1 Samuel M. Scheiner and Michael R. Willig, eds. 1. A General ...

constructs, and conventions. Finally, it is possible that the newest theories not listed here will
need time to register widely in the discipline of ecology before they can appear in Figure 2.2.
The history of theoretical developments in ecology involves more than the timing and
appearance of those constructs, or their direct effects on the discipline. In the long run, these
constructs effectively define ecology, its domain, questions, and directions. They do so in a
rather unsystematic manner. Nevertheless, the nature of ecology would be very different if not
for the various relationships that theory has with the rest of ecology.
THEORY SUPPORTS ECOLOGY
I believe that ecology has been molded by theory to a much greater extent than commonly
recognized. Although this thesis may appear trivial to those interested in theoretical progress
and the unification of ecology, a great number of ecologists express some skepticism and even
scorn of theoretical endeavors. Revisiting older and more recent developments and arguments
shows that theory plays a central role in stimulating ecological research. Indeed, functions and
relationships of theory in science are numerous. Some of these functions and relationships can
be identified in ecology. Below, I comment on several common facets of the use of theory in
ecology, from historical patterns to current evidence for the contribution of or need for theory.
These comments focus on ways in which theory stimulates, guides, or assists empirical
research in some other ways. Under separate subheadings, I provide examples of situations
where theory (e.g., mathematical interpretation of species abundance patterns) inspired efforts to
accumulate new observational cases in order to verify patterns suggested by that theory, where
broad empirical patterns were generalized (allometric relationships) and tentatively explained by
theory (metabolic theory), where a new theory (neutral theory of diversity) led to many tests of
its assumptions and predictions, or where early ideas (succession) underwent several cycles of
refinements and empirical challenge. I also comment on the practical benefits that theory
provides, whether by helping with the design of experiments or by providing an intellectual
reassurance for conducting research. Because not all theories that ecology uses have been
initially formulated in ecology, I note some links that ecological theories have with other
disciplines, and the theory of evolution in particular.
Theory, although an indispensable vehicle for generating understanding and organizing
knowledge, occasionally hindered progress, at least in other sciences. I note at least one
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