Succession, Development, the Climax, and the Complex Organism: An Analysis of Concepts. Part I.

Abstract

Succession is due to biotic reactions only, but the existence of succession-acceleration-retardation-deflection, interruption-postponement, and termination must be admitted. Succession is progressive only, and the natural basis for classification is development.[long dash]Development is due to biotic reactions only, and is progressive only; the process is best understood in terms of the complex organism concept of the biotic community.[long dash]The tendency of biotic communities to develop to a climax is emphatic; this climax is under the master regulation of climate, but as there is no other kind of climax it seems desirable to drop the adjective "climatic." The climax is in dynamic equilibrium not static adjustment with the habitat, and often consists of a mosaic of types. It is the fundamental unit of biotic communities or of vegetation, and hence is the natural basis, along with development, for classification of communities. Obviously the climax concept, based on the concepts of succession and development as above outlined, is innately associated with the concept of the complex organism.[long dash]The concepts of emergent evolution, holism and the complex organism are intimately related; the biotic community is a complex organism. The whole at different levels is an operative factor in the life of the biotic community. So far from the concept of the complex organism being either far-fetched or of theoretical value only, it is deemed to be of fundamental philosophical, scientific and practical value. In ultimate analysis it is the foundation for a natural classification of succession, development and the attaining of dynamic equilibrium in the climax.