Symposium # 18: The Role of Theoretical Ecology in Biodiversity Conservation and Management.

Organized by: M.C. Anderson.
Sponsored by: Theoretical Ecology Section.
Tuesday, August 8, 2000
1:00 PM to 5:00 PM
Ballroom III - Cliff Lodge

Growing awareness of the looming biodiversity crisis has provided the impetus for the development of areas of ecological theory relevant to conservation problems. Questions addressed by this body of theory include the estimation of extinction rates, efficient allocation of conservation effort, integration of population models with data, and understanding the effects of habitat and landscape fragmentation. Development of these areas of theory holds the promise of increased synergism between theorists and empiricists in ecology.

The topic of the proposed symposium, The role of theoretical ecology in biodiversity conservation and management, fits in well with the ESA meeting s theme of Advancing and Communicating Ecology. The symposium represents opportunities for advancement of ecology through the potential for developing linkages between theoretical and empirical research in ecology, and perhaps more importantly between basic and applied research in ecology. The symposium also exemplifies some of the most important challenges in communicating ecology, because of the continuing controversy over the important issue of biodiversity conservation.

All of the proposed speakers have made important contributions to the integration of ecological theory and conservation practice. Some of these contributions are widely recognized, while others deserve to be more widely disseminated to the scientific community. This symposium will provide an opportunity to communicate advances in ecological theory in an area that is relevant to a large fraction of the ESA membership.