biology

Michael Rosenzweig

Michael Rosenzweig is a biology topic covered in the lgStudy science library. This page brings together a partial reference excerpt, illustrations, worked examples, real-world applications and a short study plan, so you can understand Michael Rosenzweig rather than just read about it. In short: Michael L. Rosenzweig (born 1941) is a professor of ecology and evolutionary biology at the University of Arizona.

Key takeaways

Michael Rosenzweig belongs to biology; place it in that map before memorising details.
Learn the definition first, then one example that makes the definition concrete.
Connect Michael Rosenzweig to a quantity you can measure, compute or draw — that is where exam questions come from.
Reproduce the core statement of Michael Rosenzweig from memory before moving on to harder problems.

Reference excerpt

Michael L. Rosenzweig (born 1941) is a professor of ecology and evolutionary biology at the University of Arizona. He developed and popularized the concept of reconciliation ecology. He received his Ph.D. in zoology at the University of Pennsylvania in 1966 and has held a number of academic positions around the United States. Rosenzweig arrived upon an idea similar to Leigh Van Valen's Red Queen metaphor during the same year 1971 as Van Valen, calling his idea "the rat race." Rosenzweig has a large body of editorial work spanning from 1977 to present, founding the journals Evolutionary Ecology and Evolutionary Ecology Research as well as the publishing house, Evolutionary Ecology Ltd. with the help of his wife Carole. When the Journal of Evolutionary Ecology was sold and the prices were to be raised, he stepped down from his editor in chief position and founded Evolutionary Ecology Ltd, which published the journal Evolutionary Ecology Research. Rosenzweig's articles cover topics ranging from species diversity to predation dynamics and includes work on environmental issues and public policy. He has published three books on the origins and conservation of species diversity; both are for technical and general audiences. He received the Eminent Ecologist Award from the Ecological Society of America in 2008 which is given to a senior ecologist for significant contributions to the field of ecology.

Education Ph.D., Zoology: University of Pennsylvania (1966)

Positions Professor, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology; University of Arizona (1975–present) Visiting professor of Biology: Ben-Gurion University (1981–1982) Visiting professor of Zoology: University of Wisconsin (1990–1991) Associate Professor of Biology: University of New Mexico (1971–1975) Assistant Professor of Biology: SUNY-Albany (1969–1971) Visiting Assistant Professor: Cranberry Lake Biological Station, SUNY-Albany (1969) Assistant Professor of Biology: Bucknell University, Lewisbug, PA, (1965–1969)

Awards Ecological Society of America: Eminent Ecologist Award (2008) Faculty of Science, University of Arizona: Career Teaching Award (2001) Ninth Lukacs Symp: Twentieth Century Distinguished Service Award (1999) International Ecological Society: Distinguished Statistical Ecologist (1998) Udall Center for Studies in Public Policy, University of Arizona: Fellow (1997–1998) Mountain Research Center, Montana State University: Distinguished Lecturer (1997) University of Umeå, Sweden: Distinguished Visiting Scholar (1997) University of Miami: Distinguished Visiting Professor (1996–1997) University of British Columbia: Dennis Chitty Lecturer (1995–1996) Iowa State University: 30th Paul L. Errington Memorial Lecturer (1994) Michigan State University, Kellogg Biological Station: Eminent Ecologist (1992) Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Israel: Jacob Blaustein Scholar (1992) University Wisconsin, Madison: Brittingham Fellow (1990–1991) Monash University, Melbourne, Australia: The Jock Marshall Fellow (1989) Australian Academy of Science: The Rudi Lemberg Travelling Fellow (1988–1989) Society for the Study of Evolution: Vice-president (1988–1989) Amer Society Zoologists: Outstanding Service Award (1986) Amer Society Zoologists: Chair, Division of Ecology (1985–1986) College of Science, University of Arizona: Outstanding Teaching Award (1985) University of Miami: Distinguished Visiting Professor (1983) Society for the Study of Evolution: Counselor (1981–1983) UC San Diego: Distinguished Visiting Scholar (1977)

Editorial work Ecological Society of America: editorial board (1977–present) Chapman & Hall's services of Population Biology: Editor (1979–1986) Paleobiology: editor (1983–1986) Israel Journal of Zoology: Editor (1993-) Evolutionary Ecology: Founder, Editor-in-chief (1986 – unknown) Evolutionary Ecology Research: Founder, Editor-in-chief (unknown – present)

Books And Replenish the Earth: Harper & Row (1974) Species Diversity in Space & Time: Cambridge University (1995)

External links Faculty Bio Homepage https://web.archive.org/web/20030625031944/http://www.winwinecology.com/ http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/full/300/5625/1508

References

Worked examples

Example 1 — a first encounter with Michael Rosenzweig

Start with the simplest possible case. Write down what Michael Rosenzweig claims or describes in one sentence, then invent the smallest concrete situation in which that sentence is true. In biology, the smallest case is usually a single object, a single equation or a single measurement. Check that every symbol or term in your sentence has a meaning in that case.

Example 2 — changing one variable

Take the situation from Example 1 and change exactly one quantity: double it, halve it, or set it to zero. Predict what should happen to Michael Rosenzweig before you calculate. Comparing your prediction with the result is the fastest way to find out whether you understand the idea or only the words.

Example 3 — an exam-style question

Typical questions about Michael Rosenzweig ask you to (a) state it precisely, (b) apply it to given data, and (c) explain a limitation. Practise writing all three answers in under five minutes; the third part is what separates a full-mark answer from an average one.

Applications of Michael Rosenzweig

In research: Michael Rosenzweig appears in biology research whenever the underlying quantities have to be modelled precisely. Papers usually cite it as a starting assumption and then explore where it breaks down.
In technology and industry: Engineering practice reuses Michael Rosenzweig in design rules, simulations and safety margins. Knowing the idea lets you read a specification sheet and understand why the numbers look the way they do.
In the classroom: Michael Rosenzweig is common in secondary-school and first-year university syllabi. It links to neighbouring topics 1941 births, American ecologists, Fellows of the Ecological Society of America, so understanding it makes those chapters shorter.
In everyday life: Look for Michael Rosenzweig outside the textbook — in sport, cooking, traffic, electronics or the sky above you. An example you found yourself is remembered far longer than one you were given.

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How to study Michael Rosenzweig in 20 minutes

Read the reference excerpt below once, without taking notes.
Close the page and write down what Michael Rosenzweig means in your own words.
Compare your version with the excerpt and mark what you missed.
Work through the three examples above with pen and paper.
Explain Michael Rosenzweig out loud to somebody else — or to Teacher Smith in the lgStudy chat.

Frequently asked questions

What is Michael Rosenzweig in simple terms?

Michael L. Rosenzweig (born 1941) is a professor of ecology and evolutionary biology at the University of Arizona.

Why does Michael Rosenzweig matter?

Because it connects several biology ideas at once: it gives you a definition you can apply, a quantity you can calculate, and a way to check whether a result is plausible.

How should I study Michael Rosenzweig?

Read the excerpt, restate it from memory, then work through the examples and applications listed on this page. The five-step study plan above takes about twenty minutes.

What does this page cover?

It gives you a compact reference excerpt plus original lgStudy explanations, examples, applications and study material on Michael Rosenzweig.