Stephen Forbes and the Rise of American Ecology: By Robert A. Croker. Smithsonian Institution Press,...
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appearance of a ball of feathers. For conservationists, there is also plenty to ponder. For example, the Red- faced Barbet (Lybius rubrifacies) has lost a quarter of its world range with the destruction of the northern half of Akagera National Park in Rwanda during the civil war. A series of this quality unfortunately sets very high standards by which successive volumes are judged. Numerous large photographs are a positive feature of this volume but accompanying captions at times detract from their worth. Many captions simply repeat infor- mation that can be found in the main text and, in some cases, captions create confusion as to which species are photographed. For example, on page 108 two birds are shown that are sexually dichromatic and yet the caption starts by discussing a lack of dichromatism in male and female Moustached Puffbirds (Malacoptila mystacalis). Although scientific names appear at the base of each caption, they are only used in the caption if they have not appeared in the previous caption or in the main text. I frequently had to confirm the identity of the photo- graphed species from full species accounts. I suggest that caption writers rethink their approach prior to the publication of future volumes. Despite the preceding paragraph, this volume has not broken with tradition. Handbook of the Birds of the World continues to be a stunning contribution to the ornithological literature. Roll on the passerines! Jim Reynolds Department of Biology, University of Memphis Memphis, TN 38152, USA E-mail address: [email protected] PII: S0006-3207(02)00226-4 Stephen Forbes and the Rise of American Ecology By Robert A. Croker. Smithsonian Institution Press, 2001. 232 pp. ISBN 1 56098 972 6 (hardback) Price £30.50. Most ecologists will have heard of Stephen Forbes’ 1887 work, ‘‘The Lake as a Microcosm’’, but will only have a hazy notion of the rest of his life and work. Now we can turn to Croker’s biography to discover an exemplary founder of the discipline, and perhaps ‘dis- cipline’ gives the right tone, for Forbes (1844–1930) had a Victorian commitment to his work. No one should read this book without coming to terms with their own inadequacies by comparison to the great figures of the past! Croker details the whole of Forbes’ life, beginning with his childhood in the tough pioneer life of Illinois. The chapter on Forbes’ exploits in the Civil War makes gripping reading and these two formative periods clearly set the mould of his character. After de-com- missioning, Forbes first began training in medicine and then turned to teaching, only at that stage taking up an interest in botany. It was not until 1872, aged 28, that Forbes began his career in biology with the curatorship of the Normal University natural history museum—so there is hope for late starters. The bulk of the book examines Forbes’ prodigious achievements. ‘Forbes was a founder of ecology in the United States and of economic ornithology, and a pio- neer in aquatic biology, crustacean systematics, eco- nomic entomology, environmental science, insect pathology, and limnology. An ecological point of view dominated his entire research program before ecology was recognized as a distinct science. He firmly stood at the junction of pure and applied components of his research interests as he worked for an enlightened rela- tionship of humans with nature.’ (p. 167). Croker shows how Forbes’ clear thinking presaged so much of twen- tieth century ecology. This thinking was combined with massive quantities of detailed investigations, e.g. ana- lysing the gut contents of thousands of fish. And this was achieved alongside heavy administrative and teach- ing responsibilities. He remained active in post until his death aged 85, the oldest employee of Illinois, having served the state for over 60 years. The range of his work will strike a wide readership. I was interested in Forbes’ emphasis on humans as part of the natural system and the need for humans to inter- act wisely with that system if they are to prosper. Biol- ogists should not rest until ‘the conditions of life for our people ... have actually been improved.’ (p. 120). We should seek ‘first, to avoid all unnecessary disturbances of the normal play of life, and second, to direct the powers of nature herself, so far as possible, to the cor- rection of such disorders as are nevertheless likely to arise.’ (p. 112) To this end, Forbes championed the biological control of pests. Croker’s work is very much a biologist’s biography. The focus is on Forbes’ science and its anticipations of modern thinking. There is virtually no criticism of For- bes, of either his work or his personality, although we are told that his son, Ernest, wrote, ‘His course through the Natural History Building could be traced by the slamming of doors behind him. The attitude of com- mand ... was habitual, and he expected action on the part of his subordinates.’ (p. 152). There is a brief dis- cussion of why Forbes’ forward thinking was not taken up more by his contemporaries, leading to the judge- 280 Book reviews / Biological Conservation 111 (2003) 275–281
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Transcript of Stephen Forbes and the Rise of American Ecology: By Robert A. Croker. Smithsonian Institution Press,...
appearance of a ball of feathers. For conservationists,there is also plenty to ponder. For example, the Red-faced Barbet (Lybius rubrifacies) has lost a quarter of itsworld range with the destruction of the northern half ofAkagera National Park in Rwanda during the civil war.A series of this quality unfortunately sets very high
standards by which successive volumes are judged.Numerous large photographs are a positive feature ofthis volume but accompanying captions at times detractfrom their worth. Many captions simply repeat infor-mation that can be found in the main text and, in somecases, captions create confusion as to which species arephotographed. For example, on page 108 two birds areshown that are sexually dichromatic and yet the captionstarts by discussing a lack of dichromatism in male andfemale Moustached Puffbirds (Malacoptila mystacalis).
Although scientific names appear at the base of eachcaption, they are only used in the caption if they havenot appeared in the previous caption or in the main text.I frequently had to confirm the identity of the photo-graphed species from full species accounts. I suggestthat caption writers rethink their approach prior to thepublication of future volumes.Despite the preceding paragraph, this volume has not
broken with tradition. Handbook of the Birds of theWorld continues to be a stunning contribution to theornithological literature. Roll on the passerines!
Jim ReynoldsDepartment of Biology, University of Memphis
Memphis, TN 38152, USAE-mail address: [email protected]
PII : S0006-3207(02 )00226-4
Stephen Forbes and the Rise of American Ecology
By Robert A. Croker. Smithsonian Institution Press,2001. 232 pp. ISBN 1 56098 972 6 (hardback) Price£30.50.
Most ecologists will have heard of Stephen Forbes’1887 work, ‘‘The Lake as a Microcosm’’, but will onlyhave a hazy notion of the rest of his life and work. Nowwe can turn to Croker’s biography to discover anexemplary founder of the discipline, and perhaps ‘dis-cipline’ gives the right tone, for Forbes (1844–1930) hada Victorian commitment to his work. No one shouldread this book without coming to terms with their owninadequacies by comparison to the great figures of thepast!Croker details the whole of Forbes’ life, beginning
with his childhood in the tough pioneer life of Illinois.The chapter on Forbes’ exploits in the Civil War makesgripping reading and these two formative periodsclearly set the mould of his character. After de-com-missioning, Forbes first began training in medicine andthen turned to teaching, only at that stage taking up aninterest in botany. It was not until 1872, aged 28, thatForbes began his career in biology with the curatorshipof the Normal University natural history museum—sothere is hope for late starters.The bulk of the book examines Forbes’ prodigious
achievements. ‘Forbes was a founder of ecology in theUnited States and of economic ornithology, and a pio-neer in aquatic biology, crustacean systematics, eco-nomic entomology, environmental science, insectpathology, and limnology. An ecological point of viewdominated his entire research program before ecologywas recognized as a distinct science. He firmly stood at
the junction of pure and applied components of hisresearch interests as he worked for an enlightened rela-tionship of humans with nature.’ (p. 167). Croker showshow Forbes’ clear thinking presaged so much of twen-tieth century ecology. This thinking was combined withmassive quantities of detailed investigations, e.g. ana-lysing the gut contents of thousands of fish. And thiswas achieved alongside heavy administrative and teach-ing responsibilities. He remained active in post until hisdeath aged 85, the oldest employee of Illinois, havingserved the state for over 60 years.The range of his work will strike a wide readership. I
was interested in Forbes’ emphasis on humans as partof the natural system and the need for humans to inter-act wisely with that system if they are to prosper. Biol-ogists should not rest until ‘the conditions of life for ourpeople . . . have actually been improved.’ (p. 120). Weshould seek ‘first, to avoid all unnecessary disturbancesof the normal play of life, and second, to direct thepowers of nature herself, so far as possible, to the cor-rection of such disorders as are nevertheless likely toarise.’ (p. 112) To this end, Forbes championed thebiological control of pests.Croker’s work is very much a biologist’s biography.
The focus is on Forbes’ science and its anticipations ofmodern thinking. There is virtually no criticism of For-bes, of either his work or his personality, although weare told that his son, Ernest, wrote, ‘His course throughthe Natural History Building could be traced by theslamming of doors behind him. The attitude of com-mand . . . was habitual, and he expected action on thepart of his subordinates.’ (p. 152). There is a brief dis-cussion of why Forbes’ forward thinking was not takenup more by his contemporaries, leading to the judge-
280 Book reviews / Biological Conservation 111 (2003) 275–281
ment that he was ‘far ahead of his time.’ (p. 178) But Iwonder whether Forbes himself would have listed his‘Lake as Microcosm’ paper above his achievements incontrolling the San Jose scale or the chinch bug. Asocial historian can catch glimpses of how, for over halfa century, Forbes was embedded in the rapidly changingsociety of the USA and, in this biography, now has awonderful resource to explore this further. I think For-bes himself would want his biography to be inspira-
tional to modern ecologists and he would be wellpleased with Robert Croker’s achievement.
Nigel CooperThe Rectory
40 Church RoadRivenhall, Witham
CM8 3PQ, UKE-mail address: [email protected]
PII : S0006-3207(02 )00276-8
Book reviews / Biological Conservation 111 (2003) 275–281 281
