Isn't "maintenance of biodiversity" the function? The unimpaired function would be the maintenance of biodiversity at or near the level expected for the type of system in question.
The next question, then, is "What functions depend upon maintenance of biodiversity?". Maybe we should say "ecosystem process", because "function" might sort of imply a human-centered, value-laden bias, like a less-specific version of "service". Joe > From: Wayne Tyson <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > Once upon a time, long, long ago, I was blatting on > about ecosystem > function. Then Dick Vogl said, "I don't know what > 'ecosystem > function' is." That set me to thinking--critically, > about my > assumptions, because I considered Vogl to be an > ecology prodigy, if > not genius. One thing about him--he thought WAY out > of the box, but > always tied it to more or less conventional theory > so those around > him would have something "solid" to cling to while > Vogl spun his magic. > > So perhaps terHorst's remarks should at least not be > overlooked, > perhaps given serious thought. > > 1. What IS ecosystem function? > > 2. What is an "ecosystem service?" > > 3. What are the differences between the two? > > 4. Are they related at all, and if so, just how? > > 5. Where does "biodiversity" fit into each? > > 6. Is there more to biodiversity than numbers? > > 7. Are those numbers valid in a dynamic sense over > time? > > WT __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com
