Unsolved Problems in Ecology

Description

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