1. ECOSYSTEM AND THE BIOSPHERE: Metaphors for Human-Induced Material Flows Yu Kuwabara Submitted to Prof. Husar 02-02-02 ME449

2. Background The purpose of this presentation is to further understand sustainable development. In order to do so, the following analysis will be used. Analyze the relationship between the ecosystem and the anthroposystem. Use the “Industrial Metabolism” metaphor to understand the relationship Identify the key players and driving forces in a conceptual model of the human-induced material flows.

3. Industrial Metabolism An analogy of the ecosystem and the biosphere. Offers different perspectives on anthropogenic material transfers.

4. Analogy In nature there are producers, consumers and recyclers. With the “Industrial Metabolism” analogy, there are also producers, consumers and recyclers. Nature is capable of sustaining the cycle using solar energy as its source. The anthroposystem is not capable of sustaining the cycle, there are not enough recyclers.

5. Comparison between the two systems The Anthroposystem: The flow from producers directly to the recyclers is small or non-existant. There is usually a significant transfer of materials, and a significant amount of energy is required for the transport. The Ecosystem Sustained development is partially made possible by the proximity of the immediate cycle. Most of the flow going to the recyclers comes directly from the producers, there is an abundance of producers to consumers

6. Shortcomings of the analogy The analogy does not depict how the transfers occurred. Materials are distributed among four conceptual spheres: atmosphere, hydrosphere, lithosphere, and biosphere.

7. Summary The “Industrial Metabolism” metaphor can be used to make comparisons between the ecosystem and the anthroposystem. Both systems consists of producers, consumers, and recyclers. The flow between the three components differ between the ecosystem and the anthroposystem, which is the key element in sustainable development. The four spheres are used to depict how materials are transferred, as the analogy lacks this information.

8. What I learned Mainly a new perspective on looking at the differences between the ecosystem and the anthroposystem. Also how the four spheres analogy works in depicting transfer of material in nature.