IMHO, succession stands still as the one thing that we can take as solid
theory in ecology. Since Clements, there has been a lot of re inventing
of the wheel, however nonetheless we still can and do observe succession
and it stands as the basic point of reference for most ecology.
Theories on diversity are also pretty solid, especially ideas about
diversity and complexity (although the one begs the other, again, JMHO).
Measures of diversity are needlessly pushed into pedantic
mathematical/statistical elaborations that muddy, rather than clear any
issues. Of course I am a person who thinks the log normal model is
generally best, so what could I know! In any event, it would be nice to
start some sort of large scale assessment and concentrated collection of
diversity data so we can systematically, rather than haphazardly assess
changes in diversity. How many times do we really need to count the
trees in the Harvard Experimental Forest? Especially when we have, as we
do in Mississippi, an area that was recently clear cut, and has
regenerated an interesting distribution of species, such that with
respect to trees anyways, you can find almost a completely different
forest on one side of a small road vs another; or very small scale
geographic changes, like a smooth 20 meter rise in elevation, can cause
the composition of the forest to change dramatically...so how could all
this come to be homogeneous longleaf pine forest...or could it? Or would
this disparity remain over time...or would it eventually sort itself out
into something more regular?
Unfortunately, the concerns of the founders of modern ecology still
plague us. A lot of non science is called ecology, and ecology is called
on as knee jerk support for a lot of non science. Not that there is
anything wrong with philosophical approaches that are not science, but
if it is not science it is not ecology. Ecologists can and do
investigate factors that affect the environment; it is central to our
role in science, but that doesn't mean that we thusly somehow become
associated with any sort of socio political theory in any sense.
In the end, I don't know if one can be a political activist and a
sceintist in the same field. Too much of a temptation to try to make you
science fit your politics.
Hopefully we can focus more on discovering what is happening, and get
away from what we want o be happening, or what someone thinks should be
happening, and stick more and more to the science.
"So easy it seemed once found, which yet
unfound most would have thought impossible"
John Milton
________________________________________
Robert G. Hamilton
Professor of Biology
Department of Biological Sciences
Mississippi College
P.O. Box 4045
200 South Capitol Street
Clinton, MS 39058
Phone: (601) 925-3872
FAX (601) 925-3978
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