Daniel Simberloff
Encyclopedia
Daniel Simberloff is a biologist and ecologist who earned his Ph.D. from Harvard University
in 1969.
Simberloff started his studies in ecology as a student of the biologist E. O. Wilson
, one of the co-authors of the theory of Island biogeography
(by R. MacArthur
and E. O. Wilson). For his Ph.D. dissertation he was the first to test this theory experimentally in Floridian Mangrove systems producing studies such as the 1969 paper: Experimental Zoogeography of Islands: The Colonization of Empty Islands which is considered a seminal paper. In the 1970s Simberloff started a big controversy in the field when he put in doubt the importance of competition as the most important force structuring biological communities. He did so using computer-generated models that proved that many of the patterns that were generally explained by competition did not differ from those created in a random fashion. This new approach notably increased the level of rigor in ecology. During this time, he also criticized the importance of the theory of island biogeography as a tool for planning conservation strategies. He is admired for his thorough statistical approach to ecology.
Simberloff is also very active on the invasive species
front, studying the theoretical susceptibility of ecosystems to invasion from exotic species, the practical implications of these invasions and the potential interactions between invasive species including the potential for invasional meltdown — where the introduction of exotic species facilitates the establishment and invasion of other exotics.
Daniel Simberloff received several awards, including the Eminent Ecologist Award
in 2006 by the Ecological Society of America, he had served in the main board of the National Science Foundation (NSF) and published books and more than 350 articles in scientific journals. He has directed several Masters and Ph.D. dissertations.
Simberloff is the Nancy Gore Hunger Professor of Environmental Studies and director of the Institute for Biological Invasions at the University of Tennessee
in Knoxville
. He is a past president of the American Society of Naturalists, and was a member of the National Science Board from 2000 until 2006 http://nsf.gov/nsb/members/former.jsp.
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
in 1969.
Simberloff started his studies in ecology as a student of the biologist E. O. Wilson
E. O. Wilson
Edward Osborne Wilson is an American biologist, researcher , theorist , naturalist and author. His biological specialty is myrmecology, the study of ants....
, one of the co-authors of the theory of Island biogeography
Island biogeography
Island biogeography is a field within biogeography that attempts to establish and explain the factors that affect the species richness of natural communities. The theory was developed to explain species richness of actual islands...
(by R. MacArthur
Robert MacArthur
Robert Helmer MacArthur was an American ecologist who made a major impact on many areas of community and population ecology....
and E. O. Wilson). For his Ph.D. dissertation he was the first to test this theory experimentally in Floridian Mangrove systems producing studies such as the 1969 paper: Experimental Zoogeography of Islands: The Colonization of Empty Islands which is considered a seminal paper. In the 1970s Simberloff started a big controversy in the field when he put in doubt the importance of competition as the most important force structuring biological communities. He did so using computer-generated models that proved that many of the patterns that were generally explained by competition did not differ from those created in a random fashion. This new approach notably increased the level of rigor in ecology. During this time, he also criticized the importance of the theory of island biogeography as a tool for planning conservation strategies. He is admired for his thorough statistical approach to ecology.
Simberloff is also very active on the invasive species
Invasive species
"Invasive species", or invasive exotics, is a nomenclature term and categorization phrase used for flora and fauna, and for specific restoration-preservation processes in native habitats, with several definitions....
front, studying the theoretical susceptibility of ecosystems to invasion from exotic species, the practical implications of these invasions and the potential interactions between invasive species including the potential for invasional meltdown — where the introduction of exotic species facilitates the establishment and invasion of other exotics.
Daniel Simberloff received several awards, including the Eminent Ecologist Award
Eminent Ecologist Award
The Eminent Ecologist Award is prize awarded annually to a senior ecologist in recognition of an outstanding contribution to the science of ecology. The prize is awarded by the Ecological Society of America. According to the statutes, the recipient may be from any country in the world. However, in...
in 2006 by the Ecological Society of America, he had served in the main board of the National Science Foundation (NSF) and published books and more than 350 articles in scientific journals. He has directed several Masters and Ph.D. dissertations.
Simberloff is the Nancy Gore Hunger Professor of Environmental Studies and director of the Institute for Biological Invasions at the University of Tennessee
University of Tennessee
The University of Tennessee is a public land-grant university headquartered at Knoxville, Tennessee, United States...
in Knoxville
Knoxville, Tennessee
Founded in 1786, Knoxville is the third-largest city in the U.S. state of Tennessee, U.S.A., behind Memphis and Nashville, and is the county seat of Knox County. It is the largest city in East Tennessee, and the second-largest city in the Appalachia region...
. He is a past president of the American Society of Naturalists, and was a member of the National Science Board from 2000 until 2006 http://nsf.gov/nsb/members/former.jsp.