2004/09/01 by Sharon Kingsland · 1 citation
Immunology and Microbiology · Social Sciences · Economics, Econometrics and Finance · #Alexander von Humboldt Studies #Environmental, Ecological, and Cultural Studies #Socioeconomics of Resources and Conservation
paper · doi:10.1890/1540-9295(2004)002[0367:cticoe]2.0.co;2
openalex publication_date 2004/09/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/29
The roots of ecology are historically extremely diverse, with contributions from many fields of science. A sampling of ways of thinking ecologically, ranging from the early 19th to the early 20th century, reveals the richness of ecological science. By examining historical examples from biogeography, natural history, the science of energy, and biomedical sciences, we can appreciate the many different contexts in which ecological thinking has evolved, whether as part of larger projects to systematize and unify knowledge of the world, or in response to particular problems that were solved by taking a fresh approach. It is important, when educating students and the public, to convey this diversity of ecological thought and the nature of ecology as an integrative discipline.