[23.Man and His Natural Habitat]
Ecology is that branch of science
which concerns itself with the interrelationships
between living things (plants and animals)
and their natural environments.
Human ecology specializes in man's relationship
to his natural environment.
Ecology has become greatly important in recent years
because of man's devastating impact on his habitat.
High schools and colleges across the nation
offer special courses in this subject area
to make young people aware of the impact of air, water,
and land pollution on the quality of man's environment.
To the growing population of our natural environment
we must add soil erosion,
destruction of forests,
and deposits of large accumulations of solid wastes
as causes for concern about the future quality of our natural environment.
Rachel Carson, in her far-reaching book, Silent Spring,
alerted many Americans to the dangers of land
and water pollution to the natural wildlife.
Man's excessive use of pesticides
has destroyed much of the bird life and fish in our land.
She predicted the wholesale extinction of the natural animal life.
Many experts have confirmed Rachel Carson's fears
that the basic problem of ecology
is to determine how far man can go in modifying his environment.
In some instances man has changed his environment
to such an extent
that it has now become a question
as to how long life can be preserved on our planet.
Whether the problem is real or imaginary,
experts agree that man has become the victim of his creativeness
and genius.
Extensive research has shown
that natural habitats are changing
because of the spectacular advances
in the application of science and industry.