BIOLOGICAL RELATIONS OF AQUATIC FORMS 201 



3. Interpret the expression, "Plants are producers and animals are 

 consumers," using any example above. 



4. Justify the following sentence, "The pastures of the sea" are no 

 less real and no less necessary, than those of the land. 



Observations. 1. Are rooted aquatic plants the most abundant in 

 pools or ponds with clay or loamy bottoms ? Why ? 



2. Are aquatic plants of any advantage to animal life present? 

 Explain. 



Conclusions. 1. What sort of a bottom is best for a pond you wish 

 to stock with fish ? Explain. 



2. The Great Lakes have little shore area with rooted aquatic plants. 

 Would this probably influence the number of small animals there ? 



3. Show how the lack of aquatic plants and animals could likely in- 

 fluence the fish life there. 



Questions 



1. What is meant by the term " aquiculture " ? " Agriculture " ? 



2. What is the meaning of the term " ecology" ? 



3. Why should a body of water be studied with reference to the 

 ecology of the life there, before stocking it with fish ? 



4. What is plankton ? Why is its study important ? 



5. What is the meaning of the term "microcosm" ? Explain how a 

 small pond might be so termed. 



6. What are the reasons for the establishment of the United States 

 Fish Commission ? 



7. Just what is meant by Thompson in the following ? 



" Full nature swarms with life : one wondrous mass 

 Of animals and atoms organized. Where the pool 

 Stands mantled o'er with green, invisible 

 Amid the floating verdure millions stray." 



References 



Hunter, Essentials of Biology. Chap. XXII. 



Elements of Biology. Chap. XXII. 



Brooks, W. K., "The Origin of the Food of Marine Animals." 

 Bulletin U. S. Fish Commission, 1893, p. 87. 



Peck, Jas. I., "On the Food of the Menhaden." Bulletin U. S. Fish 

 Commission, 1893, p. 113, 6 plates. 



Pond, R. P., "The Biological Relation of Aquatic Plants to the Sub- 

 stratum." Report U. S. Fish Commission, 1903, pp. 483-526. 



