The fusion of behavioral ecology and ecology

Behavioral ecology and ecology have projects in common. Community ecology can provide behavioral ecology with the tools to ask realistic questions about the current action of natural selection. Evolutionary ecology has moved beyond asking “Why does trait x contribute to reproductive success?” and on to “What are the conditions under which trait x contributes to reproductive success?” We need to bring this ecological perspective to the study of the evolution of behavior. Community ecologists have recognized that behavior influences ecological outcomes. For example, behavior contributes to the effect of history on community assembly, to indirect effects in predator–prey interactions, and to the responses of populations to human disturbance. More generally, behavior is often the source of context dependence; behavioral responses in different conditions lead to different ecological outcomes. As community ecology is broadening to include behavior, behavioral ecologists can begin to incorporate ecological perspectives in asking evolutionary questions.