Unsolved Problems in Ecology

Unsolved Problems in Ecology

Edited by: Andrew Dobson, David Tilman and Robert D. Holt

Princeton University Press | 2020

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/9780691195322

Overview
Contents

About this book

Leading ecologists discuss some of the most compelling open questions in the field today

Unsolved Problems in Ecology brings together many of the world's leading ecologists to discuss the most fundamental research questions confronting the field today. This diverse and thought-provoking collection of essays spans virtually all of the key subfields of the discipline, from behavioral and evolutionary ecology to population biology, community ecology, ecosystem ecology, disease ecology, and conservation biology. These essays are intended to stoke curiosity, challenge prevailing wisdom, and provoke new ways of thinking about ecology in light of new technologies and unprecedented environmental challenges brought on by climate and land-use change. Authoritative and accessible, Unsolved Problems in Ecology is ideal for graduate students in the early stages of their scientific careers and an essential resource for seasoned ecologists looking for exciting new directions to take their research.

Sheds light on modern ecology's most important and compelling open questions
Features thought-provoking contributions from more than two dozen world-class ecologists
Covers behavior, evolution, communities, ecosystems, resource management, and more
Discusses ways to raise the financial and intellectual profile of the discipline
An invaluable resource for graduate students as well as seasoned ecologists

Author information

Andrew Dobson is professor of ecology and evolutionary biology at Princeton University. His books include Conservation and Biodiversity. Robert D. Holt is Eminent Scholar and Arthur R. Marshall, Jr., Chair in Ecological Studies at the University of Florida. His books include Metacommunities. David Tilman is Regents Professor and McKnight Presidential Chair in Ecology at the University of Minnesota. His books include The Functional Consequences of Biodiversity (Princeton).

Reviews

"I really enjoyed reading Unsolved Problems in Ecology. This collection of essays got me thinking about some new topics and reflecting on some long-held assumptions with a different perspective."—Georgina Mace, University College London

"Unsolved Problems in Ecology is a compendium loaded with insights from contributors who range from rising stars to well-known midcareer scientists to famous senior ecologists. I can hardly imagine a more relevant or exciting volume for ecologists of any stripe."—James A. Estes, University of California, Santa Cruz

Frontmatter Free access PDF PDF	i
Contents Free access PDF PDF	vii
Preface Andrew Dobson, Robert D. Holt and David Tilman Free access PDF PDF	xi
List of Contributors Free access PDF PDF	xvii
PART I. Populations, Variability, and Scaling
Ecological Scaling in Space and Time: A New Tool in Plain Sight? Elizabeth T. Borer Access restricted Content is available PDF PDF	1
How Will Organisms Respond to Complex, Novel Environments? Emilie C. Snell-Rood and Megan E. Kobiela Access restricted Content is available PDF PDF	16
Variance-Explicit Ecology: A Call for Holistic Study of the Consequences of Variability at Multiple Scales Marcel Holyoak and William C. Wetzel Access restricted Content is available PDF PDF	25
Why Does Intra-Genotypic Variance Persist? C. Jessica E. Metcalf and Julien F. Ayroles Access restricted Content is available PDF PDF	43
Population Dynamics of Species with Complex Life Cycles Andrew Dobson Access restricted Content is available PDF PDF	55
What Determines Population Density? Robert M. May Access restricted Content is available PDF PDF	67
PART II. Population Biology and the Ecology of Individuals
Neglected Problems in Ecology: Interdependence and Mutualism Egbert Giles Leigh Access restricted Content is available PDF PDF	79
Ecology “through the Looking Glass”: What Might Be the Ecological Consequences of Stopping Mutation? Robert D. Holt Access restricted Content is available PDF PDF	92
Ecology and Evolution Is Hindered by the Lack of Individual-Based Data Tim Coulson Access restricted Content is available PDF PDF	107
Do Temperate and Tropical Birds Have Different Mating Systems? Christina Riehl Access restricted Content is available PDF PDF	115
Leaf Structure and Function Peter J. Grubb Access restricted Content is available PDF PDF	124
PART III. Coexistence
The Dimensions of Species Coexistence Jonathan M. Levine and Simon P. Hart Access restricted Content is available PDF PDF	145
Evolution, Speciation, and the Persistence Paradox Andrew R. Tilman and David Tilman Access restricted Content is available PDF PDF	160
What Is the Species Richness Distribution? Pablo A. Marquet, Mauricio Tejo and Rolando Rebolledo Access restricted Content is available PDF PDF	177
Two Sides of the Same Coin: High Non-Neutral Diversity and High-Dimensional Trait Space in Pathogen Populations and Ecological Communities Mercedes Pascual Access restricted Content is available PDF PDF	189
PART IV. Ecological Communities and Ecosystems
What Regulates Growth across Levels of Organization? Ian Hatton Access restricted Content is available PDF PDF	203
The Ecosystem: Superorganism, or Collection of Individuals? Michel Loreau Access restricted Content is available PDF PDF	218
Untangling Food Webs Robert M. Pringle Access restricted Content is available PDF PDF	225
What Determines the Abundance of Lianas and Vines? Helene C. Muller-Landau and Stephen W. Pacala Access restricted Content is available PDF PDF	239
The World Beneath Us: Making Soil Biodiversity and Ecosystem Functioning Central to Environmental Policy Diana H. Wall and Ross A. Virginia Access restricted Content is available PDF PDF	265
PART V. Ecology and Health
Ecology and Medicines Andrew F. Read Access restricted Content is available PDF PDF	279
Six Wedges to Curing Disease Michael E. Hochberg Access restricted Content is available PDF PDF	288
PART VI. Conservation Biology and Natural Resource Management
Collective Cooperation: From Ecological Communities to Global Governance and Back Simon A. Levin Access restricted Content is available PDF PDF	311
Keeping the Faith: The Case for Very-Large Terrestrial and Marine Protected Areas Tim Caro Access restricted Content is available PDF PDF	318
How Does Biodiversity Relate to Ecosystem Functioning in Natural Ecosystems? Rachael Winfree Access restricted Content is available PDF PDF	338
PART VII. Final Thoughts
A Science Business Model for Answering Important Questions Kevin D. Lafferty Access restricted Content is available PDF PDF	357
Going Big Stefano Allesina Access restricted Content is available PDF PDF	374
Index Access restricted Content is available PDF PDF	381

Unsolved Problems in Ecology

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