Dr. Naresh,

You are asking two quite different questions here, although I think I can see a link between them. To begin with increasing environmental heterogeneity should lead to increases in species diversity because of the increased number of possible ecological niches that can exist under high heterogeneity. Again, as i stated in a response to another of your questions, this is liked to the idea of Niche Construction, in which species create new niches by increasing the heterogeneity of the environment through their own adaptive actions. The best examples of this are probably beavers and earthworms, which alter habitats in an obvious manner through their own actions, which then creates new possible niches or environmental conditions which other species can then take advantage of. I have addressed this in an article (Pierotti, R. 2020. Historical Links between Ethnobiology and Evolution: Conflicts and Possible Resolutions. Studies in the History and Philosophy of the Biological and Biomedical Sciences 81: Article 101277. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.shpsc.2020.101277), however, this is very preliminary work.

As for Spatial and Temporal Reasoning, this is considered to be one of the major differences between Indigenous and Western reasoning and understanding of how the world functions. I have argued that Niche Construction is a concept that fits well within Indigenous ways of thinkings because it emphasizes relationships and the study of processes rather than simply focusing on outcomes. This topic is also addressed in the pdf file I attached to one of my previous responses (Pierotti, R. 2011a. Indigenous Knowledge, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology. Routledge, Taylor and Francis Group, New York & London).

Indigenous knowledge and reasoning is based upon understanding relationships between species within a limited spatial area, i.e. the range over which a human population functions. Hence this is described as Spatial Thinking or reasoning. In contrast, Temporal Reasoning, is considered to be the way that Western modes of thought use to understand their place in history, and by extension to the natural world. One of the defining concepts of Temporal Thinking is the idea that both cultural and biological evolution are progressive, i.e. they begin as primitive and advance over time. It has been argued by some Indigenous Scholars that Temporal ways of reasoning are behind many of the problems we face in the modern world. Thus, temporal thinking can be linked to decreasing biodiversity, climate change, and the dominance of technology. Spatial Reasoning would be assumed to be the opposite of this, and would be linked to preserving heterogeneity and thus biodiversity.

Dr Raymond Pierotti thank you for your contribution to the discussion