1916] Introduciion vii 



been devoted to researches in general biology whieh only incidentally 

 contribute to marine biology. 



But the Naples Station is also engaged in a second enterprise having 

 for its object, as manifested in its magnifieent monographic series 

 Fauna and Flora, exhaustive knowledge of the fauna and tlora of the 

 Gulf of Naples and the Mediterranean Sea. These monographs, it is 

 true, relate mainly, though not entirely, to the structure of the organ- 

 isms but. in so far as they are taxonomic, they constitute the initial 

 step toward understanding the organi.sms of the Gulf and of the 

 Mediterranean. The natural second step nuist be ecological, i.e., 

 determination of how the various speeie.s are related to their environ- 

 mental complexes. Then would follow the more intensive studies of 

 structure, function, and behavior required to understand how and why 

 the organisms maintain the.se relations. Little more than the first step 

 has been taken, for, according to Kofoid (1910, p. 20), "the Station 

 has not as yet undertaken any systematic exploration of pelagic, 

 abys.sal. or littoral fauna, though much of the work of collection, the 

 records of .seasonal occurrence, and the individual researches thus far 

 published afford a basis for the beginning of such enterprises." But, 

 however limited the actual achievements may be, the Station is engaged 

 in a programme of re.search having for its object complete understand- 

 ing of the structure, function, and behavior of the organisms by virtue 

 of whieh they are adapted to the marine environments of the Gulf of 

 Naples and the Mediterranean Sea. When this type of investigation 

 .shall have been carried beyond the preliminary taxonomic stage, the 

 Naples Station will be engaged fsiricthj in researches in marine biology. 



The two types of investigation, general biology and marine biology, 

 are intimately related to each other. The same organisms may be dealt 

 with and largely the same methods of study may be employed, but the 

 point of view whieh gives direction to each piece of research is funda- 

 mentally different. In the former type, marine organisms are regarded 

 as tools to be used in solving some morphological or other problem 

 relative to land and fresh-water organisms as well. In the latter type, 

 morphological and other methods are employed for the purpose of 

 understanding marine organisms. Both types of investigation are 

 indispensable. "Who could justly maintain one to be necessarily more 

 productive to biology than the other? If the purpose of biology is to 

 fully understand organisms, it follows that general biological researches 

 must contribute toward this end, but it also follows that investigations 

 having for their object complete understanding of marine organisms. 



