^30 ANIMALS AND THEIR ENVIRONMENT 



to prevent the biologic catastrophe of human overpopulation remains to 

 be seen. At present we lack some of the basic information needed for 

 sound predictions in this field. Much more study of man's relationships 

 with his physical and biologic environment is needed. 



Questions 



1. What is meant by conservation? What conservation measures are being taken in your 

 state? 



2. What methods may be used to increase the number of game fish in a large lake? the 

 number of game birds in a forest? 



3. What ecologic problems may be raised by the damming of a river, by mining opera- 

 tions and by the establishment of a large chemical factory? 



4. Discuss the ecologic principles involved in the operation of an oyster farm. 



5. In what ways are ecology and public health related? 



6. What is meant by human ecology? How is it related to sociology? 



Supplementary Reading 



The problem of the conservation of our natural resources is considered in Fairfield 

 Osborn's Out Plundered Planet. Paul Sears' Deserts on the March and William Vogt's 

 Road to Suniival present the urgent need for the adoption of proper conservation meas- 

 ures. The Challenge of Man's Future, by Harrison Brown, is an able and fascinating dis- 

 cussion of some important aspects of human ecology. 



