One of the most important issues in structure-function relationship modeling is that each rangeland has numerous functions and each of them can provide the most benefits in a certain state of that ecosystem. In fact, relationship between structure and function can be varied in different states. After presentation of the Linear Structure-Function Model based on the Clementsian succession theory,...

interrupting the processes which control ecosystem resources has dramatic impacts on the rangeland conditions. to protect ecosystems and landscape, it needs to understand the ecosystem processes which regulate the ecosystem resources. as main components of ecosystems, patches and inter-patches play important roles in energy and materials cascade. ecologically, functional parameters such as stab...

Recent studies have supported a link between phylogenetic diversity and various ecological properties including ecosystem function. However, such studies typically assume that phylogenetic branches of equivalent length are more or less interchangeable. Here we suggest that there is a need to consider not only branch lengths but also their placement on the phylogeny. We demonstrate how two commo...

Learning about ecosystems is challenging because, like any complex system, they are simultaneously multidimensional and dynamic. Often, learners engage only with the visible components of an ecosystem and draw either single or linear causal connections between components. In this study, we explored how using a Structure-Behavior-Function framework supported middle school students’ conceptual an...

We have developed a social optimization model that integrates wastewater treatment cost function and ecosystem damage cost function. The social optimal abatement level of water pollution is determined by finding the tradeoff between pollution control cost and ecosystem damage. The model is applied to data from the Lake Taihu region in China to demonstrate this tradeoff. A wastewater treatment c...

There has been considerable focus on the impacts of environmental change on ecosystem function arising from changes in species richness. However, environmental change may affect ecosystem function without affecting richness, most notably by affecting population densities and community composition. Using a theoretical model, we find that, despite invariant richness, (1) small environmental effec...

Using grizzly bears as surrogates for "salmon ecosystem" function, the authors develop a generalizable ecosystem-based management framework that enables decision makers to quantify ecosystem-harvest tradeoffs between wild and human recipients of natural resources like fish.