10 Possible limitations of current ecological theory

Abstract

I make ten observations of the limitations of ecological science as I have seen it develop over the last 56 years. The key focus is on the scientific maturity of our approaches, and the constraints that flow from pretending we are physicists, that progress will come from more mathematical models, and that generality will flow from short-term studies. All of my observations may be incorrect but they might generate some useful discussion about dangerous ideas on where ecology is headed.