Background/Question/Methods Research in trophic ecology has long been common to both marine and freshwater systems, yet the key ideas or conceptual frameworks for hypothesis testing have typically derived from one system then migrated to the other at different rates. Among those are size-selective predation, the keystone predator concept, trophic cascades, intermediate disturbance, biomanipulation, optimal foraging theory, the ratio of predation risk to growth (u/g), and foraging arena theory. At the larger scale, ideas include the limiting nutrient controversy, microbial loops, regime shifts and the ecosystem approach.

Results/Conclusions Some ideas have quickly moved into active research arenas, others have been less rapid or only adopted in limited measure. This talk will review the genesis of these core ideas in trophic ecology, offer examples of how migrations developed and provide some views about why some ideas have moved more rapidly than others.