1.

Record Nr.

UNINA9910966188003321

Titolo

The theory of ecology / / edited by Samuel M. Scheiner and Michael R. Willig

Pubbl/distr/stampa

Chicago, : University of Chicago Press, 2011

ISBN

9786613362780

9781283362788

1283362783

9780226736877

0226736873

Edizione

[1st ed.]

Descrizione fisica

1 online resource (416 p.)

Classificazione

WI 1500

Altri autori (Persone)

ScheinerSamuel M. <1956->

WilligMichael R

Disciplina

577.01

Soggetti

Ecology - Philosophy

Lingua di pubblicazione

Inglese

Formato

Materiale a stampa

Livello bibliografico

Monografia

Note generali

Description based upon print version of record.

Nota di bibliografia

Includes bibliographical references (p. 353-400) and index.

Nota di contenuto

A general theory of ecology / Samuel M. Scheiner and Michael R. Willig -- Perspectives on the role of theory in ecology -- Theory makes ecology evolve / Jurek Kolasa -- A general, unifying theory of ecology? / Jay Odenbaugh -- Constituent theories of ecology -- Foraging theory / Andrew Sih -- Ecological niche theory / Jonathan Chase -- Single species population dynamics and its theoretical underpinnings / Alan Hastings -- Natural enemy-victim interactions: do we have a unified theory yet? / Robert D. Holt -- The metacommunity concept and its theoretical underpinnings / Mathew A. Leibold -- Domain and propositions of succession theory / Steward T. A. Pickett, Scott J. Meiners, and Mary L. Cadenasso -- The equilibrium theory of island biogeography / Dov Sax and Steven D. Gaines -- Theories of ecosystem ecology / Ingrid C. Burke and William K. Lauenroth -- Perspectives on global change theory / Debra P. C. Peters, Brandon T. Bestelmeyer, and Alan K. Knapp -- A theory of ecological gradients: a framework for aligning data and models / Gordon A. Fox, Samuel M. Scheiner, and Michael R. Willig -- Biogeographical gradient theory / Robert K. Colwell -- The state of theory in ecology / Michael R. Willig and Samuel M.



Scheiner.

Sommario/riassunto

Despite claims to the contrary, the science of ecology has a long history of building theories. Many ecological theories are mathematical, computational, or statistical, though, and rarely have attempts been made to organize or extrapolate these models into broader theories. The Theory of Ecology brings together some of the most respected and creative theoretical ecologists of this era to advance a comprehensive, conceptual articulation of ecological theories. The contributors cover a wide range of topics, from ecological niche theory to population dynamic theory to island biogeography theory. Collectively, the chapters ably demonstrate how theory in ecology accounts for observations about the natural world and how models provide predictive understandings. It organizes these models into constitutive domains that highlight the strengths and weaknesses of ecological understanding. This book is a milestone in ecological theory and is certain to motivate future empirical and theoretical work in one of the most exciting and active domains of the life sciences.