Dynamic Energy Budget theory: an efficient and general theory for ecology.

Marquet and colleagues’ (2014) recent discussion of the role of theory in ecology emphasizes the need for “effi-cient” theories. They defined such theories as being capable of making predictions of given phenomena with the fewest possible free parameters relative to rival theories. In providing examples of what they consider to be “inefficient” ecological theories, they point to dynamic energy budget (DEB) theory on the basis that it is rich in free parameters, presumably relative to the metabolic theory of ecology (MTE). This conclusion is incorrect.