Reflections on Modeling and Theory in Population Biology Series: Jim Brown (UNM)

Sally Otto (UBC) and James O'Dwyer (University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign) interviewed Jim Brown, Distinguished Professor of Biology Emeritus at the University of New Mexico.

Jim shared his path from early training in physiological ecology to later work introducing the rescue effect, macroecology, and metabolic theory.

-- One of the classic models that influenced Jim's thinking about quantitative biology is the Scholander-Irving model of thermoregulation in mammals:

Scholander PF, Hock R, Walters V, Johnson F, Irving L. (1950) Heat Regulation in some Arctic and Tropical Mammals and Birds. The Biological Bulletin 1950 99:2, 237-258

-- Quotes and advice:

Originally deriving from his mentor at Berkeley, George Bartholomew, Jim reminded us that:

"Nature Bats Last".

Other than that grounding in empirical data, Jim's biggest piece of advice for students and trainees was to persevere. Even some of his most influential and famous work was originally rejected or challenging to publish.

-- Key papers:

** The development of the rescue effect arose from an "aha" moment, applying the MacArthur-Wilson model of Island biogeography in a new context:

Brown JH & Kodric-Brown A. (1977). Turnover rates in insular biogeography: effect of immigration on extinction. Ecology, 58(2), 445-449.

** A key paper capturing his ideas on the role of energetics in the maintenance of biodiversity, that was maybe a little ahead of its time:

Brown JH (1981). Two decades of homage to Santa Rosalia: toward a general theory of diversity. American Zoologist, 21(4), 877-888.

** Jim's work with Brian Maurer developing the field of macroecology took time, but resulted in many key papers and a huge influence on ecology more broadly. One of the classics:

Brown JH & Maurer BA (1989). Macroecology: the division of food and space among species on continents. Science, 243(4895), 1145-1150.

** Jim mentioned his metabolic theory of ecology work with Brian Enquist and Geoffrey West, arising from their collaboration at the Santa Fe Institute. A paper summarizing this work and more:

Brown JH, Gillooly JF, Allen AP, Savage VM & West GB (2004). Toward a metabolic theory of ecology. Ecology, 85(7), 1771-1789.