University of Exeter, UK.
Stud Hist Philos Sci. 2022 Dec;96:18-26. doi: 10.1016/j.shpsa.2022.08.007. Epub 2022 Sep 20.
In this paper I develop a concept of behavioural ecological individuality. Using findings from a case study which employed qualitative methods, I argue that individuality in behavioural ecology should be defined as phenotypic and ecological uniqueness, a concept that is operationalised in terms of individual differences such as animal personality and individual specialisation. This account make sense of how the term "individuality" is used in relation to intrapopulation variation in behavioural ecology. The concept of behavioural ecological individuality can sometimes be used to identify individuals. It also shapes research agendas and methodological choices in behavioural ecology, leading researchers to account for individuals as sources of variation. Overall, this paper draws attention to a field that has been largely overlooked in philosophical discussions of biological individuality and highlights the importance of individual differences and uniqueness for individuality in behavioural ecology.
在本文中，我提出了行为生态学个体性的概念。通过使用定性方法进行的案例研究，我认为行为生态学中的个体性应该被定义为表型和生态独特性，这一概念可以通过动物个性和个体专业化等个体差异来操作化。这种解释符合“个体性”一词在行为生态学中与种群内变异相关的用法。行为生态学个体性的概念有时可用于识别个体。它还塑造了行为生态学的研究议程和方法选择，促使研究人员将个体视为变异的来源。总的来说，本文提请注意在生物学个体性的哲学讨论中被广泛忽视的一个领域，并强调了个体差异和独特性对行为生态学个体性的重要性。
