Ecological Law Research Articles

Local Research

Setting‐specific research has a long and honored tradition in the natural sciences. The value of this approach for action research in social psychology is discussed. Key concepts include local variation, seeing the general in the specific, connectedness as the fundamental law of ecology, and the value of field stations for community research.

Dynamics of fecal coliform and culturable heterotroph densities in an eutrophic ecosystem: Stability of models and evolution of these bacterial groups

Time series of a population of fecal coliforms and a community of total viable counts were recorded during years 5 and 6 after the "birth" of an eutrophic aquatic ecosystem (sewage treatment lagoons). These time series were used to re-examine models, previously published, describing their temporal dynamics as well as the relationships between bacterial and environmental variables. The dynamics of the fecal coliforms and their relationships to the environment were unchanged; the fecal coliform abundances displayed an annual cycle with maximum reduction in numbers during the summer, which would be due at least partly to environmental variables (hypotheses of control by irradiance and pH, which have a seasonal behavior, are supported by the data). On the contrary, the total viable count dynamics moved towards a closer dependence on phytoplankton, from a situation of relative independence with respect to other biotic components of the ecosystem. Indeed during the first two years, only one of the abiotic variables in the model (the biological oxygen demand, which is an indicator of available organic matter) seemed to have an effect on the total viable counts. The behavior of these bacterial groups, measured during 1980-1982 and 1984-1986, shows that demographic and ecological laws founded on the observation of other organisms also apply to heterotrophic bacteria. A population, such as the fecal coliforms in the present study, has a limited ecological amplitude and is then more likely to react to environmental variables such as irradiance, pH, and phytoplanktonic metabolic products, whose bactericidal action is highest during the summer months and lowest during winter. On the other hand, a community such as that detected by the total viable counts of the present study is composed of many species and thus has a larger ecological amplitude. This makes it easier for the species to occupy the various available habitats and to maintain themselves through ecological succession and endogenous rhythms.

On the −3/2 power thinning law in plant ecology

A simple optimal control model leading to the −3/2 power thinning law in plant ecology is presented.

Kinetic behavior of 'pathological' myeloblasts and 'normal' erythroblasts in acute granulocytic leukemia. Analysis of in vitro studies in 20 patients.

Kinetic studies of leukemic blast cells (LBC) and erythroblasts were carried out in 20 cases of acute myeloblastic leukemia (AML), and the results were compared with those observed in dividing granulocytic precursors (DGP) and erythroblasts in a control group of 16 normal subjects. The parameters studied were: mitotic index (MI), labelling index (LI-3HTDR), MI/LI ratio and mitotic time (MT). The results showed that (1) LBC of AML do not proliferate more quickly than normal DGP, on the contrary, they replicate more slowly; (2) LBC obey some 'ecological laws' of normal hemopoiesis as a response to the control of the proliferative activity and release through the 'marrow-blood barrier'; (3) the difference between hyperleukocytemic and subleukemic AML is not related to the multiplicative activity of marrow LBC, but rather to other unknown biological factors; and (4) the kinetic behavior of erythroblastic population in AML is consistent, at least in some cases, with its 'leukemic origin'.

World Public Order of the Environment: Towards an International Ecological Law and Organization. By Jan Schneider. Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 1979. Pp. xiv, 329. Index. $20.00.

World Public Order of the Environment: Towards an International Ecological Law and Organization. By Jan Schneider. Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 1979. Pp. xiv, 329. Index. $20.00.

The bay of campeche oil spill: obtaining jurisdiction over petroleos mexicanos under the [U.S.] foreign sovereign immunities act of 1976 : Leventhal, F.D., 1981. Ecology Law Q., 9(2):341–377

The bay of campeche oil spill: obtaining jurisdiction over petroleos mexicanos under the [U.S.] foreign sovereign immunities act of 1976 : Leventhal, F.D., 1981. Ecology Law Q., 9(2):341–377

The Law and Policy of Toxic Substances Control: A Case Study of Vinyl Chloride

This monograph is reprinted from a Summer 1978 article in the Ecology Law Quarterly. It was reprinted by Resources for the Future as a basic introduction to the rapidly evolving and increasingly important field of toxic substances control. regulatory problem addressed by the author is literally awesome. There are roughly 65,000 chemicals in commerce; over four million are known. The vast number of chemicals to be tested, evaluated, and regulated makes toxic substances control in many respects the major challenge of the health and environmental movement. A case study of vinyl chloride is used as a basis for examining the law and policy of toxic substances control. Doniger is an attorney with the Natural Resources Defense Council; he was previously with the Environmental Law Institute (both in Washington, D.C.). He was special issue editor of the Ecology Law Quarterly for the topic Hazardous Substances in the Environment: Law and Policy, which was funded by Resources for the Future.

Ecological Theories, Laws, and Explanations

Ecological Theories, Laws, and Explanations

Ecology Law Quarterly, A New Journal of Environmental Law

Ecology Law Quarterly, A New Journal of Environmental Law

Mineral King: A Case Study in Forest Service Decision Making

ed from id. at 80 (appendix B). 1972] ECOLOGY LAW QUARTERLY reasons for invalidating the permit, District Court Judge Sweigert had found that the permits were in practice irrevocable, because revoking them, with the result of destroying the development, would result in an embarrassment to the Forest Service. 19 The Ninth Circuit ignored this point. The Disney Productions development would have permanent structures on approximately 400 acres and would ultimately affect 13,000 acres of the 15,000-acre valley. It is questionable whether such a vast development was within the intention of Congress when enacting 16 U.S.C. § 497.'9 As the district court found, comments by the Forest Service to Congress clearly indicate that eighty acres was to be the maximum limit for permits involving permanent structures for non-Forest Service use.' 97 This is the first case to challenge the operation of the Forest Service permit system. The Ninth Circuit's failure to view this case as one that would affect the future of Forest Service administration of lands under its control may have serious consequences in the event of numerous future Mineral Kings. If the decision stands there will be no project too huge for execution by issuance of numerous permits to accompany a single term permit. The only check on the Forest Service permit policy will apparently have to come from within the Service if future large-scale developments of this kind are to be scrutinized. It can be argued that preservation of our natural environment can only be achieved through the National Park System,' or through the classification of wilderness areas,' 99 but such lands may not be sufficient to meet future demands on the environment that peace, solitude, and escape from the man-made world may require,- ° particularly if existing park lands are licensed for large-scale, man-made developments. It is precisely because of the severely limited public input in 195. The very opinion of the Attorney General relied on by Agriculture warns of just such a possible danger to the public interest in granting revocable permits, saying: In cases where it appears that the permittee intends to make substantial improvements the removal of which would cause him a great loss in the case of revocation of the permit, it is a matter of departmental policy whether a situation should be created by the issue of a permit which may afterwards embarrass the head of the department in the exercise of the powers of revocation. District Court opinion, supra note 2, at 6. See text accompanying note 57 supra. 196. See Affidavit of Michael McCloskey filed June 4, 1969, at 7, District Court opinion, supra note 2. 197. District Court opinion, supra note 2, at 3. 198. See 16 U.S.C. § 1 (1970). 199. See id. §§ 1131 et seq. 20

Science, Birth Control, and the Roman Catholic Church

Several examples of essentially scientific but now political situations introduce the discussion of another situation which many consider the most serious facing humankind i.e. the bomb. Discussion focuses on the statistice the rational escapism explanation the conflict between science and the Roman Catholic Church the cause for concern in the academic community about the birth control encyclical Roman Catholic political interference the theology of Humanae Vitae the position of the Catholic scientist and prevention of some of the tragedy and misery which will result from the Humanae Vitae. Faced with the reality of the inconceivable simplistic explanations or solutions are sought. Yet the overpopulation problem brings humans face to face with the harsh realities of the laws of thermodynamics bioenergetics and ecology which no scientist Catholic or non-Catholic can deny. It is no accident that the scientific advisors to Pope Pauls Birth Control Commission were the individuals most vocal in their support of birth control. A large portion of the scientific academic community particularly the biologists find themselves in direct conflict with the most powerful segment of the Roman Catholic Church hierarchy. This is not the 1st time that science found itself in conflict with the Roman Catholic Church. The case of Galileo is cited in support of the contention that science will win over the Humanae Vitae. The great danger of Humanae Vitae lies in the suport it gives to organized conservative Catholic resistance to the initiation of publicly financed population control programs. Except for a few regions it is difficult for a person living in the US to fully understand what Roman Catholic political interference means. The situation in Puerto Rico is described to illustrate the extreme coercive tactics to which the Church has resorted in its fight against birth control by means that it finds unacceptable. The Catholic scientist has 3 choices: simply to ignore both the Pope and the problem; agree with the Church and public say so; or work to change Catholic doctrine in regard to birth control. Humanae Vitae is based upon biological ignorance and needs to be changed.

PERSPECTIVES OF THE ORGANIC FARMING IN ROMANIA

The development of ecological agriculture in Romania is based on the EU regulations and on Romanian ecological laws, provisions also existing in the National Program for Acquis Communautaire, as well as projects for the adopting of ecological production methods and the preservation of rural landscape. Romania is making an effort to harmonise agricultural and agro-environmental policies with the rest of the European Union: the National Plan for Agriculture and Rural Development was presented by Romania in October 2000.Considering the demand of organic products from the foreign markets and the prices paid for these products, organic farming can represent an important source of money for Romanian farmers The institutional framework must stimulate and sustain the Romanian agricultural producers in developing this type of agriculture.