Clementsian paradigm

The Clementsian paradigm is an ecological framework that views ecosystems as organized, interconnected communities where groups of species (called communities) are typically found together in specific, predictable arrangements. It emphasizes that these communities develop through shared environmental conditions and interactions, acting as unitary systems that change gradually over time. According to this view, ecosystems can be classified into distinct community types with characteristic species compositions, and these communities tend to remain stable until environmental shifts cause them to change to different types. It highlights the organized and somewhat predictable nature of plant and animal groupings within natural environments.