34 ANIMAL ECOLOGY 



If natural preserves are not made, how will the 

 next generation be best grounded in the general 

 principles of the science ? Are these complex modi- 

 fied conditions the natural place to start the student, 

 or should such problems be reserved for the maturely 

 trained one ? These disturbed fragmentary condi- 

 tions may be likened to fragmentary fossils whose 

 interpretation is attempted. A paleontologist whose 

 only knowledge of animals was derived from such 

 fragments, and who had never known a perfect living 

 animal, would certainly be at a great disadvantage 

 in such an investigation. The natural starting point 

 therefore seems to be in as nearly natural normal en- 

 vironments and associations as is possible, and with 

 such experience one is prepared for the more complex 

 problems resulting from man's activity. 



By way of conclusion, some of the main advan- 

 tages of ecological surveys are : 



1. The record of natural environments and their 

 associations for future generations. 



2. The study of natural biotic conditions giving 

 a perspective not derived in any other way. 



3. The clearer conception of the dynamic rela- 

 tions of the balance of nature, biotic base, and 

 climax associations. 



4. Emphasis of the process and interpretative 

 phase of scientific investigation over that of purely 

 descriptive study. 



5. Facilitating the invention of multiple working 

 hypotheses which bear upon animal responses in 

 nature. 



