Define Historical example of Ecosystems Science?
Mathematical and statistical tools are central to enhancing our understanding of large-scale systems and contain, for instance, cybernetics, control theory, thermodynamics, information theory, network theory, self-organization theory, emergence and hierarchy theory, and/or power laws (Muller 1992, 1997). A very compelling illustration of the how the application of mathematical theory to important global-scale ecological problems comes from the work of Allen, Brown, Gillooly (2002). Historically, one of the best prominent but least understood patterns in nature is the well known latitudinal gradient from poles to the equator in biodiversity. All main groups of terrestrial, freshwater, and marine taxa display latitudinal gradients in biodiversity though the principles underlying the origin and maintenance of these patterns have been illusive. Allen et al use a theoretical framework to describe gradients in species diversity in terms of energetics. They obtain a model that quantitatively assumptions that species diversity can be predicted from the biochemical kinetics of metabolism. These results established a thermodynamic basis for the regulation of species diversity and the company of ecological communities.