Sheryl,
This is wierd, and late, but I have found a similar quote from Elton, and
just found your note in searching for something else. Probably too late to
help - but.....
It reads ""The balance of nature" does not exist, and perhaps never has
existed. The number of wild animals are constantly varying to a greater and
lessor extent, and the variations are usually irregular in period and always
irregular in amplitude. Each variation in the numbers of one species causes
direct and indirect repecussions on the numbers of the others, and since
many of the latter are themselves independently varying in numbers, the
resultant confusion is remarkable." Charles Elton 1930
Quoted in Wu, J & Loucks O.L. 1995 From balance of nature to heirachical
patch dynamics: a paradigm shift in ecology. Quart Review of Biology 70
(4): 439-466
Sourced from Elton C. 1930 Animal ecology and evolution. Oxford Univ Press,
NY
Chris P
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Discussion forum for environmental ethics.
> [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of Sheryl Fink
> Sent: Wednesday, 18 July 2001 3:38 a.m.
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: balance of nature - help?
>
>
> Hi all,
> I realize this request might be somewhat inappropriate for the list, but
> I am posting out of desperation in hope that someone can help me verify
> a quote. I've had absolutely no luck in tracking down the source
> material locally and have exhausted my personal contacts... and I figure
> someone here must have researched the 'balance of nature' argument at
> some point...
>
> The quote is apparently from Charles Elton, 1930. Animal Ecology and
> Evolution. In an earlier life I referenced it as being from pg. 16 in
> an Oxford University Press edition. The quote is:
>
> "It is assumed that an undisturbed natural animal community lives in a
> certain harmony, referred to as 'the balance of nature,'... [the idea of
> a 'balance of nature'] has the advantage of being an intelligible and
> apparently logical result of natural selection in producing the best
> possible world for each species. It has the disadvantage of being
> untrue."
>
> Apparently I once had this book in my possesion, took the quote for my
> notes, and the book has since disappeared. I need to confirm that a)
> this quote exists, and b) that what I have written in the square
> brackets is in fact true to the original context.
> If anyone on this list is able to verify this quote for me off-list I
> would be extremely grateful.
>
> Thanks, and back to the shadows...
> Sheryl Fink
> International Marine Mammal Association
>
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