{"id":"https://openalex.org/W2332551966","doi":"https://doi.org/10.2307/3566010","title":"On Theory, Data and Mathematics in Ecology","display_name":"On Theory, Data and Mathematics in Ecology","publication_year":1987,"publication_date":"1987-10-01","ids":{"openalex":"https://openalex.org/W2332551966","doi":"https://doi.org/10.2307/3566010","mag":"2332551966"},"language":"en","primary_location":{"id":"doi:10.2307/3566010","doi":"https://doi.org/10.2307/3566010","is_oa":false,"landing_page_url":"https://doi.org/10.2307/3566010","pdf_url":null,"source":{"id":"https://openalex.org/S200794352","display_name":"Oikos","issn_l":"0030-1299","issn":["0030-1299","1600-0706"],"is_oa":false,"is_in_doaj":false,"is_core":true,"listed_in":["anvur-scientific","cwts-core","dongbi-b","jufo-2","ki-jl-2","norway-2","poland-100","russia-white-list-1","vabb-shw"],"host_organization":"https://openalex.org/P4310320595","host_organization_name":"Wiley","host_organization_lineage":["https://openalex.org/P4310320595"],"host_organization_lineage_names":["Wiley"],"type":"journal"},"license":null,"license_id":null,"version":"publishedVersion","is_accepted":true,"is_published":true,"raw_source_name":"Oikos","raw_type":"journal-article"},"volume":null,"type":"article","indexed_in":["crossref"],"open_access":{"is_oa":false,"oa_status":"closed","oa_url":null,"any_repository_has_fulltext":false},"authorships":[{"author_position":"first","author":{"id":"https://openalex.org/A5044682414","display_name":"Torbj\u00f6rn Fagerstr\u00f6m","orcid":null,"observed_orcids":[]},"institutions":[],"countries":[],"is_corresponding":false,"raw_author_name":"Torbj\u00f6rn Fagerstr\u00f6m","raw_affiliation_strings":[],"raw_orcid":null,"affiliations":[]},{"author_position":"last","author":{"id":"https://openalex.org/A5044682414","display_name":"Torbj\u00f6rn Fagerstr\u00f6m","orcid":null,"observed_orcids":[]},"institutions":[],"countries":[],"is_corresponding":false,"raw_author_name":"Torbjorn Fagerstrom","raw_affiliation_strings":[],"raw_orcid":null,"affiliations":[]}],"institutions":[],"countries_distinct_count":0,"institutions_distinct_count":0,"corresponding_author_ids":[],"corresponding_institution_ids":[],"apc_list":{"value":3640,"currency":"USD","value_usd":3640},"apc_paid":null,"fwci":10.81,"has_fulltext":false,"cited_by_count":116,"citation_normalized_percentile":{"value":0.98506476,"is_in_top_1_percent":false,"is_in_top_10_percent":true},"cited_by_percentile_year":{"min":88,"max":100},"biblio":{"volume":"50","issue":"2","first_page":"258","last_page":"258"},"is_retracted":false,"is_paratext":false,"is_xpac":false,"primary_topic":{"id":"https://openalex.org/T10778","display_name":"Philosophy and History of Science","score":0.9901999831199646,"subfield":{"id":"https://openalex.org/subfields/1207","display_name":"History and Philosophy of Science"},"field":{"id":"https://openalex.org/fields/12","display_name":"Arts and Humanities"},"domain":{"id":"https://openalex.org/domains/2","display_name":"Social Sciences"}},"topics":[{"id":"https://openalex.org/T10778","display_name":"Philosophy and History of Science","score":0.9901999831199646,"subfield":{"id":"https://openalex.org/subfields/1207","display_name":"History and Philosophy of Science"},"field":{"id":"https://openalex.org/fields/12","display_name":"Arts and Humanities"},"domain":{"id":"https://openalex.org/domains/2","display_name":"Social Sciences"}},{"id":"https://openalex.org/T13558","display_name":"Philosophy, Science, and History","score":0.004699999932199717,"subfield":{"id":"https://openalex.org/subfields/1207","display_name":"History and Philosophy of Science"},"field":{"id":"https://openalex.org/fields/12","display_name":"Arts and Humanities"},"domain":{"id":"https://openalex.org/domains/2","display_name":"Social Sciences"}},{"id":"https://openalex.org/T13967","display_name":"Conservation, Ecology, Wildlife Education","score":0.0005000000237487257,"subfield":{"id":"https://openalex.org/subfields/2308","display_name":"Management, Monitoring, Policy and Law"},"field":{"id":"https://openalex.org/fields/23","display_name":"Environmental Science"},"domain":{"id":"https://openalex.org/domains/3","display_name":"Physical Sciences"}}],"keywords":[{"id":"https://openalex.org/keywords/ecological-theory","display_name":"ecological theory","score":0.6439999938011169},{"id":"https://openalex.org/keywords/theory-data-relationship","display_name":"theory-data relationship","score":0.48500001430511475},{"id":"https://openalex.org/keywords/falsificationism","display_name":"falsificationism","score":0.5479999780654907},{"id":"https://openalex.org/keywords/scientific-realism","display_name":"scientific realism","score":0.4480000138282776},{"id":"https://openalex.org/keywords/falsifiability","display_name":"falsifiability","score":0.35100001096725464},{"id":"https://openalex.org/keywords/history-of-ecology","display_name":"history of ecology","score":0.4909999966621399}],"concepts":[{"id":"https://openalex.org/C111472728","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q9471","display_name":"Epistemology","level":1,"score":0.6503347158432007},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C2780012671","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1343870","display_name":"Corollary","level":2,"score":0.6162301301956177},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C177264268","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1514741","display_name":"Set (abstract data type)","level":2,"score":0.602148175239563},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C105056347","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q3239681","display_name":"Scientific theory","level":2,"score":0.4937926232814789},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C18903297","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q7150","display_name":"Ecology","level":1,"score":0.47186559438705444},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C144024400","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q21201","display_name":"Sociology","level":0,"score":0.36118650436401367},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C33923547","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q395","display_name":"Mathematics","level":0,"score":0.3109213709831238},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C41008148","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q21198","display_name":"Computer science","level":0,"score":0.2776150703430176},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C138885662","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q5891","display_name":"Philosophy","level":0,"score":0.23413565754890442},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C202444582","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q837863","display_name":"Pure mathematics","level":1,"score":0.10285690426826477},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C86803240","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q420","display_name":"Biology","level":0,"score":0.09798139333724976},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C199360897","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q9143","display_name":"Programming language","level":1,"score":0.0}],"mesh":[],"locations_count":1,"locations":[{"id":"doi:10.2307/3566010","doi":"https://doi.org/10.2307/3566010","is_oa":false,"landing_page_url":"https://doi.org/10.2307/3566010","pdf_url":null,"source":{"id":"https://openalex.org/S200794352","display_name":"Oikos","issn_l":"0030-1299","issn":["0030-1299","1600-0706"],"is_oa":false,"is_in_doaj":false,"is_core":true,"listed_in":["anvur-scientific","cwts-core","dongbi-b","jufo-2","ki-jl-2","norway-2","poland-100","russia-white-list-1","vabb-shw"],"host_organization":"https://openalex.org/P4310320595","host_organization_name":"Wiley","host_organization_lineage":["https://openalex.org/P4310320595"],"host_organization_lineage_names":["Wiley"],"type":"journal"},"license":null,"license_id":null,"version":"publishedVersion","is_accepted":true,"is_published":true,"raw_source_name":"Oikos","raw_type":"journal-article"}],"best_oa_location":null,"sustainable_development_goals":[],"sustainable_development_goals_aurora":[],"study_designs":[],"awards":[],"funders":[],"has_content":{"grobid_xml":false,"pdf":false},"content_urls":null,"referenced_works_count":10,"referenced_works":["https://openalex.org/W1569456331","https://openalex.org/W2020289104","https://openalex.org/W2026108450","https://openalex.org/W2063792498","https://openalex.org/W2320033781","https://openalex.org/W2325294518","https://openalex.org/W2332429731","https://openalex.org/W2480257970","https://openalex.org/W2971191871","https://openalex.org/W2992158480"],"related_works":["https://openalex.org/W2144602525","https://openalex.org/W3199459589","https://openalex.org/W2093744090","https://openalex.org/W7097614505","https://openalex.org/W2087152348","https://openalex.org/W2978160952","https://openalex.org/W2139579990","https://openalex.org/W4250420330","https://openalex.org/W2330477904","https://openalex.org/W4416549839"],"abstract_inverted_index":{"According":[0],"to":[1,12,24,45,50,85,87,106,192,238,249,284,364,425,449,453,562,592,657,661,667,674,690,781,844],"a":[2,14,17,97,182,387,392,485,520,595,678,692,810],"dominant":[3],"school":[4],"of":[5,19,111,116,137,184,234,246,276,293,322,352,389,397,458,484,489,512,533,543,556,585,614,712,734,742,775,803,820,823],"thought":[6],"the":[7,26,38,41,52,72,108,231,240,274,287,291,299,303,350,359,379,398,409,428,438,455,465,482,505,513,526,531,553,559,573,611,621,681,710,713,751,773,801,818,827,832],"standard":[8,189],"scientific":[9,190,534,544],"procedure":[10],"is":[11,37,48,101,104,151,163,188,225,248,260,503,605,616,655,665,842],"confront":[13],"theory":[15,30],"with":[16,200,273,391,499,530,636,702],"set":[18,289,623],"relevant":[20],"data,":[21],"that":[22,43,118,161,196,230,255,327,342,353,366,378,396,470,504,600,683,777,806,834],"is,":[23,628,650],"test":[25],"theory.":[27,545,704],"Then,":[28],"if":[29],"and":[31,60,135,213,221,271,278,319,339,417,478,618,648,652,663,670,831],"data":[32,57,68,173,195,256,267,507,527,601],"are":[33,58,63,69,174,197,209,218,257,268,602,771],"in":[34,198,210,312,357,474,537,588,701,817,840],"conflict,":[35],"it":[36,103,150,162,187,224,467,579,697],"former":[39],"not":[40,329,443,509,581,631,699,795],"latter":[42],"has":[44,128],"go.":[46],"This":[47,126],"assumed":[49,105],"be":[51,93,237,331,370,450,722,767,779,845],"case":[53],"without":[54,715],"exception,":[55],"for":[56,76,147,262,577,607,677,763],"clean":[59],"pure;":[61],"they":[62,92,217],"hard":[64,177,258,603],"facts.":[65],"In":[66,523],"short,":[67],"considered":[70],"as":[71,120,167,181,309,336,550,552,753,787],"given":[73],"objective":[74],"basis":[75],"knowledge,":[77],"whereas":[78],"theories,":[79],"being":[80],"only":[81],"mental":[82],"constructions,":[83],"have":[84,122],"conform":[86],"this":[88,479,500,568,649,764],"basis,":[89],"or":[90,789],"else":[91],"ruled":[94],"out.":[95],"As":[96],"corollary,":[98],"when":[99,572],"mathematics":[100,247],"invoked":[102],"play":[107],"role":[109,245],"solely":[110],"providing":[112],"an":[113,243,310,731],"accurate":[114],"rewording":[115],"ideas":[117],"could":[119,328,369,413],"well":[121],"been":[123,130],"expressed":[124],"verbally.":[125],"view":[127,254,599],"long":[129,679],"questioned":[131],"by":[132,154,226,290,406,436,620,624,651,725],"many":[133,155,205],"physicists":[134],"philosophers":[136],"science,":[138],"(e.g.":[139],"Kuhn":[140],"1970,":[141],"Bunge":[142],"1971,":[143],"Feyerabend":[144],"1975)":[145],"but":[146,176,452,516,639],"some":[148,383],"reason":[149],"still":[152],"advocated":[153],"ecologists.":[156],"I":[157],"shall":[158],"argue":[159],"here":[160],"untenable":[164,261,606],"within":[165,286],"ecology":[166],"well;":[168],"first,":[169],"because":[170,180,204,223,265,444,610,696],"most":[171,266,420],"ecological":[172,194,207],"anything":[175,717],"facts;":[178],"second,":[179],"matter":[183],"historical":[185],"record":[186],"practice":[191],"reject":[193],"conflict":[199],"established":[201],"theories;":[202],"third,":[203],"contemporary":[206],"theories":[208,277,560,659],"fact":[211,833],"retained":[212],"rightly":[214],"so":[215,371],"although":[216,737],"demonstrably":[219],"wrong;":[220],"fourth,":[222],"no":[227],"means":[228],"obvious":[229,407,566],"proximate":[232],"goal":[233],"theorizing":[235],"should":[236,687,721,766],"find":[239],"truth,":[241],"hence":[242],"important":[244],"provide":[250],"productive":[251,487],"lies.":[252],"The":[760],"facts":[259,604],"methodological":[263],"reasons":[264,567,609],"produced,":[269],"digested":[270],"interpreted":[272],"aid":[275,311,532],"apparatus.":[279],"They":[280,375],"are,":[281],"therefore,":[282,548,719],"open":[283],"re-interpretation":[285],"constraints":[288],"accuracy":[292],"these":[294,343,459,471],"aids.":[295],"For":[296,565,755],"example,":[297,501,756],"during":[298,826],"Second":[300],"World":[301],"War":[302],"Royal":[304],"Air":[305],"Force":[306],"introduced":[307],"radar":[308,360,492,521,574,596],"detecting":[313],"aircraft":[314],"at":[315,373,411],"night.":[316,374],"A":[317],"new":[318,344,380,439],"frequent":[320],"type":[321],"echo":[323],"was":[324,382,404,422,432,468,570,575,580,694,794],"then":[325,433,708],"discovered":[326],"possibly":[330],"aircraft;":[332],"instead,":[333,377],"everything":[334],"such":[335,786],"altitude,":[337],"speed":[338],"size":[340],"suggested":[341],"things":[345,440,472],"were":[346,508,528,739,838],"bird":[347,367,476,490],"flocks.":[348],"However,":[349],"ornithologists":[351],"time":[354,680],"had":[355],"difficulties":[356],"convincing":[358],"engineers,":[361],"who":[362],"refused":[363],"believe":[365],"flocks":[368,477],"abundant":[372],"suggested,":[376],"thing":[381,410],"meteorological":[384],"phenomenon,":[385],"e.g.":[386],"pocket":[388],"air":[390],"different":[393],"density":[394],"than":[395],"surrounding":[399],"air.":[400],"That":[401,627],"explanation,":[402],"however,":[403],"marred":[405],"weaknesses:":[408],"hand":[412],"both":[414],"take":[415],"off":[416],"land,":[418],"and,":[419,736],"distressingly,":[421],"also":[423],"able":[424],"fly":[426],"against":[427],"wind.":[429],"issue":[431],"temporarily":[434],"resolved":[435],"calling":[437],"angels":[441],"presumably":[442],"people":[445],"actually":[446],"believed":[447],"them":[448],"celestial,":[451],"underline":[454],"elusive":[456],"nature":[457],"unknown":[460],"creatures.":[461],"Not":[462],"until":[463,796],"after":[464],"war":[466],"confirmed":[469],"were,":[473,547],"fact,":[475,589],"discovery":[480],"marked":[481],"beginning":[483],"very":[486],"branch":[488],"research,":[491],"ornithology":[493],"(Eastwood":[494],"1967).":[495],"crucial":[497],"point":[498],"then,":[502],"available":[506],"direct":[510],"observations":[511],"flying":[514],"things,":[515],"rather":[517,642],"blips":[518,593],"on":[519,541,594],"screen.":[522,597],"other":[524],"words,":[525],"produced":[529],"equipment":[535],"which,":[536],"its":[538],"turn,":[539],"relies":[540],"pieces":[542],"Data":[546],"just":[549],"uncertain":[551],"combined":[554],"contribution":[555],"uncertainty":[557,569],"from":[558],"used":[561],"produce":[563],"them.":[564],"greater":[571],"new;":[576],"example":[578],"clear":[582],"which":[583],"kinds":[584,774],"objects":[586],"could,":[587],"give":[590],"rise":[591],"psychological":[608],"mere":[612],"act":[613],"perception":[615],"guided":[617],"constrained":[619],"limitations":[622],"our":[625],"minds.":[626],"we":[629,634,640,644,646],"do":[630],"report":[632,641],"what":[633,643,654,664],"see":[635,662],"mindless":[637],"eyes,":[638],"think":[645],"see;":[647],"large,":[653],"according":[656,666],"current":[658,668],"possible":[660],"moral":[669],"ideological":[671],"streams":[672],"acceptable":[673],"see.":[675],"Thus,":[676],"idea":[682],"foreign":[684],"adult":[685],"birds":[686],"help":[688],"parents":[689,714],"raise":[691],"brood":[693],"unacceptable,":[695],"did":[698],"fit":[700],"evolutioiary":[703],"helpers":[706,770],"would":[707,778],"increase":[709,816],"fitness":[711],"gaining":[716],"themselves;":[718],"helping":[720,729,743],"efficiently":[723],"eliminated":[724],"natural":[726],"selection.":[727],"Accordingly,":[728],"became":[730],"unpermissible":[732],"kind":[733],"observation":[735],"there":[738],"early":[740],"reports":[741],"(e.g.,":[744],"Skutch":[745],"1935,":[746],"1961),":[747],"biologists":[748],"frequently":[749],"dismissed":[750],"phenomenon":[752,765],"abnormal.":[754],"Williams":[757],"(1966)":[758],"wrote":[759],"evolutionary":[761],"explanation":[762],"obvious.":[768],"precisely":[772],"individuals":[776],"expected":[780],"show":[782],"irrelevant":[783],"reproductive":[784],"behaviour,":[785],"homosexuality":[788],"misplaced":[790],"parental":[791],"care....":[792],"It":[793],"theoreticians":[797],"(Hamilton":[798],"1964)":[799],"invented":[800],"concept":[802],"kin":[804],"selection":[805],"communal":[807],"breeding":[808],"got":[809],"plausible":[811],"theoretical":[812],"explanation.":[813],"rapid":[815],"number":[819],"reported":[821],"cases":[822],"helper":[824],"systems":[825],"last":[828],"few":[829],"decades":[830],"Hamilton's":[835],"seminal":[836],"papers":[837],"published":[839],"1964":[841],"unlikely":[843]},"counts_by_year":[{"year":2025,"cited_by_count":1},{"year":2024,"cited_by_count":1},{"year":2023,"cited_by_count":2},{"year":2021,"cited_by_count":1},{"year":2020,"cited_by_count":1},{"year":2019,"cited_by_count":2},{"year":2018,"cited_by_count":1},{"year":2016,"cited_by_count":1},{"year":2015,"cited_by_count":19},{"year":2014,"cited_by_count":1},{"year":2013,"cited_by_count":3},{"year":2012,"cited_by_count":1}],"updated_date":"2026-09-22T17:25:34.749102","created_date":"2016-06-24T00:00:00"}
