The Metabolic Basis of Ecology and Evolution in a Changing World

Metabolism shapes, evolves in response to, and is shaped by ecology. The 2012 conference will focus on using the insights of Metabolic Theory (sensu latissimo) to better understand the mechanisms and constraints affecting eco-evolutionary responses to diverse global change processes. These include warming temperatures, shifting precipitation, altered biogeochemical cycling, species extinctions, and other global human impacts. In the 2012 Metabolic Ecology GRC, we will include physiological, biomechanical, ecological, and evolutionary viewpoints on fundamental and applied problems in which the invited speakers will present research ranging upwards in physical scale from the molecular level, to single cells, to multicellular organisms, to ecosystems and the entire globe. Our aim is to span life, earth, and social sciences. We welcome approaches that include scaling theory, biological stoichiometry, dynamic energy budgets, resource ratio competition theory, neutral theory, and other approaches and models that link eco-evolutionary processes to underlying mechanisms and higher level constraints. Our overarching goal is to foster new collaborative interactions that will help us to move towards a more complete understanding of the structure and function of living systems, especially as they respond to accelerating rates of global change. We look forward to welcoming you to another fantastic week of interactions, discussions, and scientific hijinks!