A keystone ecologist: Robert Treat Paine, 1933–2016. Issue 11 (3rd November 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Estes, James A.; Dayton, Paul K.; Kareiva, Peter; Levin, Simon A.; Lubchenco, Jane; Menge, Bruce A.; Palumbi, Stephen R.; Power, Mary E.; Terborgh, John
• Is Part Of: Ecology. Volume 97:Issue 11(2016)
• Page Start: 2905
• Page End: 2909
• Publication Date: 2016-11-03
• Subjects: intermediate disturbance -- keystone species -- mentor -- patch dynamics -- tribute to life -- trophic cascade -- zonation; Ecology -- Periodicals; Ecology -- Periodicals; Écologie -- Périodiques; Ecologie; Écologie; Écologie animale; Écologie végétale; Ecology; Periodicals; 577.05
• DOI: 10.1002/ecy.1572
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0012-9658

Abstract

Abstract: Robert T. Paine, who passed away on 13 June 2016, is among the most influential people in the history of ecology. Paine was an experimentalist, a theoretician, a practitioner, and proponent of the "ecology of place, " and a deep believer in the importance of natural history to ecological understanding. His scientific legacy grew from the discovery of a link between top‐down forcing and species diversity, a breakthrough that led to the ideas of both keystone species and trophic cascades, and to our early understanding of the mosaic nature of biological communities, causes of zonation across physical gradients, and the intermediate‐disturbance hypothesis of species diversity. Paine's influence as a mentor was equally important to the growth of ecological thinking, natural resource conservation, and policy. He served ecology as an Ecological Society of America president, an editor of the Society's journals, a member of and contributor to the National Academy of Sciences and the National Research Council, and an in‐demand advisor to various state and federal agencies. Paine's broad interests, enthusiasm, charisma, and humor deeply affected our lives and the lives of so many others.