Summary on diversity
Topic: Diversity
by Georgia, 2018 Cohort
Note: This entry was created in 2018, when the task was to “summarise a key reading”, and so may not represent a good example to model current primer entries on.
Reading: Page, S. E. (2010) On Diversity and Complexity, in Diversity and Complexity, (Chap. 1), pp. 16-53.
The interactions between diversity and complexity are no stranger to debate, subjectivity and disciplinary bias. Diversity implies multiple types to be in coexistence. According to Page, scientists use three phases to understand diversity (Page, 2010, pp.17). First is variation within a type, the example utilised in the piece refers to the varying lengths of finches beaks. The second, is diversity within types, to continue the metaphor, a finch is in the bird family but so is a swallow or a cockatoo, indicating diversity within a species. The third category is difference in configuration which is well summarised in the article by the use of the diagram below. Water, hydrogen peroxide and trioxidane are all made of Hydrogen and Oxygen atoms and yet their configuration has significant implications for how they react with the environment.
Difference in configuration diagram (Page, pp.23).
The next phases of the debate surrounding diversity is the impact that it has on systems. Does diversity serve to stabilise or disrupt system balance. When considering the relatively stable equilibrium of rainforests that has developed over thousands of years where diverse species interact in an interdependent system, we can see that there is solid logic surrounding the diversity = stability component of the debate.
In contrast, artificially constructed mono-crop farms are often subject to failure as they are unbalanced hence the ideas of co-planting. Co-planting is where you plant certain species next to each other for mutual benefit. For instance, plant tomatoes and basil next to each other because the basil deters flies and mosquitos. Whilst the chapter only deals with scientific and ecological concepts and consequences of diversity, the complexity surrounding the mono-crop economies further illustrates the interconnectedness between diversity and complexity. Mono crop economies sacrifice natural ecosystems and cultural histories in the pursuit of development through economic gain. Ironically, the lack of diversity actually creates diversity with regard to the vast array of challenges that then face these economises. Here lies the complexity.
With regard to the implications of diversity on complex problems, a system can be complex with only as few as two different factors (Page, 2010, pp.42). From two factors, there are a multitude of possibilities dependent on the rules of their interactions. We create types and categories to understand the world and therefore we construct an overwhelming sense of diversity in complexity. This article reinforces the concept that complexity is not the same thing as randomness. Instead, complexity lies in between order and disorder (Page, 2010, pp.31). Where some see order and balance in the diversity of ancient rainforests others see chaos, therefore drawing radically different conclusions. Additional conditional terms like emergence and variance are used to try and better understand what diversity is and how it impacts on complex systems. What these case studies demonstrate is that by embracing an understanding of diversity we can gain greater appreciation of complexity.
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