Exergy versus emergy flow in ecosystems: Is there an order in maximazationion?

From ecosystems theory, orientors have been derived to give a holistic view of the trend of development of ecosystems
themselves. Several principles of maximization, mainly derived from Lotka’s maximum power, are connected with these
orientors. Other authors (Jørgensen, Patten and coworkers, for example) have shown that among these orientors there are many
common aspects, both form a quantitative terms and in principle. We show how H.T. Odum’s maximum empower and
Jørgensen’s maximum exergy principles can be both valid from a practical viewpoint. As suggested by a simple experiment there
can be a time order: first the maximization of empower and then the maximization of exergy. This time sequence is also
consistent with a maximization trend in the ratio of exergy to empower.