Studies into abstract properties of individuals. VI. The degree of emergence in individuals, populations, species and a three species lineage

Emergent properties derived from the integration among descriptive variable s were explored in three related grass species, Achnatherum lemmonii, Achna therum hendersonii and Achnatherum wallowaensis. Different levels of organi zation were compared: individuals, populations, species. species-pairs and all three species combined. Emergence was seen at all levels with populatio ns having the lowest degree followed by individuals, species and combinatio ns of species. Because there were no variables unique to any level analyzed , emergence is more than the appearance of new Structures. As the degree of emergence increases there is also an increase in variation in integration, the result of new growth rates. Time may explain the different degrees of emergence at the different levels. The trend populations-species-combinatio n of species is easily related to time; the first are younger than the last . An individual develops over a greater period of time than a population. T he greater time of existence of a species may account for a greater degree of emergence than an individual. In an individual the local time expressed during ontogeny establishes boundary conditions for an individual As that l ocal time becomes incorporated into global, or phylogenetic, time, the boun dary conditions for taxa, and lineages is established. (C) 2001 Elsevier Sc ience Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.