Document: DAV-3-99-108

Communicating ideas in ecology - why is it difficult?

FORD, E.D.*

University of Washington, Seattle, WA USA ¹

Abstract:
When ecologists turn a critical eye on their own subject they make some serious criticisms. Foremost is that ecological concepts are inadequate - that there are multiple, and sometimes conflicting, definitions of the same concept. This can lead to difficulty in communication and is a contributing cause of another criticism - that there has been a lack of progress in ecology. One explanation for multiple definitions is that there is a market place for ideas. Individual ecologists invent new concepts, or redefine existing ones, to secure a place in the subject's intellectual firmament. While this social explanation may ring true at times there are important features of the subject that cause difficulty in making and holding definitions - and particularly in registering when progress has been made and a concept definition should be agreed to. In ecology we use three types of concept (Ford 2000). Natural concepts are objects we can see, count, or measure; functional concepts define properties of natural concepts, e.g., photosynthesis of a plant. Integrative concepts use functional concepts to define organization and properties of ecological systems. Definitions of all three types change as ecological science progresses. Two things complicate progress and make communication difficult. (1) Functional and integrative concepts have domains of application. Inadequate understanding and definition of domains leads to difficulties. Domain definitions are essential components of ecological theories. (2) Not all questions can be resolved by data based investigations. Upward inference must be applied to integrative concepts. This requires synthesis of information and defining the explanatory coherence of theories. Ecologists have not codified this part of their research. Suggestions for how to do this will be made.

Keywords: concepts

This abstract is being presented at: 3:15 PM in session:
Oral Session #29: Communicating Ecology.