Biological Station 



will again become pine. Near Douglas Lake this may be accom- 

 plished in 20 to 40 years. Back from the lake under severer condi- 

 tions it will take longer unless the region is artificially planted. 



"The bog type of vegetation is plentifully represented, both in 

 mature form and in developmental stages, within easy access. The 

 bog trees are mostly coniferous. White cedar (arbor vitae), tam- 

 arack, spruces, and balsam are all abundant. The ground flora is 

 quite typical and quite "northern." A study of these northern forms 

 is one of the valuable features of the region. Several orchids are 

 found in such situations, together with the interesting insect-catching 

 sundew and pitcher plants. 



"In addition to the three prominent types of vegetation mention 

 may be made of interesting plants along the lake shores : Utricularia, 

 with little bladders catching crustaceans and even small insects, and 

 Decodon, with well developed air tissue. The river banks furnish 

 their quota of interesting species. The streams, although small, fur- 

 nish a wide variety of conditions from slow, sluggish, creeks to a 

 rapid mountain stream in Carp Creek near Cecil Bay. The lakes 

 vary in size from very small ones with no outlet, through Burt Lake, 

 the largest of the inland lakes, to Lake Michigan and Lake Huron. 

 Neither of the latter are within access of regular station activities. 

 Very small, but still typical dunes are within the region. Dune work, 

 however, may be supplemented by a trip to the dunes along Lake 

 Michigan. 



"With such a diversity of conditions, together with the secondary 

 effects introduced by fire, the dynamic activities of the vegetation are 

 great and permit a verv adequate presentation of ecological princi- 

 ples." 



Among the problems in plant ecology suggested by the region 

 are : "the development of certain habitats, successional relationships, 

 correlation of vegetation and evaporation, physiological limitations of 

 habitats and species, growth increments under varying conditions, 

 changes in soil and vegetation due to cutting, burning, draining, 

 planting, and seeding." 



Students preparing to teach and teachers now engaged in teach- 

 ing Zoology or Botany will find that the courses offered at the sta- 

 tion furnish excellent training in methods of biological work in the 

 field and in the comparatively new field of ecological analysis which 

 aims at securing a better understanding of "the general economy of 

 living things," and this better understanding "should be one of the 

 foundations of popular education." The desirability of this broader 

 view of life has been recognized by boards of education while "the 

 introduction of agricultural subjects into elementary and high schools 

 is symptomatic." To meet this demand the University has changed 

 its entrance requirements. The reader is referred to the statement 

 of the entrance requirements in Botany and Zoology in the General 

 Catalogue and in the Annual Announcement of the College of Liter- 

 ature, Science, and the Arts. 



