What is it about?
Ramón Margalef proposed in 1968 that ecosystems could be better understood if viewed as cybernetic systems. I tested this hypothesis in the case of hypogean ecosystems using available pieces of evidence. I examined how information on feedback, stability, succession, organization, diversity, and energy flows in the hypogean environment fit the cybernetics hypothesis. The results were that there are convincing arguments that applying the concept of cybernetics in biospeleology can be beneficial to broadening our understanding of cave biota in terms of their structure. I also make the case that this approach can clarify how cave biota has evolved through time and the implications for their conservation.
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Why is it important?
This paper tested Margalef's idea of ecosystems as cybernetic systems.
Perspectives
We can use existing data to test highly theoretical ideas in ecology.
Dr. Aldemaro Romero, Jr.
University of Miami
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Hypogean Communities as Cybernetic Systems: Implications for the Evolution of Cave Biotas, Diversity, October 2020, MDPI AG,
DOI: 10.3390/d12110413.
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