ABSTRACT
Chapters 8-13 have demonstrated how ecosystems have unique and very advantageous properties that allow them to utilize the free energy ªow from the solar radiation to move further away from thermodynamic equilibrium. “Mother nature” has really given the ecosystems during the evolution better and better properties to enable them to gain more and more eco-exergy-to move further away from thermodynamic equilibrium. is process has continued for a very long time, which means that “father time” has also played an important role. Ecosystems have utilized, as already mentioned, three growth forms to move away from thermodynamic equilibrium: growth of biomass, growth of information, and growth of the ecological network.
