Courchamp, F.,Dunne, J. A.,Le Maho, Y.,May, R. M.,Thebaud, C.,Hochberg, M. E.

We appreciate that Barot and coworkers [1] recognize that our proposed model [2] advocates the end of the linear model of research. We indeed highlighted the importance of feedback mechanisms and multi-level integration in this model to illustrate the interdependency of the different types of research. However, Barot and colleagues appear to go a step further and essentially argue that the distinction between fundamental and applied ecology has little justification. They propose that ecological sciences should become an unpolarized discipline that uses fundamental knowledge of ecology and social sciences to tackle environmental issues.