Document: KAT-3-2-2

To boldly go: Research frontiers in ecology.

COTTINGHAM, K.L.*

Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH 03755 USA ¹

Abstract:
"Biology easily has 500 years of exciting problems to work on" (Donald E. Knuth, computer scientist). While this is true for ecology as well as biology as a whole, pressing environmental problems are unlikely to allow us the luxury of 500 years to address some of our exciting problems. Consequently, we need to choose our problems and questions carefully. Three general areas of research that I believe require more attention are (1) the temporal dynamics of complex communities; (2) the effects of multiple, potentially interacting, environmental factors on ecological systems; and (3) the interface between ecology and evolutionary biology. Progress on each of these frontiers should advance our understanding of the nature of ecological systems and enhance our ability to make concrete recommendations for environmental problem-solving. In my talk, I will try to convince you why these frontiers are worthy of increased attention by focusing on a fundamental question from each area: (1) What are the mechanisms that reduce temporal variability in aggregate ecosystem properties (biomass, productivity, nutrient cycling) relative to temporal variability in community composition? (2) Can innovative statistical methods enhance our ability to detect (and maybe predict) the interactive effects of multiple environmental factors on species and ecological processes? (3) Does consideration of evolution in ecological time improve scientific recommendations for ecosystem management and restoration?.

Keywords: temporal variability; biodiversity; ecosystem function; multiple stressors; statistics; rapid evolution; ecosystem management

This abstract is being presented at: 8:55 AM in session:
Symposium # 7: Thirty Questions for Ecology in the 21st Century.