saf Santos – Anthroposystem Concept Study of human environments – since humans are Depleting the plant’s natural resources Polluting the environment Anthroposystem – basic scientific principles that the economy is subject to the laws of ecology Forces people to think in terms of sustainable system, not just sustainable economic development Society requires a sustainable economic system and industrial processes that mimic natural ecosystems Helps us comprehend the ways in which the real world diverges from the ideal Structural and functional unit of the environment Self – contained system provided it has an energy source The four components: matrix – composed of all non-living and non-productive parts of the system (ie. Roads) producers – manufactures products (agricultural, industrial, and ecospheric resources) consumers –humans and domesticated animals decomposers – WWTP, resource recovery pants, natural decomposers of ecosphere Ecological perspective – concept of sustainable economic development does not make easier the connection of a stable society functioning within an ecosphere. Ecology – the interaction of organisms with each other and their environment –Energy used is never completely efficient (cannot be recycled)

saf Prof Husar - Ecosystem and the Biosphere Anthroposystem – human analog –3 groups Producers – energy production, manufacturing, and growing food Consumers – humans and domestic animals Recyclers (Decomposers) – WWT, recycling metals and solid waste –Lacks efficient material recyclers that allow sustainable development. –Open system Environmental spheres analogy extends the ecosystem analogy –Considers the flow of matter in all environmental compartments (air, land, water, biota) –Closes the system by following the flow and fate of matter, regardless of location and medium of transfer –Concludes human activities most closely resemble the role of the biosphere in the mobilization of matter –3 groups Producers – plants, bacteria Consumers – animals and their consumption Decomposer – fungi and bacterial –Nature is capable of sustaining the producer-consumer-decomposer cycle

saf Critical Comparison of both Similarities Both require an understanding of the interaction between human activates and natural process Both have anthroposystem and ecosystem Economic and ecological systems are interwoven and overlapping but separate Difference between the ecosystem and anthroposystem is the physical separation of producers, consumers and recyclers Differences Santos Anthroposystem –4 components: matrix, producers, consumers, decomposers –Self-contained system provided it has an energy source –Requires a sustainable economy to recycle used products and resources –Requires an economy that minimizes pollution Prof Husar Anthroposystem –3 components : producers, consumers, and decomposers –Open system