For a perpective on this topic from another continent: Bilsky, L.J. 1980. Ecological crisis and response in Ancent China. Pages 60-73, in Historical Ecology, L.J. Bilsky editor. Kennikat Press, Port Washington, NY. ISBN 0-8046-9247-5
Buck Sanford ________________________________ Robert L. Sanford, Jr. Ph.D. Professor of Biological Sciences Voice: (303) 871-3534 Fax: (303) 871-3471 http://www.biology.du.edu/sanford-ecosystems _________________________________________________ Date: Sun, 9 Jul 2006 19:02:26 -0700 From: Jane Shevtsov <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: Re: Ancient description of ecosystem dynamics? Lucretius' "On the Nature of Things" <http://classics.mit.edu/Carus/nature_things.html> comes to mind: "Whence Nature all creates, and multiplies And fosters all, and whither she resolves Each in the end when each is overthrown. This ultimate stock we have devised to name Procreant atoms, matter, seeds of things, Or primal bodies, as primal to the world." And: "Nothing returns to naught; but all return At their collapse to primal forms of stuff. Lo, the rains perish which Ether-father throws Down to the bosom of Earth-mother; but then Upsprings the shining grain, and boughs are green Amid the trees, and trees themselves wax big And lade themselves with fruits; and hence in turn The race of man and all the wild are fed; ... Thus naught of what so seems Perishes utterly, since Nature ever Upbuilds one thing from other, suffering naught To come to birth but through some other's death." There's much more in that poem about nature; these are only a few samples. There's also a wonderful poem from the Tempest, although it's not as old as the other texts. I've often thought it would make a great intro to biogeochemical cycles: "Full fathom five thy father lies; Of his bones are coral made; Those are pearls that were his eyes; Nothing of him that does fade, But doth suffer a sea-change Into something rich and strange." At 03:05 PM 7/9/2006, Warren W. Aney wrote: >I just ran across this bit of writing from almost 2,000 years ago: > >"All that is born, all that is created, >all the elements of nature >are interwoven and united with each other. >All that is composed shall be decomposed: >everything returns to its roots: >matter returns to the origins of matter." > >This is part of the fragmentary Gospel of Mary found in Cairo in 1896 but >only recently studied and translated (this translation of the Coptic is by >Jean-Yves Leloup). Authorities say it was probably written during the >second century C.E. > >I was amazed that someone thought and wrote along these lines so long ago. >It succinctly describes what an ecosystem is, using terms suggestive of more >modern concepts such as biolgical communities, species interactions, >mutualism, biogeochemical cycling, and decomposition regimes. > >Does anyone know of other ancient writings that come this close to today's >concepts of how an ecosystem operates? Or is this unique? > >We tend to think that much of this understanding arose only within the last >100 years. > >Warren W. Aney >Senior Wildlife Ecologist >9403 SW 74th Ave >Tigard, OR 97223 >(503)246-8613 (voice) >(503)246-2605 (fax) >[EMAIL PROTECTED] (email)
