Special feature: Demystifying fundamental theories in ecology DOI
Rachel M. Germain, Sebastian J. Schreiber

The American Naturalist, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 205(3), P. 280 - 284

Published: Oct. 31, 2024

AbstractAs scientists, our collective goal is to make scientific progress in the pursuit of an absolute truth about nature universe, through a feedback loop observation, theory, and experimentation. What if major limit not science itself but rather how broadly ideas can be understood? In this introduction special feature, we highlight four articles, each tasked with demystifying key theory ecology for general audience, focus on aspects that have been misunderstood, misapplied, or underappreciated some important way. These theories are metabolic competition based consumer-resource models, mechanisms coexistence fluctuating environments, metapopulation dynamics. We point out ways which article applied best practices accessible communication as well challenges might arise (and potential solutions journals authors) when attempting publish articles deeper emphasis explanation fundamentals than traditional provide.

Language: Английский

Towards a more dynamic metabolic theory of ecology to predict climate change effects on biological systems DOI
Keila Stark, Tom Clegg, Joey R. Bernhardt

et al.

The American Naturalist, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 205(3), P. 285 - 305

Published: Sept. 19, 2024

AbstractThe metabolic theory of ecology (MTE) aims to link biophysical constraints on individual rates the emergence patterns at population and ecosystem scales. Because MTE links temperature's kinetic effects metabolism ecological processes higher levels organization, it holds great potential mechanistically predict how complex systems respond warming increased temperature fluctuations under climate change. To scale up from individuals ecosystems, applications classical implicitly assume that focusing steady-state dynamics averaging responses across populations adequately capture dominant attributes biological systems. However, in context change, frequent perturbations steady state rapid changes thermal performance curves via plasticity evolution are almost guaranteed. Here, we explain some assumptions made when applying MTE's simplest canonical expression can lead blind spots understanding change affects this presents an opportunity for formal expansion theory. We review existing advances direction provide a decision tree identifying dynamic modifications needed certain research questions. conclude with empirical theoretical challenges be addressed more increasingly uncertain world.

Language: Английский

Citations

2
Special feature: Demystifying fundamental theories in ecology DOI
Rachel M. Germain, Sebastian J. Schreiber

The American Naturalist, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 205(3), P. 280 - 284

Published: Oct. 31, 2024

AbstractAs scientists, our collective goal is to make scientific progress in the pursuit of an absolute truth about nature universe, through a feedback loop observation, theory, and experimentation. What if major limit not science itself but rather how broadly ideas can be understood? In this introduction special feature, we highlight four articles, each tasked with demystifying key theory ecology for general audience, focus on aspects that have been misunderstood, misapplied, or underappreciated some important way. These theories are metabolic competition based consumer-resource models, mechanisms coexistence fluctuating environments, metapopulation dynamics. We point out ways which article applied best practices accessible communication as well challenges might arise (and potential solutions journals authors) when attempting publish articles deeper emphasis explanation fundamentals than traditional provide.

Language: Английский

Citations

0