Wayne and others, I did not understand the way the distinction was made, either. To me, both biome and ecosystem are useful terms. To me, a biome has always meant a set of landscapes around the world, each sharing ecological similarities. The similarities are for the most part botanical growth forms due to physico-chemical limiting factors, so appropriate names for biomes in that sense are "desert," "tropical rain forest," temperate deciduous forest," "grassland," and so on. Each is a broad landscape type, and each occurs widely in the world as separate representations. Further, to me, an ecosystem is a unit of landscape that includes two specific biological properties, energy flow and biogeochemical cycling. We use geographic and geological boundaries to delimit ecosystems for descriptive and investigative purposes, but any given ecosystem is open to surrounding ones (when a dragonfly emerges from its natal stream, it may then be eaten by a kite that never lived in a stream -- we stil! l may study the stream as an ecosystem). There is only one desert biome, whether we are looking at the Kalahari or the Mojave. They are members of the same biome. Consequently, no biome could be described and investigated as an ecosystem. Biome is just a convenient way to recognize similarities in biotic makeup due to physico-chemical limitations of different landscape units around the world. Ecosystem is a convenient way to describe and study units of landscape in a functional manner.
Yes Wayne, apples and oranges. The proposed text seems to offer confusion rather than the clarity it hopes to provide because it seems to represent a biome as a large ecosystem. The terms are not used that way in my experience. mcneely ---- Wayne Tyson <[email protected]> wrote: > Ecolog: > > It seems I am in need of some serious educating or I'm misunderstanding this > post. > > My standard for terminology, as I have said before, is clarity. That is, > useful terms should delineate, in non-misleading brevity, the crucial > distinction between the phenomena described by them. If this is wrong, > please clear this up for me. > > As to biomes, they seem to be quite broad and general, described by common > indicator species, while ecosystems, large and small, like the earth and > vernal pools, are integrated, interdependent and independent > (self-sufficient and to a greater than lesser degree independent of other) > systems. The two terms seem to be apples and oranges to me, both useful, but > describing the same elephant at different scales or sections. I used to > piddle around in puddles after rains as a child, intrigued at how fast > tadpoles could appear magically from the dust, but I have a hard time to > this day seeing them, unto themselves, as ecosystems. > > I do not see the usefulness of the distinction drawn by this post, but am > eager to become better informed and have my present impressions corrected. > Consistent with my own standard, I am eager to understand the crucial > distinctions, but when they are not there I'm not sure that they should be > invented. > > I'm ready to shape up. > > WT > > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Joseph K. Golson" <[email protected]> > To: <[email protected]> > Sent: Monday, June 06, 2011 9:48 AM > Subject: [ECOLOG-L] CALL FOR AUTHORS: Biomes and Ecosystems: An > Encyclopedia - Edited by Robert Warren Howarth > > > > Greetings, > > > > > > > > We are inviting academic editorial contributors to a new reference work > > about biomes and ecosystems to be published by Salem Press in 2013. > > > > > > > > With approximately 600 articles in 4 volumes, Biomes and Ecosystems: An > > Encyclopedia is a comprehensive review of key biological and geographic > > classifications tied to the high-school and college curriculum. According > > to > > one expert, there is a slight difference between the two words, biome and > > ecosystem. An ecosystem is much smaller than a biome. Conversely, a biome > > can be thought of many similar ecosystems throughout the world grouped > > together. An ecosystem can be as large as the Sahara Desert, or as small > > as > > a puddle or vernal pool. Thus, the reference work will cover the broad > > scope > > of biomes and ecosystems around the world, from puddles on the street to > > coral reefs in Australia to rain forests in Brazil to the tundra in > > Siberia. > > Each article will delve into the properties that make the subject a biome > > or > > ecosystem, and how those features work together. Especially targeted > > toward > > high-school students, this outstanding reference work is edited to make > > the > > content readily accessible as well to patrons of public, academic, and > > university libraries. Pedagogical elements include a Topic Finder, > > Chronology, Resource Guide, Glossary, Appendix, and thorough index. > > Presented in an A-to-Z format, Biomes and Ecosystems: An Encyclopedia is > > richly illustrated with photos, charts, and tables, all comprising an > > unprecedented and unique resource produced by Golson Media for Salem > > Press. > > > > > > > > We are now making article assignments with a deadline of October 31, 2011. > > > > > > > > Each article ranges from 600 to 3500 words and is signed by the > > contributor. > > The General Editor for the encyclopedia is Dr. Robert Warren Howarth, > > Cornell University, who will review all the articles for editorial content > > and academic consistency. > > > > > > > > If you are interested in contributing to Biomes and Ecosystems: An > > Encyclopedia, it can be a notable publication addition to your CV/resume > > and > > broaden your publishing credits. Moreover, you can help ensure that > > accurate > > information and important points of view are credibly presented to > > students > > and library patrons. Compensation is an honorarium payment of $25 up to > > 1000 > > words; $35 from 1001 to 2500 words; and $45 above 2501 words. > > > > > > > > The list of available articles, style guidelines, and sample article are > > prepared and will be sent to you in response to your inquiry. Please then > > select which unassigned articles may best suit your interests and > > expertise. > > > > > > > > > > If you would like to contribute to building a truly outstanding reference > > with Biomes and Ecosystems: An Encyclopedia, please contact me by the > > e-mail > > information below. Please provide a brief summary of your background in > > biology, ecology, and science topics. Thanks for your time and interest. > > > > > > > > Joseph K. Golson > > > > Author Manager > > > > [email protected] > > > > > > ----- > > No virus found in this message. > > Checked by AVG - www.avg.com > > Version: 10.0.1375 / Virus Database: 1511/3684 - Release Date: 06/06/11 > > -- David McNeely
