Disturbance and succession would occur. If climate changed, the species composition of communities would change. In fact, in a world without evolution, such changes would be MORE pronounced, as species would be unable to adapt to environmental change.
BTW, Bill, most creationists don't deny that selection (natural or artificial) occurs. What they deny is speciation and macroevolution. Jane On Sun, Dec 27, 2009 at 10:13 PM, malcolm McCallum <[email protected]> wrote: > Sure it would. > Everything would be static and no change would occur. > After all, those Dinosaurs were planted by Satan to trick us all. > > On Sun, Dec 27, 2009 at 7:35 PM, Jane Shevtsov <[email protected]> wrote: >> Can you elaborate? While there are certainly some examples of cases >> where evolution is important in ecology, it seems to me that if the >> creationists turned out to be right, most of ecology would remain the >> same. >> >> If I had to pick a short "basis of ecology", it would consist of two facts. >> 1. Organisms are open systems. >> 2. If resources (per Item 1) were unlimited, populations would grow >> exponentially. >> >> Much of ecology follows from there. Add the existence of heritable >> traits, and so does natural selection. >> >> Jane Shevtsov >> >> On Sun, Dec 27, 2009 at 11:11 AM, malcolm McCallum >> <[email protected]> wrote: >>> Evolution by Natural Selection. >>> Its the basis of ecology. >>> It always shocks me though when people try to separate it from ecology. >>> >>> >>> On Sat, Dec 26, 2009 at 5:16 PM, Wayne Tyson <[email protected]> wrote: >>>> Honorable Ecolog Forum: >>>> >>>> There's something about the imminent end of still another year that gets >>>> me to thinking about where "things" are, where they have been, and where >>>> they are going. It's a time for reflection that's as good as any, but a >>>> life well-lived is in a continuous state of reflection. Ecology seems to >>>> me to be a comprehensive way of looking at biology, an attempt to include >>>> everything and to see all the connections and relationships in time and >>>> space. That's a tall order, more than any one individual can hope to fully >>>> comprehend, or even see, hear, smell, or touch, much less interpret >>>> correctly such that we can reach conclusions that more closely match >>>> reality than fantasy. The more I know about where "things" are the minds >>>> of others, the better I am able to extend my own vision, and challenge it. >>>> >>>> While I don't want bias your answers, I will say that I am, for the >>>> moment, more interested in learning more about your INDIVIDUAL views (not >>>> those of other authorities, textbooks or websites) in the realm of >>>> scientific/disciplined study and thinking about the present state of >>>> ecology as an intellectual activity, and not so much interested, for the >>>> moment, in applied aspects of ecology. >>>> >>>> So I would be interested in as many thoughts as anyone cares to share >>>> about his or her OWN thoughts about the important questions in the >>>> scientific study of the ecological phenomenon, and, by reflection, >>>> critical views of the current status of ecology as a form of intellectual >>>> enquiry in its present state. I am particularly interested in any views >>>> about the fundamental principles of ecology that have stood the test of >>>> time and testing and retesting, that is theories that have been >>>> demonstrated to be valid in the real world. So the answers can be >>>> anything, such as theories that have not been fully tested. >>>> >>>> For now, I am not so much interested in political and policy issues, even >>>> though these are important. >>>> >>>> Thanks for sharing your thoughts. >>>> >>>> >>>> Peace, >>>> >>>> WT >>>> >>>> PS: I will be away from the computer for two or three weeks beginning >>>> sometime next week. Happy New Year! (And thank you all for your past >>>> generosity in sharing your insights; that has greatly helped me to sort >>>> out the wheat from the chaff.) >>>> >>>> >>>> http://www.euractiv.com/en/environment/analysis-top-100-ecological-questions-identified/article-156507 >>>> >>>> http://britishecologicalsociety.org/blog/blog/2009/04/28/100-questions-to-conserve-global-biodiversity/ >>>> >>> >>> >>> >>> -- >>> Malcolm L. McCallum >>> Associate Professor of Biology >>> Managing Editor, >>> Herpetological Conservation and Biology >>> Texas A&M University-Texarkana >>> Fall Teaching Schedule: >>> Vertebrate Biology - TR 10-11:40; General Ecology - MW 1-2:40pm; >>> Forensic Science - W 6-9:40pm >>> Office Hourse- TBA >>> >>> 1880's: "There's lots of good fish in the sea" W.S. Gilbert >>> 1990's: Many fish stocks depleted due to overfishing, habitat loss, >>> and pollution. >>> 2000: Marine reserves, ecosystem restoration, and pollution reduction >>> MAY help restore populations. >>> 2022: Soylent Green is People! >>> >>> Confidentiality Notice: This e-mail message, including any >>> attachments, is for the sole use of the intended recipient(s) and may >>> contain confidential and privileged information. Any unauthorized >>> review, use, disclosure or distribution is prohibited. If you are not >>> the intended recipient, please contact the sender by reply e-mail and >>> destroy all copies of the original message. >>> >> >> >> >> -- >> ------------- >> Jane Shevtsov >> Ecology Ph.D. candidate, University of Georgia >> co-founder, <www.worldbeyondborders.org> >> Check out my blog, <http://perceivingwholes.blogspot.com>Perceiving Wholes >> >> "The whole person must have both the humility to nurture the >> Earth and the pride to go to Mars." --Wyn Wachhorst, The Dream >> of Spaceflight >> > > > > -- > Malcolm L. McCallum > Associate Professor of Biology > Managing Editor, > Herpetological Conservation and Biology > Texas A&M University-Texarkana > Fall Teaching Schedule: > Vertebrate Biology - TR 10-11:40; General Ecology - MW 1-2:40pm; > Forensic Science - W 6-9:40pm > Office Hourse- TBA > > 1880's: "There's lots of good fish in the sea" W.S. Gilbert > 1990's: Many fish stocks depleted due to overfishing, habitat loss, > and pollution. > 2000: Marine reserves, ecosystem restoration, and pollution reduction > MAY help restore populations. > 2022: Soylent Green is People! > > Confidentiality Notice: This e-mail message, including any > attachments, is for the sole use of the intended recipient(s) and may > contain confidential and privileged information. Any unauthorized > review, use, disclosure or distribution is prohibited. If you are not > the intended recipient, please contact the sender by reply e-mail and > destroy all copies of the original message. > -- ------------- Jane Shevtsov Ecology Ph.D. candidate, University of Georgia co-founder, <www.worldbeyondborders.org> Check out my blog, <http://perceivingwholes.blogspot.com>Perceiving Wholes "The whole person must have both the humility to nurture the Earth and the pride to go to Mars." --Wyn Wachhorst, The Dream of Spaceflight
