Ecological Paradigms Lost, Cuddington and Beisner 2005: Vol II Theoretical Ecology Series

Ecological Paradigms Lost

Edited By:
Kim Cuddington, Ohio University, Department of Biological Sciences, Athens, U.S.A.
Beatrix Beisner, University of Quebec at Montreal, Department of Biological Sciences, Canada

ISBN: 0-12-088459-3, 464 pages, publication date: 2005
Imprint: ACADEMIC PRESS
Price:
USD 79.95
EUR 74.95
GBP 49.95

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Description

This edited volume addresses the historical development and evolution of theoretical ideas in the field of ecology. Not only does it recount the history of the discipline by practitioners of the science of ecology, it includes commentary on these historical reflections by philosophers of science. Even though the theories discussed are, in many cases, are at the forefront of research, the language and approach make this material accessible to non-theoreticians. The book is structured in 5 major sections including population ecology, epidemiology, community ecology, evolutionary biology and ecosystem ecology. In each section a chapter by an eminent, experienced ecologist is complemented by analysis from a newer, cutting-edge researcher.

1. Why a History of Ecology: An Introduction Beatrix E. Beisner and Kim Cuddington
Part I POPULATION ECOLOGY
2. Unstructured Models in Ecology: Past, Present and Future
3.Unstructured population models: Do population-level assumptions yield general theory?
4. The Structure of Population Ecology: Philosophical Reflections on Unstructured and Structured Models
Part II EPIDEMIOLOGICAL ECOLOGY
5. The Law of Mass Action in Epidemiology: A Historical Perspective
6. Extensions to Mass Action Mixing
7. Mass Action and System Analysis of Infection Transmission
Part III COMMUNITY ECOLOGY
8. Community Diversity and Stability: Changing Perspectives and Changing Definitions
9. Perspectives on Diversity, Structure and Stability
10. Diversity and Stability: Theories, Models and Data
Part IV HISTORICAL REFLECTION
11. Ecology's legacy from Robert MacArthur
Part V EVOLUTIONARY ECOLOGY
12. On the Integration of Community Ecology and Evolutionary Biology: Historical Perspectives and Current Prospects
13. Modeling the ecological context of evolutionary change: deja vu or something new?
14. The Elusive Synthesis
Part VI ECOSYSTEM ECOLOGY
15. The Loss of Narrative
16. Ecological Management: Control, Uncertainty and Understanding
17. Is Ecosystem Management a Postmodern Science? Kevin de Laplante
Part VII CONCLUSION
18. Kuhnian Paradigms Lost: Embracing the pluralism of ecological theory

Ecological Paradigms Lost: Routes of Theory Change