Monday, August 4, 2008: 1:30 PM-5:00 PM
104 B, Midwest Airlines Center
SYMP 2 - The Theory of Ecology
Ecology is a discipline with a firm but broad theoretical foundation. At the same time, we continually hear that ecology has no laws or general theories. The failure to recognize the rich theoretical bases for ecology is due to a misunderstanding of the nature of a general theory, and the lack of a clearly articulated framework for that general theory. This symposium will address both of these issues. A general theory of ecology will be presented, showing that a broad framework consists of just seven fundamental principles. From that broad framework can be derived all of the constitutive theories of ecology. A constitutive theory consists of a clearly defined domain and set of propositions from which specific models can be derived. The symposium will include presentations of constitutive theories representing the breadth of the discipline, including population dynamic theory, foraging theory, metacommunity theory, disturbance and succession theory, extremum theory, ecosytem theory, diversity gradient theory, metabolic scaling theory, and global change theory. Each talk will lay out the key propositions that compose each theory, and link those propositions to well-known models.
Organizer:Samuel M. Scheiner, National Science Foundation
Co-organizer:Michael R. Willig, University of Connecticut
Moderator:Michael R. Willig, University of Connecticut
1:30 PMSYMP 2-1A general theory of ecology
Samuel M. Scheiner, National Science Foundation, Michael R. Willig, University of Connecticut
1:55 PMSYMP 2-2Ecological niches: Moving from "old school" to "modern synthesis"
Jonathan M. Chase, Washington University in St. Louis
2:20 PMSYMP 2-3The theory of natural enemy-victim interactions
Robert D. Holt, University of Florida
2:45 PMSYMP 2-4Disturbance and successional theory
Steward T.A. Pickett, Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies, Scott J. Meiners, Eastern Illinois University, Mary L. Cadenasso, UC Davis
3:10 PM Break
3:20 PMSYMP 2-5Theory of diversity gradients: What you think you know is wrong
Gordon A. Fox, University of South Florida, Samuel M. Scheiner, National Science Foundation, Michael R. Willig, University of Connecticut
3:45 PMSYMP 2-6Ecosystem theory
Ingrid C. Burke, Colorado State University, William K. Lauenroth, Colorado State University
4:10 PMSYMP 2-7Perspectives on global change theory
Debra P.C. Peters, USDA Agricultural Research Service, Brandon T. Bestelmeyer, USDA Agricultural Research Service, Alan K. Knapp, Colorado State University
4:35 PM Discussion

See more of Symposium

See more of The 93rd ESA Annual Meeting (August 3 -- August 8, 2008)