Famous Ecologists of the 19th and 20th Centuries
Often thought of primarily as an evolutionary biologist, this prior member of OEB helped form and test island biogeography theory
Who was E.O. Wilson?
Originating in Central America, this common tree genus in the U.S. sports high leaf tannin concentrations and seeds partially covered by an operculum.
What is Quercus/Oak?
The ultimate source of >99% of bioavailable nitrogen.
What is biological nitrogen fixation?
While the particularities of this concept continue to be debated, the most famous disagreement on the nature of this concept occurred in the early 20th century between Fredrick Clements and Henry Gleason
What is Ecological Succession?
Aimed at studying the impact of plants on biogeochemical processes, this series of watersheds was also the site of key research into the effects of acid rain.
While this famous ecologist halted their education at the masters level due to the financial need to support their family, their work was instrumental in the initial formation of the EPA
Who was Rachel Carson?
This common conifer of the eastern U.S. is often confused with the poison that killed Socrates
What is Hemlock?
6CO2 + 6H20 -> C6H12O6 + 6O2
What is photosynthesis?
In 2001, Stephen Hubbell proposed this controversial theory of biodiversity that assumes all species within a given trophic level have equivalent birth, death, dispersal, and speciation rates.
What is the Unified Neutral Theory of Biodiversity and Biogeography?
This island is the location of the first plot in the ForestGEO network
What is Barro Colorado Island?
Considered the father of modern ecosystem ecology, this Yale professor pioneered the use of radioisotopes (purportedly swimming in a pond dosed with radioisotopes in an effort to collect samples).
Who was G. Evelyn Hutchinson?
This specific plant individual brings flocks of fans to Weld Hill for a few days once every several years.
Who is Dame Judy Stench?
This process has put cow burps (not farts) in the cross hairs of climate change scientists
What is methanogenesis?
Despite failing at it's primary scientific mission, this experiment was the setting for Pauly Shore's second best movie (behind Encino Man).
What is Biosphere 2 (or the Biodome)?
One of the most influential ecologists still practicing today, this professor's dissertation work developed theory on competition for limiting resources, introducing the now famous concept of R*
Who is David Tilman?
The genus Adansonia, which is famous for trees with thick trunks, tough bark, and compact crowns to defend against large herbivores, is better known by this common name.
The combination of CO2 and H2O initially forms this compound, which is the primary driver of ocean acidification.
What is carbonic acid?
This concept and term was formulated in the late 1960's as Bob Paine spent most of his time peeling starfish off the rocks of Puget Sound and throwing them out to sea.
What is the Keystone Species concept?
This set of experiments focused on testing the effects of phosphorus limitation to primary productivity, and eventually led to the regulation of phosphates in household detergents.
What is the Experimental Lakes Area (or Lake 226)?
Among other things, this influential ecologist constructed the framework through which global terrestrial biomes are organized based on two simple climatic factors, temperature and precipitation.
Who was Robert Whittaker?
While best known for its romantic properties, this evergreen species is actually a hemiparasite.
What is mistletoe?
This reaction is the next most energetically favorable for microbes after aerobic respiration on the redox ladder.
What is denitrification?
dN/dt = cN(1-N)-eN
(Levins 1969)
What is meta-population theory?
Often touted as the longest running ecological experiment on record, this grassland/cropland fertilization experiment has been continuously running since 1856.
What is the Park Grass Experiment?