Chapter 1 Why a hard science needs strong critique
Roger Cousens
Chapter 2 The evolution of ecology
Roger Cousens and Mark Dale
Chapter 3 What sort of a science is ecology?
Alkistis Elliott-Graves
Chapter 4 Rigorous ecology needs rigorous statistics
Mick Keough and Gerry Quinn
Chapter 5 Ecological scale and context dependence
Joshua Brian and Jane Catford
Chapter 6 Assembling the ecological puzzle
Jannice Friedman and Alyson Van Natto
Chapter 7 Respecting the known unknowns
Bruce Webber, Roger Cousens and Daniel Atwater
Chapter 8 Theory, prediction and application
Maria Paniw, Roger Cousens, Chris Baker and Thao Le
Chapter 9 From pattern to process in the search for generality
Françoise Cardou and Marc Cadotte
Chapter 10 Effective ecology
Roger Cousens
Biography
The primary author and coordinator of the project is Roger D. Cousens, an Emeritus Professor at The University of Melbourne, Australia with over 40 years specialising in agricultural weeds and invasive species. His approaches have featured strong components of field research, population modelling and statistical analysis, while he has initiated collaborative projects with quantitative geneticists, molecular ecologists, geomorphologists and social scientists. For the last decade his passion has been unravelling the dynamics of two invasive sea-rockets, their hybridisation and the role of their pollinators. Throughout his career, he has been an outspoken communicator on research practices. This book is a direct outcome of his 12 years as the convenor of the Andina international workshops, developing approaches to effective debate and in which the role of early-career researchers has been central. He has been lead author on two previous academic books: Population Dynamics of Weeds (Cambridge University Press, 1995 with Martin Mortimer); and Dispersal in Plants: A Population Perspective (Oxford University Press, 2008 with Calvin Dytham and Richard Law). He is an Honorary Fellow of the Weed Science Society of America.
Ecology is a complex science due to various factors such as contingencies, context dependencies, interactions, and inequalities. The book emphasizes the need for reflection on how ecology is practiced and the goals it aims to achieve. It challenges the idea of setting standards based on general laws and highlights the unique features and challenges of ecology as a scientific field. The book also discusses common problems in statistics, experimental design, and comparisons across different scales. It offers advice for early career researchers and provides insights on improving ecological research. The book provides valuable insights for both established researchers and teachers. It explains the challenges of ecology and helps manage students' frustration by setting realistic expectations. The chapters offer technical details and case studies, making it accessible to non-specialists. However, some key topics related to effecting change in ecology are missing, such as showcasing transdisciplinary research and perspectives from the Global South. The book calls for individual efforts to change the way we conduct science and encourages higher standards in goals, evidence acceptance, understanding, and peer critique. Overall, it stimulates self-reflection and serves as a timely and refreshing resource for ecologists.
Jake M. Alexander, Institute of Integrative Biology, Zurich, Switzerland
