Biological Station 



brate fauna. There are many terrestrial and aquatic molluscs and 

 many crustacea, including the plankton forms. Vincent, Munro and 

 Lancaster Lakes which are in easy reach of the Station furnish many 

 conditions not found in Douglas Lake for Plankton and other organ- 

 isms. Sponges and bryozoans are common, while the common fresh 

 water Ltydra is usually present during the first half of the summer 

 in countless numbers and furnishes good material for experimental 

 work. Insect life abounds in the many varied habitats of the region. 

 There are a number of aquatic annelids of considerable interest but 

 the number of terrestrial annelids is greatly restricted by the preva- 

 lence of the sandy soil. In its numerous aquatic habitats Protozoa 

 are known to be abundant although no careful study has yet been 

 made of this group in the region. 



Parasitism in animals is extremely common. Parasitic worms 

 are abundant both in species and individuals. All the vertebrates 

 which frequent water serve as hosts for parasites, both adult and 

 immature, while the numerous invertebrates yield young stages of 

 many of the worms. Owing to the moderate size of the lake the 

 collection of hosts is easy. Pens, cages, and aquaria are now avail- 

 able, thus making possible the study of life histories by means of 

 feeding experiments. Practically no study has been made of parasitic 

 worms infesting those vertebrates not frequenting water. The para- 

 sitic Protozoa of the region have been but little studied. 



The very fact that the fauna is not as rich as it is in many places 

 simplifies many of the problems of the zoologist. This statement 

 applies with special emphasis to the work of the parasitologist. The 

 ecology of aquatic invertebrates may be studied under most excellent 

 conditions. The habitats are almost typical, are readily accessible, 

 and the student is not overwhelmed with the multiplicity and diversity 

 of forms to be found in some localities. 



The attractions of a northern flora, an adequate though not com- 

 plex fauna together with an excellent climate, good conditions for 

 study, freedom from interruptions, freedom from summer visitors, 

 and freedom from the exactions of a university schedule and from 

 the conditions of urban life make the Station a good place for study 

 and research. 



PREPARATION FOR TEACHING 



The courses in Botany and Zoology offer excellent preparation 

 for teaching these subjects in secondary schools and colleges. In 

 Zoology and in Botany there is a movement away from the old type 

 studies with, especial emphasis upon morphology, and a definite trend 

 toward a study of animals and plants as living things bearing cer- 

 tain relations to the place in which they live and forming certain 

 kinds of societies with other living things. It is this latter view of 

 biology which is stressed at the Biological Station, by means of field 

 courses in which actual training in field methods is given. 



