Basic Limitations of Self-Organization by the Example of High- and Low-Integrated Very Complex Systems (Mammalian Skeleton Elements and Mammalian Fossil Assemblages): From Empirical Evidence to Theory

Abstract

High variety is a characteristic attribute of any material phenomena and processes involving living matter, i.e., very complex systems (VCSs). We have verified the presence of fundamental constraints on the size/shape diversity and self-organization by the example of mammalian skeleton in four orders (41 species). The properties of more than 4700 multidimensional descriptive models of VCSs were studied. A self-organization parameter R (0 ≤ R ≤ 1) was calculated for each model, and its range of variability was mainly limited to the interval from ~0.10 to ~0.31. The concepts of an abstract Ashby regulator and the Shannon–Hartley theorem were used to explain the variation in the empirical data. It has been concluded that there are significant constraints on the quality of morphological diversity regulation and the possible level of self-organization of VCSs for steady states.