CHAPTER V 

 Federal Ecological Research Programs 



a. National Problem Areas Requiring Ecological Research 1 



The most important national problem areas requiring ecological 

 research have been categorized and are listed in the vertical axis in 

 Tables 2-4. The types of ecological research required to help solve these 

 problems are shown in the horizontal axis of the same tables. The 

 resulting matrix for organizing support of ecological research shows 

 the amount of Federal funds being expended in each category of 

 research on each specific problem. This matrix makes it possible to 

 compare and analyze the amounts of support given to each area. It was 

 frequently difficult to categorize certain types of research since there 

 was overlap in subject area and some subjective judgments were 

 required. Additionally, because of rounding errors agency descrip- 

 tions in Section 2 may not add to the tabular values. 



The levels of Federal support of ecological research as defined by the 

 Committee are $139.97 million for FY 1971, $157.69 milhon for FY 1972, 

 and $182.28 million for FY 1973. Comparisons with previous years are 

 not meaningful because different types of analyses and definitions 

 were used. 



Ecological research is being conducted on a wide variety of problem 

 areas which require it. The ecological research (Table 3) supported in 

 1973 ($182.28 million) is analyzed in more detail to show a comparison 

 of relative efforts. Ecological research is being used to help manage our 

 natural resources and in helping solve problems caused by the activi- 

 ties of man including pollution and environmental change. Of the total 

 1973 research effort, 27 percent was spent on the effect of environ- 

 mental change including air, water, and land use effects. For problems 

 of evaluating whole ecosystems, 19.3 percent was spent on impact 

 assessment, regional global consequences and predictions, and 

 stability and interactions of ecosystems. The greatest amount of 

 research (37.5 percent), was conducted on problems associated with 

 regulating organisms including pest and disease management, biolog- 

 ical production (food and fiber), exotic and rare species, and wildlife 

 management. For problems arising from the activities of man, 8.7 

 percent was spent on ecological research on recreation needs, urbaniza- 

 tion and urban planning, resource recycling and waste disposal, socio- 

 economic trade-offs of alternative development projects, weather 

 modification, and engineering construction and industrial siting. 



Analysis of 

 Programs 



35 



