We assume that there is a general trend in the resource use by life on earth, which
trends toward an optimal or most parsimonious pattern. In accordance with this
concept, evolutionary, ecological and sociocultural processes influence the resource
use and composition of the communities. Individuals, populations, assemblies and
ecosystem properties are always composed and rearranged along changing conditions to an optimal use of resources.
Optimization of the resource use is an important principle controlling ecosystem
functions—the ruler. Diversity, productivity and biomass are important drivers of the
ecosystem. Changes in these properties reflect changes in the compartmentalisation
and resource use of the ecosystem.
Keywords Theory on assembly optimization (TAO) · Species diversity · Biomass ·
Productivity · Human influence · Exploitation · Resource availability
1 Introduction
Ecosystems are most commonly composed of rock, stony or sandy ground, soil or a
stage of soil development, dead organic matter, water, air, and diverse groups of
living species. Thermal vents, pelagic oceans and other specialized ecosystems offer
slight variations on this theme.
All plants, animals and humans need resources such as space (physical space in
which to live), energy (e.g., solar energy, warmth), and nutrients or food for life at all
times.
Most species also require oxygen, although many can use other gases such as
carbon dioxide, on which, for example, all plants are dependent. Knowledge of the
uptake, cycling and loss of resources in the ecosystem is important to estimate the
effects of human influences on ecosystems, and to understanding the provisions of
ecosystem services for human health and well-being (e.g., Schulze and Mooney
1993).
We here offer novel considerations as contributions to the discussion on how the
species composition of an ecosystem will react under the pressure of human resource
use. Furthermore, we promote the hypothesis that humans are hardly able to reduce
the overall exploitation of resources effectively even when local or regional reductions or use abstinence are in place. Wherever laws, traditions or other agreements
limit the resource use, e.g., to control fisheries, the limits seem to be preconditions
for further or broader optimization of the resource use at global scales (International
Resource Panel 2017).
Is there a general driver of the composition of species in an ecosystem? What are
the most important features of the ecosystem? Is it primary productivity and/or
resource use of all biota, species diversity, dominance, reproduction, longevity, or
all of these independently?
Growth and death, survival, reproduction, dispersal, speciation and extinction
indeed belong to the most widespread evolutionary principles of life. All biota have
80
C. Hobohm and S. E. Vanderplank
trends toward an optimal or most parsimonious pattern. In accordance with this
concept, evolutionary, ecological and sociocultural processes influence the resource
use and composition of the communities. Individuals, populations, assemblies and
ecosystem properties are always composed and rearranged along changing conditions to an optimal use of resources.
Optimization of the resource use is an important principle controlling ecosystem
functions—the ruler. Diversity, productivity and biomass are important drivers of the
ecosystem. Changes in these properties reflect changes in the compartmentalisation
and resource use of the ecosystem.
Keywords Theory on assembly optimization (TAO) · Species diversity · Biomass ·
Productivity · Human influence · Exploitation · Resource availability
1 Introduction
Ecosystems are most commonly composed of rock, stony or sandy ground, soil or a
stage of soil development, dead organic matter, water, air, and diverse groups of
living species. Thermal vents, pelagic oceans and other specialized ecosystems offer
slight variations on this theme.
All plants, animals and humans need resources such as space (physical space in
which to live), energy (e.g., solar energy, warmth), and nutrients or food for life at all
times.
Most species also require oxygen, although many can use other gases such as
carbon dioxide, on which, for example, all plants are dependent. Knowledge of the
uptake, cycling and loss of resources in the ecosystem is important to estimate the
effects of human influences on ecosystems, and to understanding the provisions of
ecosystem services for human health and well-being (e.g., Schulze and Mooney
1993).
We here offer novel considerations as contributions to the discussion on how the
species composition of an ecosystem will react under the pressure of human resource
use. Furthermore, we promote the hypothesis that humans are hardly able to reduce
the overall exploitation of resources effectively even when local or regional reductions or use abstinence are in place. Wherever laws, traditions or other agreements
limit the resource use, e.g., to control fisheries, the limits seem to be preconditions
for further or broader optimization of the resource use at global scales (International
Resource Panel 2017).
Is there a general driver of the composition of species in an ecosystem? What are
the most important features of the ecosystem? Is it primary productivity and/or
resource use of all biota, species diversity, dominance, reproduction, longevity, or
all of these independently?
Growth and death, survival, reproduction, dispersal, speciation and extinction
indeed belong to the most widespread evolutionary principles of life. All biota have
80
C. Hobohm and S. E. Vanderplank