Guide to the study of animal ecology

by Charles C. Adams

Möbius, K.

1883. The Oyster and Oyster-Culture. U. S. Comm. of Fish and Fisheries, Report of Comm. for 1880, Part VIII, pp. 683-751.

On pp. 721-729 the oyster is discussed as a member of a social community or “biocönosis.” He describes the succession of animals due to the overfishing of the oyster beds and the invasion of cockles and edible mussels which close up the available space and prevent the return of the oyster. One of the earliest papers to recognize clearly a social community in animals. A very important paper, which also shows the method of applying the science of ecology.

Forbes, S. A.

1887. The Lake as a Microcosm. Reprint from Bull. Sci. Associa. of Peoria, Illinois, 1887, pp. 1-15.

Perhaps the first paper by an American naturalist recognizing the interrelations of the social community.

Wheeler, W. M.

1911. The Ant-Colony as an Organism. Jour. Morphology, Vol. XXII, pp. 307-325.

The ant colony is considered as a unit. This paper furnishes an excellent example showing how “individual ecology” may become transformed into an “associational” unit.

Möbius, K.