5. Emergent properties Characteristics occur which are not apparent from examining their constituent parts plant behaviour not predictable from looking at individual cellls population viability requires understanding of matrix (patches corridors) not just individual organIsms c ecosystem function cannot be predicted from examining one species/population forest canopy structure is an interaction of all the plants in a stand/patch5. Emergent properties - Characteristics occur which are not apparent from examining their constituent parts : plant behaviour not predictable from looking at individual cells : population viability requires understanding of matrix (patches + corridors) not just individual organisms : ecosystem function cannot be predicted from examining one species/population : forest canopy structure is an interaction of all the plants in a stand/patch