Laws, Theories, and Patterns in Ecology

"Laws, Theories, and Patterns in Ecology is an insightful exploration of long-standing controversies over whether ecology has any laws and how much ecological theories have helped us to understand and predict the workings of nature. Dodds tackles the latest 'global theories of everything' (e.g., neutral theory, metabolic theory) as well as a host of other widely bruited ecological propositions, and he challenges any ecologist's goals and criteria for advancing the field."—Daniel Simberloff, University of Tennessee

"With this book, Walter Dodds makes a significant contribution to the persistent controversy over whether ecology has laws. Indeed, the core of this book is a well laid-out, coherently linked series of statements that clearly deserve to be labeled laws. That he does this while surveying the breadth of ecology, from individuals to populations, communities, and ecosystems, is all the more remarkable. This book will stimulate deep and productive discussion of the conceptual structure of modern ecology."—Steward T.A. Pickett, Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies