Unsolved Problems in Ecology

by Andrew P. Dobson (Editor), David Tilman (Editor), Robert D. Holt (Editor)

Leading ecologists discuss some of the most compelling open questions in the field today
Unsolved Problems in Ecology brings together many of the world's leading ecologists to discuss the most fundamental research questions confronting the field today. This diverse and thought-provoking collection of essays spans virtually all of the key subfields of the discipline, from behavioral and evolutionary ecology to population biology, community ecology, ecosystem ecology, disease ecology, and conservation biology. These essays are intended to stoke curiosity, challenge prevailing wisdom, and provoke new ways of thinking about ecology in light of new technologies and unprecedented environmental challenges brought on by climate and land-use change. Authoritative and accessible, Unsolved Problems in Ecology is ideal for graduate students in the early stages of their scientific careers and an essential resource for seasoned ecologists looking for exciting new directions to take their research.



Sheds light on modern ecology's most important and compelling open questions
Features thought-provoking contributions from more than two dozen world-class ecologists
Covers behavior, evolution, communities, ecosystems, resource management, and more
Discusses ways to raise the financial and intellectual profile of the discipline
An invaluable resource for graduate students as well as seasoned ecologists

384 pages, Hardcover

Published June 2, 2020

About the author

British political author and Professor at Keele University. His main interest is population dynamics in birds and mammals as well as parasites and their hosts. He also deals with the application of theoretical ecology in nature conservation biology and for the control of infectious diseases.

Reviews

[Nasser Mohammed · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a compilation of interesting "open problems" by many prolific ecologists. There is a mix of empirical and theoretical problems from both ecology and evolution. Some are very "big picture" (e.g. Tilman's chapter on a general theory of food webs) and others more system-specific (mating strategies of temperate and tropical birds).

This is a great book for a graduate student looking to know what's known and unknown within ecology. There are two chapters in particular that are filled with many unsolved (but solvable!) problems: 1) Allesina's chapter on the need for theory relating to large communities and 2) Holyoak and Wetzel's chapter on the need to include variation at different scales in theoretical and empirical work.