Sir Arthur George Tansley on the Ecosystem of Your Garden

"The whole method of science… is to isolate systems for the purpose of study… whether it be a solar system, a planet, a climatic region, a plant or animal community, an individual organism, an organic molecule, or an atom.

Actually, the systems we isolate mentally are not only included as parts of larger ones, but they also overlap, interlock, and interact with one another.

Isolation is artificial."

August 15, 1871

On this day, the English botanist and pioneer in the science of ecology, Sir Arthur George Tansley, was born.

Arthur's father had a close friend and fellow teacher who was a botanist, and he inspired Arthur to pursue botany.

From a legacy standpoint, Arthur is remembered for creating the botany publication New Phytologist, named after an 1842 publication called The Phytologist.

With his journal, Arthur wanted British botanists to be able to communicate and discuss their teaching and research.

We also embrace the concept of an ecosystem thanks to Arthur Tansley, who introduced us to the term in 1935.

Arthur defined an ecosystem as,

A community of organisms that interact with each other and with their environments by competing and collaborating over the available resources in order to thrive. In doing so, they co-evolve and jointly adapt to external influences.

Read this Arthur quote and see if it doesn't challenge you to think more broadly about your plants, garden, and world.

The whole method of science… is to isolate systems for the purpose of study… whether it be a solar system, a planet, a climatic region, a plant or animal community, an individual organism, an organic molecule, or an atom.

Actually, the systems we isolate mentally are not only included as parts of larger ones, but they also overlap, interlock, and interact with one another. Isolation is artificial.

So when we ask ourselves, what is wrong with this leaf or with this flower or shrub or tree, etc., we should also think more broadly:
What is wrong with this garden? With this land?

Today, the New Phytologist gives the Tansley Medal to early career researchers in plant sciences.

The award is intended to increase visibility for exciting work in all areas of plant sciences.