During the period 1961-1987, research converged on viewing marine ecosystems as integrated networks where energy flow, nutrient cycling, and biogeochemical processes are mediated by interacting trophic webs and microbial loops. Methodological advances fostered ecosystem-scale analyses, with emphasis on measuring fluxes, stoichiometric balances, and the coupling of physical, chemical, and biological drivers to explain variability across space and time. This convergence produced a coherent framework for modeling oceans as dynamic, context-dependent systems rather than simple chains, guiding experimental design and theoretical development alike.