Gaia Hypothesis Essay, Research Paper
Explain Lovelock’s “Gaia Hypothesis.” Be sure to include the concept of symbiosis
or mutualism. What role do human beings play in this hypothesis?
The Gaia Hypothesis is the theory that living organisms and inorganic material are part of a dynamic system that shape Earth’s biosphere, in Lynn Margulis’s words, a “super organismic system”. The earth is a self-regulating environment; a single, unified, cooperating and living system – a super organism that regulates physical conditions to keep the environment hospitable for life evolution therefore is the result of cooperative not competitive processes.
In the mid-1960’s, Dr James Lovelock was approached by the NASA, who asked him for help in searching for life on Mars. In 1965, Lovelock proposed some physical tests for determining whether Mars held life or not. He proposed that a top-down view of the entire planet be employed. The test would analyze the composition of the planet’s atmosphere. If it held no life, the planet should have an atmosphere close to the chemical equilibrium state, as determined by chemistry and physics. If the planet held life, the metabolic activities of life forms would result in an atmosphere far from the equilibrium state.
Lovelock examined the atmospheric data for the Martian atmosphere and found it to be in a state of stable chemical equilibrium, while the Earth was shown to be in a state of extreme chemical disequilibrium. He concluded that Mars was probably lifeless.
In that same year, Lovelock began to think that such an unlikely combination of gases such as the Earth had, indicated a homeostatic of the Earth biosphere to maintain environmental conditions conducive for life, in a sort of cybernetic feedback loop, an active control system. By the end of the 1960’s, Lovelock had definitively organized his theory. The novelist William Golding, Lovelock’s neighbor, suggested he call the control system Gaia, after the ancient Greek Earth Goddess. First on his own in 1972, and then later in 1973 with American microbiologist Lynn Margulis, Lovelock formally proposed the idea of Gaia as a control system. The name for the complex system of climate control has remained “Gaia” since then, and in 1979 his book, Gaia – a new look at life on Earth first presented the Gaia hypothesis to the wider public. Gaia has become a very important in the human.
The Gaia hypothesis…suppose(s) that the atmosphere, the oceans, the climate, and the crust of the Earth are regulated at a state comfortable for life because of the behavior of living organisms. Specifically, the Gaia hypothesis said that the temperature, oxidation state, acidity and certain aspects of the rocks and waters are at any time kept constant, and that this homeostasis is maintained by active feedback processes operated automatically and unconsciously the biota. Solar energy sustains comfortable conditions for life. The conditions are only constant in the short term and evolve in synchrony with the changing needs of the biota as it evolves. Life and its environment are so closely coupled that evolution concerns Gala, not the organisms or the environment taken separately.”
The mutualistic system that James Lovelock has suggested encounters all of life on Earth. Diverse groups of organisms all around the world (plankton in the oceans, trees in the forests, bacteria in swamps etc.) are working together to help stabilize the Earth’s environment, and keep the Earth habitable for life itself. For instance, they keep the Earth’s temperature fairly constant despite long-term variations in the sun’s energy output (preventing the Earth from either freezing or getting too hot for life), and they help to keep the atmosphere filled with oxygen, and prevent the oceans from becoming filled with nasty nitric acid. They help maintain a reasonable amount of rainfall over the Earth’s land surface, and transport vital nutrients (such as iodine) needed by land plants from the sea to the land.
To me this idea of a grand global mutualism seems to run foul of the basic problem that most organisms are engaged in much shorter term battles for survival (against other members of their own species, against other competing species and against predators and prey) that determine their behavior much more than any long-term goal of saving the planet over thousands and millions of years. Also, if the ‘temptation’ to cheat in a mutualism is great on the scale of flowers and bees, think how tempting and easy it would be for an organism to cheat on the scale of the whole planet, with mechanisms often taking thousands of years to operate. It’s not as is the bad consequences of cheating are just around the corner, or that they increase noticeably if you as an individual cheat because there are so many billions and trillions of organisms involved in the relationship. I really can’t believe that such a mutualism would ‘work’. It may be that as a fortunate, incidental ‘by product’ of their ever day activities, organisms help stabilize the Earth’s environment, but not because they have evolved characteristics specifically for this purpose.
If the Gaia mechanisms really do work to stabilize the Earth’s environment for all the life on Earth, then in a sense I suppose it is a real mutualism, in that it works; but it’s one that hasn’t been selected for. Seems to me that the organisms involved in controlling the Earth’s environment have not been selected by evolution for being good at taking part in this mutualism, they just incidentally happen to have these beneficial effects on the planet while going about their normal daily business.
Другие работы по теме:
Venus Aphrodite Essay Research Paper In the
Venus (Aphrodite) Essay, Research Paper In the begining, there was Chaos. From Chaos and Mother Earth came the first race of Greek deities, the Titans. These first gods were ruled by Saturn, who had received the prophesy that his son will over throw him. Well, he ate all his children save one, the one his wife, Mother Earth (Gaia) placed on an island.
The General Theory Of Love Essay Research
Paper Assumptions: 1. All people are of the same quality. 2. All people are constrainted maximizers. 3. One can only stay with an opposite sex at a time. In this passage I would like to make a hypothesis to explain and predict how long a person will stay with his/her mate. It may be wrong, but it is interesting.
The Gaian Theory Essay Research Paper IntroductionContinental
The Gaian Theory Essay, Research Paper Introduction Continental drift is the theory that the positions of the earth’s continents have moved considerable distances throughout geologic time. A German meteorologist, by the name of Alfred Wegener, proposed the first comprehensive theory of continental drift in 1912.
Native Son Essay Research Paper The title
Native Son Essay, Research Paper The title of the novel begins to explain Bigger’s situation; he is more a child of the city itself than of human parentage. His soul is as stunted as an undernourished plant whose blooms are destroyed before they can come to fruition. When he says, upon reading the paper “No! Jan didn’t help me! He didn’t have a damned thing to do with it! I — I did it!” (p.283) he is clinging to the act of violence he performed as an affirmation of self.
Gaia Vs Selfish Gene Essay Research Paper
People have always wondered how life evolved on Earth. Richard Dawkins’ book The Selfish Gene and James Lovelock’s book The Ages of Gaia attempt to shed some light on this debate. Dawkins’ presents a reductionist point of view in that he argues that evolution takes place entirely through the effects of natural selection on the survival of selfish genes.
The Gaia Hypothesis Essay Research Paper It
The Gaia Hypothesis Essay, Research Paper It is true to say that mankind mindfully recognizes the Earth as the third planet from the sun, and the only planet that is capable of supporting life. Furthermore, it can also be said that mankind thinks of the Earth as somewhat of a stable platform for human existence.
Dalton Theory Essay Research Paper Dalton sAtomic
Dalton Theory Essay, Research Paper Dalton s Atomic Theory John Dalton developed the first useful atomic theory of matter around 1803. In the course of his studies on meteorology, Dalton concluded that evaporated water exists in air as an independent gas. Solid bodies can’t occupy the same space at the same time, but water and air could.
Given Elderly Care Essay Research Paper Older
Given Elderly Care Essay, Research Paper ?Older People and Care Giving Care Giving Networks Variations by Marital Status? To define what a care giving network is, would be to say that it is the care for elderly persons based on how an elderly is taken care of, and by whom they are given the care from. So many factors affect this situation though.
Discussion Essay Research Paper We handed out
Discussion Essay, Research Paper We handed out 60 surveys, using convenience sampling, in the cafeteria at Marianopolis College.We got back 50surveys. 23 of the respondents were male and 27 female. The results we found supported our hypothesis. Females seemed to have a negative body-image where as the males perceived their bodies positively.
Ufology Essay Research Paper In our discussions
Ufology Essay, Research Paper In our discussions about UFOs and in browsing the web, IUFOS encounters, again and again, the same fallacious lines of reasoning being used to justify a belief that aliens are visiting the Earth. In this column I will discuss the errors in these arguments.
Lyon Hypothesis And CrossOver Essay Research Paper
These two ideas are similar and different from one another for a variety of things. The Lyon hypothesis, also called the X inactivation hypothesis, maintains that in the early embryonic development of a normal female, one X chromosome becomes inactivated in each body cell. Chance is used to show which of the two X chromosomes is inactivated in a given cell.
The Gaia Hypothesis Essay Research Paper The
The Gaia Hypothesis Essay, Research Paper The Gaia Hypothesis The Gaia Hypothesis is a hypothesis that was developed by James Lovelock and Lynn Margulis in the late 1970’s. James Lovelock is a British scientist, an atmospheric chemist, and also an inventor with an education in human physiology. Lynn Margulis was a microbiologist during the 1970’s at Boston University.
Biology Interpretation Essay Research Paper InterpretationStatistical calculations
Biology: Interpretation Essay, Research Paper Interpretation Statistical calculations made with the results obtained, conclude the null hypothesis previously made, is acceptable and there is in fact a relationship between percentage epiphyte cover and height from the ground. However, when studying the tables of results it is difficult to find a pattern in results obtained.
The Scientific Method Essay Research Paper In
The Scientific Method Essay, Research Paper In science, one system of deduction has brought about many significant breakthroughs, more than any other used. This system is called the Scientific Method, and without it, mankind would not be as advanced as it is today.
How Science And PseudoScience Differ Essay Research
Paper In the history of mankind, we have strived to understand the world around us, to know and understand how and why things happen. Thus, science was born. Pseudo-science was born, as well. A science tries to explain how and why things happen by creating laws that dictate what Nature does. A pseudo-science is something that claims to be scientific, but really isn’t.
Goals Of Psychological Research Essay Research Paper
III. The four goals of psychological research are to describe, explain, predict, and control the issue. The first goal of psychological research is the method to describe each behavior and the circumstances it brings about. The goal following describe is the goal to explain. The need to know why the behavior occurs is essential.
Observer Review A New Kind Of Science
By Stephen Wolfram Essay, Research Paper Life, the universe and a game of chequersA New Kind of ScienceStephen WolframWolfram Media Inc ?40, pp1,197The tradition of scientists presenting their grand ideas in popular books rather than scientific papers has given us Darwin’s Origin of Species, EO Wilson’s sociobiology and Jim Lovelock’s Gaia hypothesis.
American Revolution Essay Research Paper Q
American Revolution Essay, Research Paper Q: Explain why Japan reacted to western ideas by adopting a policy of isolation. How did this reaction to outside influences effect Japans development over the next few centuries.
Dinosaurs Essay Research Paper How the Dinosaurs
Dinosaurs Essay, Research Paper How the Dinosaurs Became Extinct Dinosaurs, as we know are extinct. But the question is how they became extinct. It s a question many scientists and archaeologists have been pondering and many of them have different ideas about it. I have collected and created some of the different hypothesis scientists have came up with.
Acidity Of Apple Juice In Different Temperature
Essay, Research Paper Acidity of Apple Juice in Different Temperature Question Does temperature effect the pH of apple juice? Hypothesis An increase of the temperature will lower the acidity level of the apple juice.
Once Upon A Time When We Were
Colored Essay, Research Paper Once Upon a Time When we were Colored is a very good book. I will summarize the events in this book in the next few paragraphs. I will explain Uncle Cleve s personality and the author. I will also explain the prejudice in this book.
Miller Spring Essay Essay Research Paper Miller
Miller Spring Essay Essay, Research Paper Miller Springs Essay My science class and I went to Miller Springs to learn about sediments and nature a few days ago. The good and bad sides of the trip I will explain below.
Hw Lab Essay Research Paper I TitlePopulation
Hw Lab Essay, Research Paper I. Title Population Genetics and Evolution: Hardy Weinberg Equation II. Hypothesis This lab is separated into four different cases. Within each of these cases, there are
Table Patterns Essay Research Paper Table Patterns
Table Patterns Essay, Research Paper Table Patterns Q1. For the first part of this investigation into table patterns I am going to see what happens when you add the two numbers in opposite corners of