Ecological Questions. An International Journal on Controversial Problems of Ecology. Vol. 11/2009

Foreword

The contemporary ecology consists of a broad spectrum of implemented issues, from pure theory to practice. The success of such comprehensive undertaking requires from theoretical bases, whereas practical applications require strong support in the theory. The so-defined objectives cannot be completed without reflection on the causes of the lack of any essential progress in this science. In ecology or in any other field, a question arises - what criteria could be applied to evaluate the progress. We assume that the best way to measue thereof is through the number of solved crucial problems and through evaluation of the progress in improving the concepts. Being aware that we are not the only ones intrigued by the progress in ecology, the article "Progress in ecology: The fact or fiction?" was placed in the Voltune No. ll of Ecological Questions. It can constitute a good basis for extended discussion on the criteria and evaluation of the progress in this Held of knowledge. The other six articles included in the current volume present new ideas, trends and methods of contemporary ecology.

Adam Barcikowski

and

Andrzej Nienartowicz

Contents

Foreword

WOŁEK J., Progress in Ecology: Fact or Fiction?

ULRICH W., Ecological interaction networks: prospects and pitfalls

ULRICH W., Nestedness analysis as a tool to identify ecological gradients

BUDZISZEWSKA J., PIĄTKOWSKA J., Molecular methods as ways of dealing with temiinological difficulties in fungal ecology

PAWLIKOWSKI T., Structural dynamic of social wasp communities (Hymenoptera: Wspinae) in forest areas destroyed by acid rains in the Karkonosze Mountains

PIDEK I. A., FILBRANDT-CZAJA A., NORYŚKIEWICZ A. M. NORYŚKIEWICZ B., RÄSÄNEN S., New methods applied to interpretations of pollen data in the Holocene - selected examples from the last decade

RICCIO A., CHIANESE E., TOSITTI L., BALDACCI D., SANDRINI S.,Modeling the transport of Saharan dust toward the Mediterranean region: an important issue for its ecological implications