Key points are not available for this paper at this time.
The paper by Hairston et al. (1960) is examined critically with regard to its premises, logic and internal consistency, and its methodology. It is suggested that, either as conclusions or hypotheses, the major points made in the paper are not acceptable. In the present paper the importance of testability and of operational definitions in ecological hypotheses are stressed.
William W. Murdoch (Sun,) studied this question.