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Macroecology
In Macroecology , James H. Brown proposes a radical new research agenda designed to broaden the scope of ecology to encompass vast geographical areas and very long time spans.
While much ecological research is narrowly focused and experimental, providing detailed information that cannot be used to generalize from one ecological community or time period to another, macroecology draws on data from many disciplines to create a less detailed but much broader picture with greater potential for generalization. Integrating data from ecology, systematics, evolutionary biology, paleobiology, and biogeography to investigate problems that could only be addressed on a much smaller scale by traditional approaches, macroecology provides a richer, more complete understanding of how patterns of life have moved across the earth over time. Brown also demonstrates the advantages of macroecology for conservation, showing how it allows scientists to look beyond endangered species and ecological communities to consider the long history and large geographic scale of human impacts.
An important reassessment of the direction of ecology by one of the most influential thinkers in the field, this work will shape future research in ecology and other disciplines.
"This approach may well mark a major new turn in the road in the history of ecology, and I find it extremely exciting. The scope of Macroecology is tremendous and the book makes use of its author's exceptionally broad experience and knowledge. An excellent and important book."—Lawrence R. Heaney, Center for Environmental and Evolutionary Biology, the Field Museum
While much ecological research is narrowly focused and experimental, providing detailed information that cannot be used to generalize from one ecological community or time period to another, macroecology draws on data from many disciplines to create a less detailed but much broader picture with greater potential for generalization. Integrating data from ecology, systematics, evolutionary biology, paleobiology, and biogeography to investigate problems that could only be addressed on a much smaller scale by traditional approaches, macroecology provides a richer, more complete understanding of how patterns of life have moved across the earth over time. Brown also demonstrates the advantages of macroecology for conservation, showing how it allows scientists to look beyond endangered species and ecological communities to consider the long history and large geographic scale of human impacts.
An important reassessment of the direction of ecology by one of the most influential thinkers in the field, this work will shape future research in ecology and other disciplines.
"This approach may well mark a major new turn in the road in the history of ecology, and I find it extremely exciting. The scope of Macroecology is tremendous and the book makes use of its author's exceptionally broad experience and knowledge. An excellent and important book."—Lawrence R. Heaney, Center for Environmental and Evolutionary Biology, the Field Museum
- GenresScienceBiologyNonfiction
283 pages, Paperback
First published June 1, 1995
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
December 11, 2025
An interesting read, but I do think you need to be a specialist to follow it. It brings up a lot of interesting ideas that can be stimulating if you are a young scientist.
April 18, 2021
An advanced text for biologists beyond the undergraduate level. The term 'macroecology' is used for the study of ecological phenomenon such as the abundance, distribution and diversity of species on very large spatial scales such as continents. Primarily it involves statistical analysis of large data sets to look for repeated patterns in the seeming chaos of life, but strives not only to describe but ultimately explain such patterns that could become more general ecological laws. Certainly it is a very ambitious endeavor and multiple ideas for further research abound in each chapter of the book.
December 23, 2014
A classic that sparked an entire research initiative. Much has changed since 1995, but this is still the place to start for an intro to Brown's synthesis.
February 16, 2024
First book on my quals reading list, done!
James Brown brought macroecology into the mainstream with this book, and it's neat to read about how macroecology was conceptualized in its beginnings and the questions that it was established to pursue. In some places the book feels a bit dated, but that's to be expected given that it was written nearly 30 years ago now and we have had massive advances in computing, statistics, and data collection since then. What's interesting to me is that despite these advances--particularly in the massive amount of ecological data we now have at our fingertips (eBird, anyone?)--many of the questions Brown poses remain unanswered.
Partly, I think this is due to the pattern-finding nature of macroecology. In the final chapter, Brown talks about how some of his colleges criticize macroecology as a "fishing expedition"--looking for patterns without pinning down mechanism. Brown emphasizes that mechanism should always be the next step. But too often I think macroecological projects have turned into a process of continual pattern-finding, without connections to either historical processes or mechanism. This also then leads to a lot of confusion with some papers finding the pattern in one species, others not finding the pattern in a different species, testing the pattern at different taxonomic or spatial scales...and so on and so forth without focusing on what's driving the pattern. There are of course some very cool exceptions to this, but overall right now I feel like the explosion of data has led to an explosion of pattern-finding, without yet a synthesis. Although I think it's on its way!
One point where the book shows its age is on the issue of climate change, although not necessarily in a bad way? Effects of climate change, particularly range shifts, body size clines, and thermal tolerances are top of mind for macroecologists today. Meanwhile, Brown alludes to some of these points (particularly range shifts) but is mainly focused on habitat loss and the effects of introduced species. Obviously changes in temperature are extremely important and highly relevant at the moment, but I always appreciate reading the older literature and to remind myself that the problem of biodiversity loss predates major shifts in temperature and that some of the biggest underlying causes of loss of diversity (like habitat loss) are also ongoing.
James Brown brought macroecology into the mainstream with this book, and it's neat to read about how macroecology was conceptualized in its beginnings and the questions that it was established to pursue. In some places the book feels a bit dated, but that's to be expected given that it was written nearly 30 years ago now and we have had massive advances in computing, statistics, and data collection since then. What's interesting to me is that despite these advances--particularly in the massive amount of ecological data we now have at our fingertips (eBird, anyone?)--many of the questions Brown poses remain unanswered.
Partly, I think this is due to the pattern-finding nature of macroecology. In the final chapter, Brown talks about how some of his colleges criticize macroecology as a "fishing expedition"--looking for patterns without pinning down mechanism. Brown emphasizes that mechanism should always be the next step. But too often I think macroecological projects have turned into a process of continual pattern-finding, without connections to either historical processes or mechanism. This also then leads to a lot of confusion with some papers finding the pattern in one species, others not finding the pattern in a different species, testing the pattern at different taxonomic or spatial scales...and so on and so forth without focusing on what's driving the pattern. There are of course some very cool exceptions to this, but overall right now I feel like the explosion of data has led to an explosion of pattern-finding, without yet a synthesis. Although I think it's on its way!
One point where the book shows its age is on the issue of climate change, although not necessarily in a bad way? Effects of climate change, particularly range shifts, body size clines, and thermal tolerances are top of mind for macroecologists today. Meanwhile, Brown alludes to some of these points (particularly range shifts) but is mainly focused on habitat loss and the effects of introduced species. Obviously changes in temperature are extremely important and highly relevant at the moment, but I always appreciate reading the older literature and to remind myself that the problem of biodiversity loss predates major shifts in temperature and that some of the biggest underlying causes of loss of diversity (like habitat loss) are also ongoing.
January 25, 2011
Good overview for the idea of looking for large scale patterns in ecology. If you are interested in how body size affects trends then this is the book for you! Also good for those looking for direction in their ecological research life. Otherwise a bit of a slog, but good concepts and makes you wonder how many of Brown's ideas have been further investigated since. I learned some new stuff for sure.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews