tomhendricks474{at}cs.com (TomHendricks474) wrote in
news:c2u6kt$20qm$1{at}darwin.ediacara.org: 

> << he hallmarks of stable ecosystems 
> is that they maximize the rate of processing of energy into order. If
> the ecosystem is unstable, there is a significant energy source
> available for a new organism. >>
> <<  If the new organism fits well with the other components 
> of the ecosystem, then the ecosystem as a whole will increase in 
> stability. If not, there are likely to be further changes in the 
> community until the ecosystem self-destructs or becomes stable.  The 
> point is that the more stable the ecosystem, the less room for
> invasion, so homeostasis will tend to "evolve".

 
> This sounds like stabilizing selection on
> planet-wide Gaia.
 

Yes, I think in general the trend is toward stabilization. But note the 
caveat about the possibility for self-destruction. There is always some 
instability, whether caused by the external environment or by the evolution 
of a new "trick", that can upset the ecosystems and require a
readjustment. 
And I am not sure such readjustments will necessarily lead to stability. 
The release of oxygen by early photosynthesizers and the recent explosion 
in human intelligence are two examples of new evolutionary "tricks" that 
affect the stability of ecosystems.

Yours,

Bill Morse
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