Complementarity of Ecological Goal Functions

This paper summarizes, in the framework of network environ analysis, a set of analyses of energy–matter flow and storage in steady-state systems. The network perspective is used to codify and unify ten ecological orientors or extremal principles: maximum power (Lotka), maximum storage (Jørgensen–Mejer), maximum empower and emergy (Odum), maximum ascendency (Ulanowicz), maximum dissipation (Schneider–Kay), maximum cycling (Morowitz), maximum residence time (Cheslak–Lamarra), minimum specific dissipation (Onsager, Prigogine), and minimum empower to exergy ratio (Bastianoni–Marchettini). We show that, seen in this framework, these seemingly disparate extrema are all mutually consistent, suggesting a common pattern for ecosystem development. This pattern unfolds in the network organization of systems.