Adaptive Strategies at the Ecosystem Level: Examples from Two Benthic Marine Systems |
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| Authors: | Jörg A Ott |
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| Institution: | Institute of Zoology, University of Vienna. Währingerstraβe 17/VI, A-1090 Vienna, Austria. |
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| Abstract: | Abstract. Adaptive strategies on the ecosystem level are demonstrated using the properties of systems (community biomass, trophic level energy transfer). Development of stabilizing storages versus rapid turnover and energy transfer through the grazing food chain versus detritus food chain are shown to be adaptive processes leading towards an optimal performance of the system. A model of incorporation and processing of information in ecosystems is proposed which contains the essential features of evolution. The persistence of "interspecific altruism" is discussed. |
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| Keywords: | Benthic communities aquatic macrophytes community biomass grazing rates grazing food chain detritus food chain adaptive strategies evolution |
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