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Functional ecology's non-selectionist understanding of function.

Antoine C Dussault1

  • 1Collège Lionel-Groulx, 100, Rue Duquet, Sainte-Thérèse, Québec, J7E 3G6, Canada; Centre Interuniversitaire de Recherche sur la Science et la Technologie (CIRST), Université du Québec à Montréal, C.P. 8888, Succ. Centre-ville, Montréal, Québec, H3C 3P8, Canada.

Studies in History and Philosophy of Biological and Biomedical Sciences
|August 1, 2018
PubMed
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The selected effect theory of function is not applicable to ecology. This paper argues against it, focusing on how functional ecology uses the concept of function, particularly in biodiversity and ecosystem functioning research.

Area of Science:

  • Ecology
  • Philosophy of Science

Background:

  • The selected effect theory of function is a prominent concept in evolutionary biology.
  • Its applicability to ecological systems, particularly ecosystems, remains a subject of debate.
  • Functional ecology investigates the relationship between biodiversity and ecosystem functioning, utilizing a specific understanding of ecological functions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To challenge the applicability of the selected effect theory of function in ecology.
  • To present an alternative argument against this theory, distinct from traditional approaches.
  • To demonstrate the incompatibility of the selected effect theory with core principles of functional ecology.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of the concept of function as used within functional ecology research.
Keywords:
BiodiversityBiological individualityEcosystem functionFunctionFunctional biodiversitySuperorganism

Related Experiment Videos

  • Examination of research on the relationship between biodiversity and ecosystem functioning.
  • Philosophical argumentation based on the practical application of functional concepts in ecology.

    • Main Results:

    • The selected effect theory of function conflicts with functional ecology's context-based understanding of function.
    • It is incompatible with the aim to study functional equivalence across diverse organisms.
    • The theory clashes with functional ecology's view of ecosystems as having lower part-whole integration than organisms.
    • It contradicts the physiological/metabolic perspective often adopted in ecosystem studies over an evolutionary one.

    Conclusions:

    • The selected effect theory of function is implausible for ecological applications.
    • Functional ecology's research framework is fundamentally at odds with this theory.
    • A revised understanding of ecological function is necessary for advancing the field.