Chapter 7 Coevolution and coadaptation of human social systems and ecosystems
Introduction
7-1 Coadaptation in traditional social systems
7-2 Coevolution of the social system and ecosystem from traditional to modern
agriculture
Introduction
1. Coevolution: changing together; Coadaptation: fitting together
2. Human social systems adapt to their environment, the ecosystem, and ecosystems
adapt to human social systems (fig. 7.1)
7-1 Coadaptation in traditional social systems
1. Coadaptation of people and mosquitoes
(1) 100 years ago, French moved people in colonial Vietnam from lowlands to
the mountain to cut forests, work on rubber plantations and tin mines.
(2) Lowlands people died of malaria; mountain people is ok
(3) Why? Traditional housing culture (fig. 7.2)
(4) In 1940, scientists used DDT for malaria.
(5) In 1970s, mosquitoes came back and malaria became more popular.
(6) DDT-resistant gene; Behavioral mutation in some regions.
(7) Most countries gave up on controlling the disease
2. Controlled burning by Native Americans
(1) Native Americans knew controlled burning long before Europeans came.
(2) Their social system and their technology for using the land were highly
adapted to a sustainable relationship with the environment.
7-2 Coevolution of the social system and ecosystem from traditional to modern
agriculture
1. Before the industrial revolution, people were very much aware of environmental
limitations. Their culture, values, knowledge, technology, social organization and
social system were closely adapted to nature. Small-scale subsistence, polyculture
2. Advantages of polyculture:
(1) Protect the environment. Vs. monoculture
(2) Provides natural pest control.
(3) Allows farmers to diversify their risks.
3. After the industrial revolution, mechanization changes the interaction. (fig. 7.3)
(1) Interconnected positive feedback loops in the ecosystem and social system.
(2) Polycoulture to monoculture
(3) All the eggs were in one basket.
(4) Farmers changed their belief system: their worldview.
4. Modern social systems and agriculture ecosystems (fig. 7.4)
(1) Modern agricultural ecosystem: large-scale fertilizer and pesticide inputs
(2) Organic farming