Energetics, Terrestrial Field Studies,
and Animal Productivity
M A N F R E D D. E N G E L M A N N
Department of Natural Science, Michigan State University,
East Lansing, Michigan, 1J.S.A.
I. Introduction .......................................................... 73
11. Three Approaches to Energetics Studies.. ................................
74
111. Historical Considerations.. ............................................. 78
IV. Physiological Studies Which Yield Energetics Infcmrmation. ................. 84
V. Studies Concerned Primarily with Maintenance Metabolism of Population8 in
the Environment ....................................................
87
VI. Studies Which Emphasize the Trophic Scheme Analysis of Communities. .... 96
A. Trophic Dynamic Analysis of the Salt Marsh Ekotone .................. 96
B. Trophic Dynamic Analysis of “Old Field” Communities.. ............... 98
C. Trophic Studies in a Savannah Community.. ......................... .lo3
VII. Projection ............................................................
108
References ................................................................ 112
I. INTRODUCTION
There is currently a feeling among ecologists that their science has
reached maturity, and that the concepts and knowledge of this science
are destined to shape the future of our burgeoning human population
(Sears, 1964; Odum, 1964; Blair, 1964; Cole, 1964; and others). These
scientists consider ecology to be a “respectable” science for reasons
ranging from the fact that problems of ecology are concerned with practical considerations (such as atomic fallout, overpopulation, pollution,
and pesticides) to the fact that the ecologisI;s are using models, both
mathematical and verbal, to guide future experiments. In this age of an
accelerated pace of human events and immense social prmsures, a p p -
mium has been placed upon the directed approach and rightly or wrongly
scientists are called upon to justify their studies and indicate their
importance either to the body of knowledge called science or to human
problems, or both. If ecology, then, is to be a part of the new trend and
to be in the mainstream of science and human destiny, ecologists must
justify their science and elucidate its importrince t 6 the human effort.
The goal of this paper is to evaluate the growth and development of
73
and Animal Productivity
M A N F R E D D. E N G E L M A N N
Department of Natural Science, Michigan State University,
East Lansing, Michigan, 1J.S.A.
I. Introduction .......................................................... 73
11. Three Approaches to Energetics Studies.. ................................
74
111. Historical Considerations.. ............................................. 78
IV. Physiological Studies Which Yield Energetics Infcmrmation. ................. 84
V. Studies Concerned Primarily with Maintenance Metabolism of Population8 in
the Environment ....................................................
87
VI. Studies Which Emphasize the Trophic Scheme Analysis of Communities. .... 96
A. Trophic Dynamic Analysis of the Salt Marsh Ekotone .................. 96
B. Trophic Dynamic Analysis of “Old Field” Communities.. ............... 98
C. Trophic Studies in a Savannah Community.. ......................... .lo3
VII. Projection ............................................................
108
References ................................................................ 112
I. INTRODUCTION
There is currently a feeling among ecologists that their science has
reached maturity, and that the concepts and knowledge of this science
are destined to shape the future of our burgeoning human population
(Sears, 1964; Odum, 1964; Blair, 1964; Cole, 1964; and others). These
scientists consider ecology to be a “respectable” science for reasons
ranging from the fact that problems of ecology are concerned with practical considerations (such as atomic fallout, overpopulation, pollution,
and pesticides) to the fact that the ecologisI;s are using models, both
mathematical and verbal, to guide future experiments. In this age of an
accelerated pace of human events and immense social prmsures, a p p -
mium has been placed upon the directed approach and rightly or wrongly
scientists are called upon to justify their studies and indicate their
importance either to the body of knowledge called science or to human
problems, or both. If ecology, then, is to be a part of the new trend and
to be in the mainstream of science and human destiny, ecologists must
justify their science and elucidate its importrince t 6 the human effort.
The goal of this paper is to evaluate the growth and development of
73