The evolution of ecosystems as a process of increasing their degree of 

 self-organization is now an established fact (Dunbar, 1960, 1972; Patten, 

 1966; Margalef, 1968). However, this does not negate the possibility 

 of the existence of groups consisting of independent or weakly dependent 

 species, which merge smoothly together. The evolution of communities may 

 follow the path of increasing interconnections between organisms, or 

 of minimizing interspecific relationships. In either case, however, the 

 biocenotic levels of organization are less integrated, less individualized 

 and less isolated than the organismic and population levels. As V. N. 

 Beklemishev (1964) put it, the boundaries between communities are no less 

 indefinite and difficult to see, but also no less real, than the boundaries 

 between atmospheric or oceanic currents. From this it follows that the 

 concept of the community as a continuum is quite applicable for analysis 

 of a number of specific biocenotic situations and should take its place in 

 the methodologic arsenal of marine biology. 



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