PROPERTIES OF BIOSYSTEMS

ERT 141 1st Semester 2008

Definition……

SYSTEMS

SYSTEMS CONCEPTS

SUB-SYSTEMS

BIOSYSTEMS ROPERTIES

BIOSYSTEM ~ can be defined as any form of organization which is made up of living and non-living components, interacting and interconnected as to achieve a common/unified purpose, specifically with respect to food production, environmental preservation, technological advancement and economic development.

Definition…..

PROPERTIES

~ CIRI-CIRI

~ CHARACTERISTICS

~ SIFAT-SIFAT

BIOSYSTEMS PROPERTIES

Introduction

To qualify as a complete system, a biosystem should possess certain properties.

Each property can be described by one or more sub-properties.

BIOSYSTEM PROPERTIES

1. Hierarchy 6. Open system

2. Modularity 7. Growth

3. Network 8. Stability

4. Wholeness 9. Feedback

5. Purpose 10. Stochasticity

BIOSYSTEM PROPERTIES

Dr. E. C. Alocilja of MSU categorised the biosystems properties …..

Propert # 1:

Hierarchy

A biosystem at a higher level can be partitioned into a lower level to form sub-systems

….Hierarchy

Example 1: USA FOOD PRODUCTION

Example 2: Malaysia Rice Production System

Can be partitioned into various Sub-systems:

1. Irrigation system 2. Government support system 3. Marketing system4. Transportation system5. Soil-plant system6. etc..

A biosystem can be a component of a larger/higher system

The crop system is part of the farm system - The farm system is part of the regional food production system - The regional food-production system is part the national economy, …….. and so on.

….Hierarchy

Example:

National Economy

Regional Rice Production System

Rice Farming System

Rice planting

The components of a biosystem are themselves systems

The palm oil production system may include oil palm estate, fruit harvesting, transportation, processing mill, and storage.

Each of these components has the properties of a system.

….Hierarchy

PROPERTY # 2

MODULARITY

Meaning of modularity…

Module ~ a standardized, often interchangeable component of a system that is designed for easy assembly.

Modularity ~ is defined as the degree to which a system’s components may be separated and recombined.

… Modularity

A biosystem can be partitioned into natural, biological and artificial

• Natural - soil, lake, river, and watershed, forest, etc. Biological - The plants, animals, insects, weeds, fungi, and other pests, etc. Artificial - tillage, harvesting, transportation, food-processing, manufacturing facilities, etc.

Each of the components in a biosystem can be characterized as discrete

In a discrete system, there is a clear boundary between the system and its environment.

In a soil-crop system, the soil, plants, and production machinery have well-defined boundaries between the system the environmental factors such as solar radiation, temperature, rainfall, other plants, animals, human intervention, etc. In a lake system, the plankton, microorganisms, fish, etc..

….Modularity

Natural Environments

Pedu Lake

Muda River

The number of components constitute the complexity of a biosystem

A system with 3 components may be easier to analyze than a system with 10 components.

For example, a monoculture crop system may be less complex to manage than a multi-crop system.

…Modularity

Network

PROPERTY # 3

NETWORK ~ an interconnected system of things or people

~ an extended group of people with similar interests or concerns who interact and remain in informal contact for mutual assistance or support.

~ a group or system of electric components and connecting circuitry designed to function in a specific manner.

The system components are united by means of common sub-components or subsystems

Rice storage and rice marketing may interface at the rice packaging subsystem.

Food production and food distribution systems may interface at the food packaging subsystem.

….Network

The soil system holds the plants, not the other way around,

The harvester removes the crop, not vice versa

The animals feed on the crops, not the other way

….Network

The roles of the components in the network are not interchangeable

Examples;

The network in a biosystem exhibits interdependence

The quality of milking cows depends upon the quality of feeds produced in a crop-dairy system.

A series of connected lakes exhibit interdependence.

…. Network

The existence of one component in the system is conditioned by some other components.

Wholeness

PROPERTY # 4

Example,

A change in the feed composition of the dairy cattle may affect the milk production.

A decrease in irrigation may reduce yield and quality of rice.

…. Wholeness

A biosystem exhibit coherence

Biosystem main aim is to ensure success of the whole system

An animal is made up of diverse biological organs, such as the mouth, stomach, legs, body, and head. Their movements are coordinated by some biological mechanisms to achieve survival.

Take the case of palm oil….during its vegetative phase, the leaves maximize their growth (in terms of front length and weight), and then minimize their growth during fruiting stage, in favor of fruit bunch growth.

…. Wholeness

Boer goat

Friesian Cows

An animal is made up of diverse biological organs, such as the mouth, stomach, legs, body, and head. Their movements are coordinated by some biological mechanisms to achieve survival

Take the case of palm oil….during its vegetative phase, the leaves maximize their growth (in terms of front length and weight), and then minimize their growth during fruiting stage, in favor of fruit bunch growth.

If a component is not connected, it is not part of the system

Example,

Agricultural trade agreement among some countries in Southeast Asia provides that certain products of one country flows into the market of the other countries. The countries involved in the agreement have formed a trade system. If one country ignores the agreement, then that country has failed to be part of the system.

…. Wholeness

PURPOSE

PROPERTY # 5

A biosystem may have one or more objectives

….Purpose

A farmer may have several objectives, such as to maximize profit, minimize risk, minimize nitrate leaching, minimize runoff, minimize pesticide residues, maximize output, and so on.

These objectives can be addressed simultaneously (parallel) or in sequence (cascade), depending on his priorities.

This diagram illustrates a parallel and cascade system

….Purpose

The objectives of a biosystem may vary with location

> A farmer in Johor may have different objectives than someone in Sabah or Kelantan due to climate, soil, government policies, market situation, support services, etc.

The objectives of a biosystem may change with organizational levels

An oil palm production system may have as its objective the maximum production of palm oil yield per hectre. A estate-level system may adopt profit as its major objective. A regional-level system may be guided by environmental and sustainability issues for its goals. An economic system at the national level may be guided by political objectives.

…. Purpose

Open System

PROPERTY # 6

A biological system exchanges matter or energy with its environment

….Open System

The plants exchange energy with the environment: the environment provides carbon dioxide to the plants; the plants release oxygen to the environment.

The plants use up the nutrients and water from the soil and returns organic matter to the soil.

A biological system transforms materials from one form to another

….Open System

> Photosynthates are converted into biomass in a plant system. > Feed is transformed into milk in a dairy cow.

Friesian Cows

The components of a biosystem are in continuous building up and breaking down

….Open System

The plant organs grow and die.

The beef production system needs materials, labour and energy to replenish those parts which deteriorate or die.

A biosystem attains a steady state

….Open System

In steady state, there is a continuous inflow of energy from the external environment and a continuous outflow of products of the system into the environment, but the character of the system and the relation of the components are the same

The products released by a biological system into the environment provide sources energy for repetition of cycle of new biosystem activities

….Open System

For example, CO2 gas exhaled by humans and animals into the atmosphere isneeded by plants for continuation of photosynthetic activities; plants released O2 into the air which is needed by humans and animals.

Growth

….PROPERTY # 7

The living components of a biosystem has the ability to absorb substances, grow, and reproduce

….Growth

A rice seed germinates and grows to a full plant bearing more rice seeds. This growth process is made possible by the plant’s ability to absorb the required amount of nutrients, water, and sunlight.

A biosystem will tend to move in the direction of differentiation and elaboration

….Growth

For example, a food production system will tend to move in the direction of product specialization and mechanization.

Palm Oil Product Specialization

Cooking oil, margarine, detergents, soap, vitamins, candles, animal feed, confectionary, cosmetics, bio-diesel etc.

                                                                 

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