What We Do and Don’t Know
This chapter describes the scope and limitation of what people know about eco-evolutionary dynamics. What they are striving to explain is the relationship between ecology and evolution, seeking to elucidate these relationships for a specific taxonomic group in a specific environment, such as Darwin's finches in Galapagos. In such cases, scholars need detailed studies of that particular group in that particular environment, ideally supplemented with theoretical models and laboratory studies that help to elucidate mechanisms. Alternatively, one might seek to discover generalities of relationships between ecology and evolution that transcend specific groups and environments. Ultimately, the chapter argues that no matter the goal, scholars need detailed studies of specific taxonomic groups in specific environments.