Entropy Principle for the Development of Complex Biotic Systems: Organisms, Ecosystems, the Earth

The concept of entropy in thermodynamics is a complex one, though it is fundamental in understanding physics, the workings of the mind, and biology. Entropy is the measure of the quality of energy, and it can also refer to the turn from order to disorder or randomness in isolated systems. In open systems, such as biology, entropy is formulated in terms of production and energy flow. This book establishes a novel view of complex biological systems and the earth using this concept of entropy, encompassing the interdisciplinary area of biology, ecology and physics. This book considers the develop.

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7 Lake Ecosystems.

Front Cover; Entropy Principle for the Development of Complex Biotic Systems; Copyright Page; Contents; Preface; 1 Thermodynamics and Living Systems; 1.1 Thermodynamics; 1.1.1 Entropy Law; 1.1.2 Entropy Production: Quantifiability in Living Systems; 1.1.3 Maxwell's Demon; 2 Plant Leaves; 2.1 Broad Leaves (Aoki, 1987a); 2.1.1 Entropies Associated with Shortwave Solar Radiation; 2.1.2 Entropies Associated with IR Radiation; 2.1.3 Entropy Associated with Heat Flow due to Evaporation of Water and Conduction; 2.1.4 Entropy Flow due to Mass-Flow Associated with Photosynthesis.

2.1.5 Net Entropy Flow and Entropy Production2.1.6 Other Examples; 2.1.7 Discussion; 2.2 Conifer Branches (Aoki, 1989b); 2.2.1 Solar Radiation Absorbed by a Branch of Ponderosa Pine; 2.2.2 IR Radiation Entropy Absorbed by the Branch; 2.2.3 Temperature of the Branch and Entropy Associated with Transpiration; 2.2.4 Entropy Associated with Free Convection; 2.2.5 IR Radiation Entropy Emitted by the Branch; 2.2.6 Net Entropy Flow and Entropy Production; 2.2.7 Other Cases; 2.3 Entropy Production at Night; 2.4 Theorem of Oscillating Entropy Production; 3 Animals; 3.1 White-Tailed Deer; 3.2 Lizard.

3.2.1 Entropy Flow du…