Ecological Integrative Systems in Linking Sciences and Societies --Social Consilience Based on Information Provision and Ecological Efficiency Appreciation

Abstract

Due to unprecedented economic growth and human aggregation, disturbances are ubiquitous across life system hierarchy from genes to ecosystem including living modified organisms, for instance, tolerance to extreme environment, pest/disease eruption, biodiversity loss, stability/safety problems at the levels of genes, individuals, populations, communities, and ecosystems, respectively. Ecological sciences enter a new phase due to urgency of ecosystem stability in parallel with rapid development of information and communication techniques at the same time. A key concept for solving complex ecological problems is "integration" by utilizing four components that have been already ready for establishing the system: gene information, mathematical biology, mobile sensor networks, and modelling techniques. All components of systems could be combined in a most optimal way to achieve the unified goal, sustainability (e.g., safety, stability, efficiency) of ecosystems. Multi-disciplines are involved in pursuing ecological projects and could be divided into ecological contents (ecosystems, taxa, and size) and connection to humans (academic fields and human involvements). In acquiring information on ecological contents effectively, surveys/experiments could be conducted by utilizing mesocosms and mobile sensor networks. A structure property residing in interplay between social pressure and disturbance in ecosystems could be a basis for social concerns caring more about the public property than private property. Based on suitable information provision and appreciating ecological efficiency, altruistic feedbacks by humans could be arisen to resolve the tragedy of the common consequently in human societies.