Other Publications

These publications focus on the conceptual foundations of ecology, from identifying big unanswered questions in the field to evaluating theoretical frameworks such as metabolic theory and WBE theory. They also include work on population and community dynamics, mast seeding, and soil–nutrient interactions. Together, these studies provide broad insights into how ecological processes can be generalized across scales, and how theory can both guide and be refined by empirical evidence.

Featured

Identification of 100 fundamental ecological questions
William J. Sutherland, Robert P. Freckleton, H. Charles J. Godfray, David A. Coomes, et al. – Journal of Ecology (2013)
DOI: 10.1111/1365-2745.12111
Presents a landmark list of 100 key questions shaping the future of ecological research, fostering agenda-setting for science and policy.

Testing the metabolic theory of ecology
Charles A. Price, Joshua S. Weitz, David A. Coomes, et al. – Ecology Letters (2012)
DOI: 10.1111/j.1461-0248.2012.01860.x
Assesses predictions of the metabolic theory of ecology across organisms, highlighting both its explanatory power and limitations.

Soil nutrient supply modulates temperature-induction cues in mast-seeding grasses
Andrew J. Tanentzap, William G. Lee, David A. Coomes – Ecology (2012)
DOI: 10.1890/11-2102.1
Demonstrates how soil nutrient availability interacts with climate cues to influence mast seeding, linking physiology with ecosystem dynamics.

How spatial structure alters population and community dynamics in a natural plant community
Lindsay A. Turnbull, David A. Coomes, Drew W. Purves, Mark Rees – Journal of Ecology (2007) DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2745.2007.01254.x Explores the role of spatial structure in plant populations, showing how spatial dynamics shape coexistence and community outcomes.

Challenges to the generality of WBE theory
David A. Coomes – Trends in Ecology & Evolution (2006)
DOI: 10.1016/j.tree.2006.06.001
Critically evaluates the West, Brown and Enquist (WBE) theory, emphasising where it fails to capture ecological complexity.