Thermodynamics, information and ecosystems

Now that it is accepted that we can describe thermodynamic systems at distances from equilibrium, biology, especially ecology are provided with theoretical underpinnings unavailable to these sciences before. In ecosystems, measures like energy flow, cycling, hierarchical structure and efficiency are thermodynamically mediated processes. Thermodynamics as a science must delineate the differences between thermodynamic and informational entropies to free these discipline from ambiguity and allow proper usage in the sciences.