Ecosystems as Chimeras: A thought experiment in Rosennean Complexity

In ecology, Rosen's chimeras are closest to the concept of niche construction, however, since niche is a population-level concept, based largely on physiology and environmental factors, it is impossible to extrapolate niche construction to ecosystem chimera construction. The parts do not reveal the whole in complex systems. Rosennean Complex 'chimera construction' approaches should be used at the ecosystem level while retaining 'niche construction' at the population level. In evolution, the areas of symbiogenesis and coevolution align with chimeran concepts to provide adaptive advantages and opportunities not available with gene-centred individual and population-based fitness concepts. Evolutionary success for the ecosystem as a selection unit involves more than a collection of genes, and fitness is more than changes in gene frequencies. Ecological survival and persistence necessitate chimerization and the formation of new cooperative ecosystemic individuals. This study concludes that a paradigm shift is needed from Evolution: The Modern/Extended Synthesis to Evolution: The Complexity Synthesis.