ecosystems, however, are complex, and a study 

 of the dynamic aspects of a complete eco- 

 system is difficult. Thus, need will exist to 

 develop a nnathematical model that canbeused 

 to assess the behavior of the system. The de- 

 velopnnent of connplex models simulating the 

 relations annong aninnals, plants, their uptake 

 of materials, and the flow of energy from the 

 estuarine environment requires the use of 

 computers. The capacity of computers to in- 

 tegrate large quantities of diverse data will 

 make it possible to evaluate new data con- 

 tinually as they are collected. Also, it will be 

 possible to resolve nnany problenns that have 

 proved, thus far, to be too difficult to solve 

 by methods used in the past. 



Facilities 



The present laboratory facilities, occupied 

 in July 1964, consist of three buildings. One 



building is a two-story laboratory of about 

 20,000 square feet, the second is a radiation 

 laboratory of 1,500 square feet, and the third, 

 of 1,000 square feet, provides storage and 

 contains a crematory for ashing radioactive 

 organisms. The main building has office and 

 laboratory space for about 16 investigators 

 and supporting staff, two large salt-water 

 laboratories, three constant-temperature 

 rooms, several counting and instrument rooms, 

 a stockroom, a conference room, and offices 

 for administrative staff. The radiation build- 

 ing is divided into three parts: a radiation 

 room with 3-ft. concrete walls and running 

 salt water for studies of chronic effects of 

 low-level irradiation; an instrument room 

 for the cobalt 60 irradiator. X-ray nnachine, 

 and neutron generator; and an aquarium room 

 with running salt water for maintaining ex- 

 perimental animals. 



Figure 8.— View from secretary's desk looking down hall of first floor. Portion of lobby is to the right of the hall. 



