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Identification of 100 fundamental ecological questions

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Sutherland, William J., Freckleton, Robert P., Godfray, H. C. J., Beissinger, Steven R., Benton, T. G., Cameron, Duncan D., Carmel, Yohay, Coomes, D. A., Coulson, Tim, Emmerson, Mark C. et al.
(2012) Identification of 100 fundamental ecological questions. Journal of Ecology, Volume 101 (Number 1). pp. 58-67. doi:10.1111/1365-2745.12025

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Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/1365-2745.12025

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Abstract

Fundamental ecological research is both intrinsically interesting and provides the basic knowledge required to answer applied questions of importance to the management of the natural world. The 100th anniversary of the British Ecological Society in 2013 is an opportune moment to reflect on the current status of ecology as a science and look forward to high-light priorities for future work.
To do this, we identified 100 important questions of fundamental importance in pure ecology. We elicited questions from ecologists working across a wide range of systems and disciplines. The 754 questions submitted (listed in the online appendix) from 388 participants were narrowed down to the final 100 through a process of discussion, rewording and repeated rounds of voting. This was done during a two-day workshop and thereafter.
The questions reflect many of the important current conceptual and technical pre-occupations of ecology. For example, many questions concerned the dynamics of environmental change and complex ecosystem interactions, as well as the interaction between ecology and evolution.
The questions reveal a dynamic science with novel subfields emerging. For example, a group of questions was dedicated to disease and micro-organisms and another on human impacts and global change reflecting the emergence of new subdisciplines that would not have been foreseen a few decades ago.
The list also contained a number of questions that have perplexed ecologists for decades and are still seen as crucial to answer, such as the link between population dynamics and life-history evolution.
Synthesis. These 100 questions identified reflect the state of ecology today. Using them as an agenda for further research would lead to a substantial enhancement in understanding of the discipline, with practical relevance for the conservation of biodiversity and ecosystem function.

Item Type: Journal Article
Subjects: Q Science > QH Natural history
Divisions: Faculty of Science > Life Sciences (2010- )
Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH): Ecology -- Research
Journal or Publication Title: Journal of Ecology
Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell Publishing Ltd.
ISSN: 0022-0477
Official Date: 21 December 2012
Dates:
DateEvent
21 December 2012Published
22 October 2012Accepted
12 June 2012Submitted
Volume: Volume 101
Number: Number 1
Page Range: pp. 58-67
DOI: 10.1111/1365-2745.12025
Status: Peer Reviewed
Publication Status: Published
Access rights to Published version: Restricted or Subscription Access
Funder: British Ecological Society

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