On organism: environment buffers and their ecological significance |
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Authors: | José-Leonel Torres Lynn Trainor |
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Institution: | (1) Instituto de Ecología, A.C., Km 2.5 Antigua Carretera a Coatepec, Xalapa, Veracruz, Mexico;(2) Instituto de Física y Matemáticas, Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolás de Hidalgo, Edificio C-3, Ciudad Universitaria, 58060 Morelia, Michoacan, Mexico;(3) Department of Physics, University of Toronto, 60 St. George St., Toronto, ON, Canada, M5S 1A7 |
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Abstract: | We consider, from a physical perspective, the case where the interface between an organism and its environment becomes large
enough that it acts as a buffer regulating their matter and energy exchanges. We illustrate the physiological and evolutionary
role of buffers through the example of lungfish estivation. Then we ponder the relevance of buffers of this kind to the quest
for a general definition of concepts like niche construction, the extended phenotype, and related ones, whose meaning is conveyed
at present mostly through particular examples. Finally, we comment on the potential significance of buffers to organism—environment
codetermination in the sense originally suggested by Lewontin. |
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Keywords: | Ecosystem Thermodynamics Coevolution Extended phenotype Niche Niche construction Ecosystem engineering |
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