The Cybernetic Nature of Ecosystems

Authors(s): Bernard C. Patten and Eugene P. Odum

Source: The American Naturalist, Vol. 118, No. 6 (Dec., 1981), pp. 886-895
Published by: The University of Chicago Press for The American Society of Naturalists
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 886 THE AMERICAN NATURALIST

THE CYBERNETIC NATURE OF ECOSYSTEMS

Cybernetic systems are systems with feedback (Wiener 1948). They are a special

class of cause-and-effect (input-output) systems in which input is determined, at

least in part, by output. The portion of output that is returned to input is the

feedback, and this may become the basis for feedback control. Very small feed-

backs may exert very large effects.

Figure la illustrates a basic input-output system. Energy, matter, or information

coming from the environment causes the system to respond; this reaction is

transmitted as energy, matter, or information output back to the environment.

Figure lb shows a feedback system consisting of two component subsystems.

This system is determinate because its behavior is governed only by past causes.

Its feedback structure may passively or emergently make its behavior stable,

regular, or otherwise predictable, and may enable it to damp disturbance. Figure

Ic illustrates a feedback control system in which the feedback subsystem is a

controller through which information about desired output can be introduced.

Actual output information is fed back to the controller, and the deviation of actual

from desired becomes the basis for corrective action. This system is teleological

because its behavior is guided by future or desired goals. The behavior is stable,

regular, and purposeful since the feedback organization has been designed to

actively achieve such characteristics. Feedback control systems may be man-

made or natural, and may have living or nonliving components. Controller-

controlled system pairs that are common in experience include thermostat-

furnace, guidance system-missile, driver-car, eye-hand, brain-body, etc. Both

determinate and teleologic feedback systems are cybernetic because they contain

feedback.

NONCYBERNETIC NATURE OF ECOSYSTEMS

Engelberg and Boyarsky (1979) have asserted that ecosystems are not in the

class of cybernetic systems. Their main points were as follows.

Information network.-The essence of cybernetic systems lies in the existence

of a communication network connecting all parts of the system into an integrated

whole (p. 320). The functions of this global network are to steer or regulate the

system (p. 317), and to determine how matter flows through space (p. 319).

Noncybernetic systems are not organized around informational linkages (pp. 317,

320). Information networks are characterized by mapping and amplification; in

mapping, information is transcribed in one-to-one correspondence from one

physical entity to another; in amplification, low energy causes give rise to high

energy effects (p. 318). Information is propagated as matter or waves by convec-

tion or wave motion; to serve a control function the time of transfer must be

relatively short in comparison to the times in' which organized changes take place

(p. 321).

Am. Nat. 1981. Vol. 118, pp. 886-895.

? 1981 by The University of Chicago. 0003-0147/81/1806-0006$02.00

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BERNARD C. PATTEN

EUGENE P. ODUM

DEPARTMENT OF ZOOLOGY

INSTITUTE OF ECOLOGY

UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA

ATHENS, GEORGIA 30602

Submitted January 11, 1980; Revised May 7, 1981; Accepted May 20, 1981

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