For development of ecological research in 1973, 9.9 percent of the 

 budget was spent. This included development of ecological principles (8 

 percent or $14.69 million) and $3.32 million for relation of ecological 

 research to other sciences. 



b. Types of Ecological Research 



An analysis of the types of ecological research being conducted on 

 problem areas (Table 3) shows that of the $182.28 million spent in FY 

 1973, 18.1 percent was on describing ecosystems including natural, 

 managed and man-occupied ecosystems. A relatively large amount 

 (40.5 percent) was spent on functions and relationships, including 

 among organisms, with environment, changes with time, and on 

 synthesis, modeling or prediction. The amount spent on sjmthesis, 

 modeling or prediction was 8.0 percent or $14.36 million. For manage- 

 ment, 21.6 percent was spent on research for management of environ- 

 ment, of organisms, and of man's activities. Research on the impact of 

 man's activities was 20 percent including impact on environment 

 (pollution), on organisms, and on man (other than health). 



In the angdysis of types of ecological research, all of the different cate- 

 gories increased without any unusual increase in any one category. 

 The categories, management of environment and of organisms, 

 showed the least amount of increase. 



The problem area with the greatest amount of increase was problems 

 arising from activities of man, which showed a 70 percent increase 

 from $9.24 million in FY 1971 to $15.89 miUion in FY 1973. The most 

 significant increase within this area was in the ecology of urbaniza- 

 tion and urban planning. 



The area, problems of evaluating whole ecosystems, showed a 48 

 percent increase from $23.67 million in FY 1971 to $35.23 million in FY 

 1973; the category of impact assessment increased most. These 

 increases are associated with the emphasis in "mission" agencies to 

 comply with the National Environmental Policy Act, which requires 

 preparation of Environmental Impact Statements, and with increased 

 concern in this area. The category of regional global consequences and 

 predictions increased firom $0.24 million in FY 1971 to $1.30 million in 

 FY 1973 due primarily to the estabhshment of a $1 .00 million project in 

 synthesis modeling or prediction. 



In the area of problems associated with regulating organisms, the 

 increase in 1973 over 1971 was less than 20 percent. However, this 

 problem area still received more than a third of all funds for ecological 

 research. 



Ecological research is widely scattered throughout the various Federal 

 agencies and bureaus. It is usually conducted to meet specific mission 

 requirements in each bureau. Some of the research has been continuing 

 for decades while other research is new or just being initiated. 

 Coordination between the agencies and bureaus is very difficult under 

 these conditions. Assurance that older research projects are still 

 needed and relevant, and that the best ecological research methods are 

 being used is difficult to ascertain. With such a large number of 

 problem areas split between a large number of agencies and bureaus 

 there is bound to be some overlap or replication. 



39 



