Matt, I generally agree with the process vs function distinction you make, and find it useful. However, I am not sure that an "accumulated system" lacks function just because it wasn't designed to provide a function to some centrism. I think that function is an emergent property of an ecosystem and it benefits the ecosystem itself. An ecosystem that comes into existence through whatever processes of assembly/interaction has function or it would cease to exist. But, what is the relationship between function and process? Is function entirely dependent on processes, or does it regulate processes in some way?
Sarah Jack Hinners, PhD Assistant Professor - Research Metropolitan Research Center City and Metropolitan Planning University of Utah 375 S 1530 E rm 226 Salt Lake City, UT 84112 ________________________________ From: Matt Chew <[email protected]> To: [email protected] Sent: Wednesday, October 3, 2012 12:54 AM Subject: [ECOLOG-L] Visualizing functional diversity This has been an interesting conversation. Ecological functions entail putative benefits to some population or individual. It doesn't have to be a human population, so it doesn't have to be anthropocentric, but that is the second most common centrism. Biocentrism and ecocentrism are generally proxies for the most common one: idiocentrism. Biocentrism and ecocentrism involve benefits to things that benefit the author of the argument. If this seems dubious, how many times have you seen discussions of "functions" without benefits, such as "the function of mass extinction" or "the function of acid precipitation"? That suggests ecosystem function and ecosystem service are fundamentally identical concepts. Processes are more benefits-equivocal than functions. A designed system (e.g., a farm) includes processes more and less beneficial from various points of reference, but has a designed function benefiting the farmer. An accumulated system (e.g., an ecosystem) likewise includes processes but lacks a designer or a function—if your metaphysics will allow. Matthew K Chew Assistant Research Professor Arizona State University School of Life Sciences ASU Center for Biology & Society PO Box 873301 Tempe, AZ 85287-3301 USA Tel 480.965.8422 Fax 480.965.8330 [email protected] or [email protected] https://cbs.asu.edu/people/chew-0<http://cbs.asu.edu/people/profiles/chew.php> http://asu.academia.edu/MattChew
