23, May.
    17. Liao, Wenjie & Heijungs, Reinout & Huppes, Gjalt, 2012. "Thermodynamic analysis of human–environment systems: A review focused on industrial ecology," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 228(C), pages 76-88.
    18. Addamo, Anna Maria & La Notte, Alessandra & Guillen, Jordi, 2024. "Status of mapping, assessment and valuation of marine ecosystem services in the European seas," Ecosystem Services, Elsevier, vol. 67(C).
    19. Grande, U. & Piernik, A. & Nienartowicz, A. & Buonocore, E. & Franzese, P.P., 2023. "Measuring natural capital value and ecological complexity of lake ecosystems," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 482(C).
    20. Sofia Russo & Alicia Valero & Antonio Valero & Marta Iglesias-Émbil, 2021. "Exergy-Based Assessment of Polymers Production and Recycling: An Application to the Automotive Sector," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(2), pages 1-19, January.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:ecomod:v:455:y:2021:i:c:s0304380021001940. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.journals.elsevier.com/ecological-modelling .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.