Human Dimensions: Natural History as the Innate Foundation of Ecology

Natural history serves as a critical foundation of ecological science (Tewksbury et al. , Barrows et al. ), and it provides personal relevance and an emotional connection to nature for many ecologists. Because the practice of natural history is as old and accessible as the human senses, it is something all humans have in common; natural history is the oldest continuous human tradition (Fleischner ). [...]natural history can further unite us while also “extending the tent” of the Ecological Society of America (ESA; Pouyat et al. ). Understanding diversity through the lens of natural history can put local observations into global context, especially through citizen science initiatives (Chandler et al. ), which can bridge the gaps between scientists, communities, and the natural world. Because injustices can also impact engagement with the outdoors, bioblitzes and similar citizen science activities can be an opportunity to make natural history more inclusive. [...]the global databases created by natural history platforms such as iNaturalist allow for public access to biodiversity information, an important aspect of making ecological data more equitably accessible, and providing important observations for ecological research (Palminteri , Moore et al. ).