TIME AND ECOLOGICAL SUCCESSION IN RAMON MARGALEF'S THOUGHT

Abstract

In this paper we attempt to think about the time in the Margalef's ecological succession theory. In the classical model of ecological succession, populations succeed each other. Each phases of that succession "as a temporary phase" is merely juxtaposed with the other. It is the clock time, time like "measure" of the clock. Time here is absolute, independent of the process like in Newton. This does not happen in the model of Margalef He thinks the ecosystem like a process in which energy is transfer and information cumulated. Thus, in the dynamic process of ecosystem appears various phases determined by the intrinsic dynamics of the system. Each ecosystem has its own time.