Antoine Dussault (Collège Lionel-Groulx)
This paper argues that ecological role functions (ERF) should be defined as contributions to resilient ecosystem functioning. I draw on accounts of ERF in terms of Cummin's causal role theory of function, and argue that, although the causal role account adequately captures central aspects of the practice of functional ecologists, it can fully accommodate this practice only if ERF are conceived as contributions to resilient ecosystem functioning (rather than simply ecosystem functioning). I show the implications that this emphasis on resilience has how we should individuate functional groups and how we should understand the notions of functional redundancy in ecology.
