New York, NY, Columbia University Press, 2000. In the preface it is noted that ecologists have an inferiority complex compared to sciences considered more rigorous, such as chemistry and physics.
Ecology is described as a bottom-up discipline, which lacks theories and predictive power.
Part of the problem is due to the complexity and variability of ecosystems. It is pointed out that the ecological literature has too many articles based on false assumptions and errors in methodology. Some of these weaknesses have been exploited by opponents of conservation efforts. Research Techniques in Animal Ecology is the result of a workshop attended by an invited group of 75 scientists and students. The purpose of this book is to take a very critical look at ecological research methods.