Future of Botanical Research in Alaska— Wiggins 119 



The possibility of utilizing plants as indicators of under- 

 lying geological conditions, or their relationships to permafrost, 

 to erosion and its prevention, has caused the U. S. Geological 

 Survey to employ professional botanists to cooperate in field 

 and laboratory with the geologists. This marks another signifi- 

 cant trend in botanical research in Alaska— a trend toward 

 teamwork among men interested primarily in widely different 

 disciplines. The acceleration in the solving of different re- 

 search problems when lines of demarcation between disciplines 

 are crossed and the puzzles are approached collectively with 

 each mind focusing on a particular aspect of the whole was 

 demonstrated brilliantly during World War II. There is no 

 excuse for disregarding the lessons taught during the bitterness 

 of war. Such team work among botanists working on different 

 phases within the science, and among botanists in association 

 with workers in other areas of human knowledge inevitably 

 will bring richer results, and with less waste of time, man power 

 and energy, than could be realized if each individual continued 

 to work in seclusion. Even we taxonomists, who at times are 

 loathe to divulge some of our finds to colleagues, prior to pub- 

 lication, realize the value of inviting the aid of specialists. One 

 taxonomist and plant geographer wrote, "In works comprising 

 all groups of vascular plants it is desirable that critical genera 

 should be worked up by scientists who have had the oppor- 

 tunity of devoting more time to the study of their special group 

 than is possible for the author of a complete flora" (9). 



Another trend, one which possibly may be as significant as 

 any other, is that involving a careful consideration of the needs 

 facing research in any particular discipline and then attempt- 

 ing to fill that need. Some of the needs that should be filled, 

 if the future of botanical research in Alaska is to contribute 

 fully to the benefit of the science, the nation, and to the people 

 of the Territory itself, may profitably be mentioned. There is 

 a need for realization among botanists in other parts of the 

 country that Alaska and its flora offer rich fields for botanical 

 investigations along several lines of specialization. There is 

 need for more tangible support for botanical science in Alaska. 



