Whilst I have been writing this book two developments have been occur ring which have influenced ecological thinking, and which undoubtedly will have a great impact on ecologists in the future. One of these developments concerns the relation between the ecologist and the public. On the public's side there has been an increasing aware ness of ecological processes, and more emphasis on subjects such as the environment and pollution in newspapers and magazines. Maybe it was European Conservation Year 1970 (ECY 1970) that succeeded in stimu lating this interest. On the ecologist's side there has...