Marine and terrestrial ecology: unifying concepts, revealing differences

Area of Science:

• Ecology
• Comparative Ecology
• Environmental Science

Background:

• Marine and terrestrial ecology have historically developed as separate fields.
• This separation has hindered the identification of general ecological patterns and mechanisms.
• Apparent fundamental differences between marine and terrestrial systems often diminish upon closer examination.

Purpose of the Study:

• To argue for the utility of marine-terrestrial comparative studies in uncovering ecological mechanisms.
• To highlight the limitations of the binary marine-terrestrial division.
• To encourage greater integration of concepts, hypotheses, and data between marine and terrestrial ecologists.

Main Methods:

• Comparative analysis of ecological processes across marine and terrestrial environments.
• Hypothesis-driven examination of environmental factors influencing ecological mechanisms.
• Identification of opportunities for novel comparative studies beyond the simple marine-terrestrial dichotomy.

Main Results:

• Marine-terrestrial comparative studies are highly effective when focused on hypothesis-specific environmental factors.
• The traditional marine vs. terrestrial framework overlooks valuable comparative insights.
• Numerous opportunities exist for more nuanced and informative cross-habitat comparisons.

Conclusions:

• Integrating marine and terrestrial ecology enhances the discovery of fundamental ecological principles.
• Explicitly considering relevant environmental facets is key to successful comparative ecological studies.
• Breaking down disciplinary silos is essential for advancing ecological understanding across all environments.