The Scope of Ecology 19 



surroundings. Ecology is primarily a field subject. Nevertheless, a 

 knowledge of the principles and problems of ecology should be ac- 

 quired before attempting to evaluate a natural situation, where the 

 multiplicity of ecological activities may be bewildering. Many eco- 

 logical relationships can be effectively analyzed under the simplified 

 and controlled conditions of the laboratory. 



Because of a lack of understanding of ecological principles the 

 efforts of well-intentioned conservationists and agriculturalists are 

 frequently badly misdirected. A story is told of certain sheep ranchers 

 who became convinced that coyotes were robbing them of their young 

 sheep. As a result, the community rose up and by every possible 

 means slaughtered all the coyotes that could be located for miles 

 around. Following the destruction of the coyotes, the rabbits, field 

 mice, and other small rodents of the region increased tremendously 

 and made serious inroads upon the grass of the pastures. When this 

 development was realized, the sheep men executed an about-face, 

 abruptly stopped killing the coyotes, and instituted an elaborate pro- 

 gram for the poisoning of the rodents. The coyotes filtered in from 

 surrounding areas and multiplied, but finding their natural rodent 

 food now scarce they were forced to turn to the young sheep as their 

 only available source of food! 



An understanding of ecological principles provides a background 

 for further investigations not only into the fundamental relationships 

 of the natural community but also into sciences dealing with particular 

 environments such as the forest, soil, ocean, or inland waters. Many 

 practical applications of ecology are found in agriculture, biological 

 surveys, game management, pest control, forestry, and fishery biology. 

 Knowledge of ecology is critically important for intelligent conserva- 

 tion whether in relation to soil, forest, wildlife, water supply, or 

 fishery resources. 



Ecology is significant also in a wider sense for us as citizens. It 

 gives us an insight into how the world works. In addition, man him- 

 self is a most important element in the environment. Man almost 

 always has a modifying influence, and, without proper regulation, he 

 often has a destructive effect. Man is himself an organism with an 

 environment, and this fact has been particularly emphasized in the 

 development of human ecology. A knowledge of the general prin- 

 ciples of ecology thus provides a background for the understanding 

 of human relations just as a study of general zoology is necessary as a 

 groundwork for medicine. Like other animals man is influenced by 

 the physical features of his environment, he is absolutely dependent 

 upon other species, and he must adjust to other individuals of his 



