Proceedings of the First Park Naturalists’ Training Conference, November 1 to 30, 1929

 SCIENTIFIC ASPECTS OF THE PARK PROTECTION PROGRAM

DEFINITION OF A BALANCE OF NATURE

By C. A. Harwell

Nature has through the course of time maintained a balance between various forms of life, both animal and vegetable, and their environment (climate, exposure, soil, etc.). This is a dynamic balance, events traveling in cycles, rather than establishing a static equilibrium.

Actually there is no fixed balance or cycle of events, for otherwise there would be no permanent evolutionary or other biological major changes.

Through the agency of geological changes, climatic changes, biological changes, man and natural catastrophe, the balance of nature may be disturbed, changes taking place such that eventually a new life cycle is established.

Bibliography:

Chas. C. Adams – Guide to the study of animal ecology.

A.G. Tansley, Dodd Mead Co. – Practical Plant Ecology.

Chas. Elton – MacMillan, 1929 – Animal Ecology.

Royal N. Chapman, Burgess-Roseberry Co., Minn. 1926 – Animal Ecology with Especial Reference to Insects.

The Auk, 1908 Vol. XXV, p. 125.

Minutes Supt. Conference, 1927, Article by Dr. J. Grinnell.

Forbush — Utility of Birds

 

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