ABSTRACT
Chapter 33 summarizes the book, bringing together theory reviewed within previous chapters. Categories of evolving thought are first identified by century. The four major subdisciplines of ecology are then recognized, with the notation that all have become reductionist despite efforts to remain holistic. Reductionism seems to be necessary for remaining predictive, quantitative, and useful in practice. It appears that ecological theory does not have the order of mathematics and physics. Too many complexities and exceptions occur when living beings are involved, or at least at the small spatial and temporal scales of most ecological research in the last 150 years. At macroecological scales simpler and clearer patterns emerge for relationships among abiotic factors and their effects on biomes/hotspots/ecoregions. These abiotic effects seem to dominate over interspecific interactions. An organizational scheme is presented in table form and a narrative summarizes what we currently hold as truths in ecology. The scheme is organized around the constraint hierarchy of Chapter 9 and patterns versus explanations for patterns. Emerging trends are identified, followed by closing thoughts on what may unite our thinking about nature, both theoretically and emotionally.
