Effective Ecology

Ecology is one of the most challenging of sciences, with unambiguous knowledge much harder to achieve than it might seem. But it is also one of the most important sciences for the future health of our planet. It is vital that our efforts are as effective as possible at achieving our desired outcomes. This book is intended to help individual ecologists to develop a better vision for their ecology ? and the way they can best contribute to science.

The central premise is that to advance ecology effectively as a discipline, ecologists need to be able to establish conclusive answers to key questions rather than merely proposing plausible explanations for mundane observations. Ecologists need clear and honest understanding of how we have come to do things the way we do them now, the limitations of our approaches, our goals for the future and how we may need to change our approaches if we are to maintain or enhance our relevance and credibility. Readers are taken through examples to show what a critical appraisal can reveal and how this approach can benefit ecology if it is applied more routinely.

Ecological systems are notable for their complexity and their variability. Ecology is, as indicated by the title of this book, a truly difficult science. Ecologists have achieved a great deal, but they can do better. This book aims to encourage early-career researchers to be realistic about their expectations: to question everything, not to take everything for granted, and to make up their own minds.

Ecology is a complex science due to various factors such as contingencies, context dependencies, interactions, and inequalities. The book emphasizes the need for reflection on how ecology is practiced and the goals it aims to achieve. It challenges the idea of setting standards based on general laws and highlights the unique features and challenges of ecology as a scientific field. The book also discusses common problems in statistics, experimental design, and comparisons across different scales. It offers advice for early career researchers and provides insights on improving ecological research. The book provides valuable insights for both established researchers and teachers. It explains the challenges of ecology and helps manage students' frustration by setting realistic expectations. The chapters offer technical details and case studies, making it accessible to non-specialists. However, some key topics related to effecting change in ecology are missing, such as showcasing transdisciplinary research and perspectives from the Global South. The book calls for individual efforts to change the way we conduct science and encourages higher standards in goals, evidence acceptance, understanding, and peer critique. Overall, it stimulates self-reflection and serves as a timely and refreshing resource for ecologists.

Jake M. Alexander, Institute of Integrative Biology, Zurich, Switzerland