Dear Ecolog-Listers; For years, I have wondered (sometimes aloud in my classes as students know I like history) about the history of two ecology conventions.
1. Where does the K in "carrying capacity" comes from? I am aware of the origins of the concept (http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00045600701734356 <https://webaccess.si.edu/owa/redir.aspx?SURL=3LuKtVx2SoqLbG_ubJxITNwuQvX0WlQzFExwLXIf5XpYb4JjGyjTCGgAdAB0AHAAOgAvAC8AZAB4AC4AZABvAGkALgBvAHIAZwAvADEAMAAuADEAMAA4ADAALwAwADAAMAA0ADUANgAwADAANwAwADEANwAzADQAMwA1ADYA&URL=http%3a%2f%2fdx.doi.org%2f10.1080%2f00045600701734356>) but I am not sure about the origin of the K. Is the K for constant (Konstant in German, in the mid 19th century German was the "in" language for scholarly communications in the sciences) or is K for Kapacita"t (capacity in German). 2. Is there a reason for the positioning of the Roman numerals I, II, II on survivorship curves (or functional response curves). Why is the I on the top one (e.g. modern human and other organisms having a long life, or like MLK said "longevity") instead of the bottom one? My only guess has always been, well it is either I-II-II or III-II-I. In other words, one of the two was chosen. But, heavens knows, maybe there was a reason. Sincerely and gratefully, Jorge Jorge A. Santiago-Blay, PhD blaypublishers.com 1. Positive experiences for authors of papers published in *LEB* http://blaypublishers.com/testimonials/ 2. Free examples of papers published in *LEB*: http://blaypublishers.com/category/previous-issues/. 3. *Guidelines for Authors* and page charges of *LEB*: http://blaypublishers.com/archives/ *.* 4. Want to subscribe to *LEB*? http://blaypublishers.com/subscriptions/ http://blayjorge.wordpress.com/ http://paleobiology.si.edu/staff/individuals/santiagoblay.cfm
