Miguel F.Acevedo
ABSTRACTS
MODELING STRESS IN ECOSYSTEMS: POTENTIAL APPLICATION TO
SPACE
EXPLORATION
SAE Technical Paper
Series.
7 pp. Number 981676. Warrendale, PA. 1998
Miguel F. Acevedo, Institute of Applied Science, University of North
Texas,
Denton TX 76203.
ABSTRACT
Ecological systems to be established during space exploration for life
support will likely be subject to stress due to restricted or unsteady
water, oxygen, light, photoperiod, temperature and other environmental
conditions. Our understanding of the response of those systems to these
and other unique stresses can be enhanced by model analysis and
simulation.
An example of a simple aquatic system consisting of two species of
primary
producers and one cladocera species subject to combinations of all
these
stressors is presented. The model is built taking into account lethal
and
non-lethal effects, such as potential changes from asexual to sexual
reproduction,
and their ultimate impact on population and system stability.
Sensitivity
analysis and scenario-consequence analysis are then used to infer
critical
stressor combinations.
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