4 ANIMAL ECOLOGY 



throughout the entire geographic range of an animal. 

 From this standpoint the individual studied becomes 

 the hub of the microcosm, from which all relations 

 and responses radiate. Most of the physiological 

 studies of ecological bearing and many investigations 

 of animal behavior have been made from this view- 

 point. The organism is thus considered as an agent 

 which, transforming and utilizing substance and 

 energy, produces a varied number of physiological 

 conditions and forms of activity, which in turn furnish 

 the basis for the constant process of response between 

 the organism and its environment. 



Aggregate Ecology. The study of aggregate ecol- 

 ogy is the investigation of the ecological develop- 

 ment, relations, and responses of animals based upon 

 hereditary or taxonomic units, as in a family com- 

 munity, or in genera, families, orders, etc. These 

 groups or aggregates are made the basis for the 

 ecologic study, as a hive of bees, birds, dragon flies 

 (Odonata), the genus Bombus. From this approach 

 the activities and responses of the group are traced 

 throughout all environments and associations within 

 the area studied, or throughout the world, and itJs 

 responses and adjustments to the whole environment 

 receive primary attention. The hereditary or taxo- 

 nomic unit is here the hub of the microcosm. Perhaps 

 most of the contributions to ecology by the taxono- 

 mists are made from this standpoint. Here also 

 the aggregate is considered as an agent or entity 

 which produces many kinds of activities and adjust- 

 ments to the environment. 



