32 ANIMAL ECOLOGY 



At the present time it is very difficult to secure 

 trained men to do ecological surveying. Even a 

 superficial examination of this paper should show 

 that familiarity with ecologic methods and results 

 is not one to be acquired offhand, but a knowledge 

 which requires considerable special training; not 

 only as much as is usually required for other kinds 

 of zoological work, but generally more, because of 

 its synthetic relational tendency which requires a 

 broad knowledge as well as some special knowledge 

 in several lines of biology and the allied sciences. 

 Conventionally considered, a properly equipped 

 physiologist must have a working knowledge of 

 certain phases of modern physics and chemistry in 

 addition to his grounding in biology. A properly 

 trained anatomist should have a knowledge of physio- 

 logical and developmental processes, or his anatomy 

 is purely descriptive and static. A student of general 

 zoology should be grounded not only in physiological 

 and developmental processes, but also in the relations 

 of the organisms to their complete environment. 

 The ecologist requires also the grounding in physio- 

 logical, developmental, and ecological processes 

 of adjustment, but as well he must understand the 

 processes by which the vegetation and the physical 

 environment have been and are being developed 

 and their method of mutual interrelations and adjust- 

 ment. It is difficult for some students to develop 

 the ecological phases in the field. There are many 

 disadvantages to be overcome. The difficulties are 

 similar, in some respects, to those of the ethnologist 



