3 46 THE STUDY OF PLANT COMMUNITIES * Chapter XII 



be studied in relation to others. In this connection, predation must 

 be considered from an ecological standpoint. 



Species whose numbers have declined to extremely low levels 

 may be propagated under controlled conditions and then released, 

 but the cost is often excessive. Others may be taken from areas of 

 overpopulation and transported elsewhere to start a new popula- 

 tion. Such activities have sometimes been successful but in other 

 instances have failed because of factors that were not known or 

 understood. The ecology of the species and of the region must be 

 known. If it is known, there is a reasonable possibility that the 

 species can be encouraged to increase naturally at much less ex- 

 pense and trouble. The problems related to overpopulations of 

 protected species are no less complicated, the ideal being a condi- 

 tion in which natural propagation produces a constant popula- 

 tion supportable by the environment and perhaps an excess suffi- 

 cient to permit a reasonable take by the sportsman. 



When it is realized that such problems and many more are in 

 the process of solution for big game, birds of all kinds, fur ani- 

 mals, fish, and other wildlife, it should be apparent that there is 

 much basic ecological work to be done that has possibilities of 

 application. The mistakes that have been made in wildlife manage- 

 ment have undoubtedly resulted more often from inadequate eco- 

 logical information rather than from lack of appreciation of how 

 such knowledge could be applied if it were available. Wildlife 

 management is applied ecology, and it will progress as basic eco- 

 logical knowledge becomes available and is integrated by wildlife 

 ecologists. 



Game refuges provide a safeguard against lack of knowledge 

 and provide the opportunity for acquiring needed information. 

 Particularly, they insure that scarce or disappearing species do not 

 become extinct as some have in the past, for here they are pro- 

 tected and given every encouragement to increase. Usually such 

 refuges do not result in the restoration of a vanishing population. 

 They do, however, insure a continuous breeding stock from which 

 restoration may be made, and they give excellent opportunity for 

 the study of the species involved under relatively undisturbed ' 

 conditions or under available conditions. 101 A few such refuges 

 are still in near primitive condition and thus can provide much of 



