ABSTRACT
The self-organizational process occurs all over the surface of the Earth, keeping it covered with ecosystems that are continually adapting to changing conditions. In the initial period of this self-organizational process of succession, there is competition by alternative species and processes to use the available resources of energy, land, and materials. At this early stage, competition tends to reduce diversity, because some species are driven out. As development continues beyond the colonization stage, species that are specialized to be more efficient replace the weedy growth specialists. The chapter shows the graph containing succession with increases in gross production, bio-mass, and diversity. As an ecosystem goes through succession toward climax, the diversity of organisms increases. For the development of human societies, the succession process is similar. During self-organization, systems are guided by the maximum power principle, stated as follows: System designs organize so as to bring in energy as fast as possible and use it most efficiently.
