Complementarity of ecological goal functions

This paper summarizes, in the framework of network environ analysis, a set of analyses of energy-matter flow and storage in steady-state systems. The network perspective is used to codify and unify ten ecological orientors or extremal principles: maximum power (Lotka), maximum storage (Jørgensen-Mejer), maximum empower and emergy (Odum), maximum ascendency (Ulanowicz), maximum dissipation (Schneider-Kay), maximum cycling (Morowitz), maximum residence time (Cheslak-Lamarra), minimum specific dissipation (Onsager, Prigogine), and minimum empower to exergy ratio (Bastianoni-Marchettini). We show that, seen in this framework, these seemingly disparate extrema are all mutually consistent, suggesting a common pattern for ecosystem development. This pattern unfolds in the network organization of systems.