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1B C H A P T E R Sparing Nature Through the animal and vegetable kingdoms Nature has scattered the seeds of life abroad with the most profuse and liberal hand; but has been comparatively sparing in the room and the nourishment necessary to rear them. The germs of existence contained in this earth, if they could freely develop themselves, would fill millions of worlds in the course of a few thousand years. Necessity, that imperious , all-pervading law of nature, restrains them within the prescribed bounds. The race of plants and the race of animals shrink under this great restrictive law; and man cannot by any efforts of reason escape from it. Thomas Robert Malthus An Essay on the Principle of Population, 1798 ALONG a scenic stretch of the Olentangy River, in central Ohio, is a rock jutting out of the water where I like to sit and think. I often refer to this rock and its surroundings as my “office.” As the water rushes past me I can enjoy observing a wide variety of plants and animals while I cogitate about life’s origins and destiny. Where there is water there is life, and within view is a diverse array of life, or rich biodiversity. Certain of the diverse biological organisms at the office are among my favorites. The damselflies seem to perform an aerial dance for me above the calmer recesses near the shore, while water striders skate on the clear surface below. Occasionally a fish jumps up from the middle of the river and then quickly retreats to the depths, while other creatures find sustenance in the riffles where the shallow water rushes over the pebbles. The children who often visit my office with the local naturalists are always astounded by the living treasures their nets catch in the riffles: mussels and darters adapted to the fast-moving water. In the shade of an old and large sycamore tree, I glimpse a wealth of birds landing and taking off from its branches, flying on to a locust tree on the opposite bank. And, if I’m lucky, I’ll get to see a passing deer or woodchuck. A 1 01-R2435 11/5/02 1:51 PM Page 1 Other representatives of life’s diverse array are much less noticeable, but no less intriguing. Lying underneath the fallen sycamore leaves on the banks are all sorts of tiny organisms that enrich the soil. Many of them I cannot see, for there is no microscope at my office, but I know they are there. And they do a good job of cleaning up after the leafy “paperwork” that comes across my “desk” with the breeze. Although my office is usually pleasant, sometimes the accommodations are not very practical. In the summer the insects can be a nuisance, and often , quite literally, I get a bug in my laptop computer. In the winter it can be bitterly cold, and with the return of warmer weather, the melted snow and spring rains conspire to submerge my rock. Despite the difficulties of accessing my office in the spring, the raised water level does have its advantages. The sound of the rushing water at that time of year is sufficient to drown out the jarring noises from the trucks and cars on the nearby “scenic highway.” And I can view a different array of creatures and life stages that comprise the river’s life system each spring. Even in the summer and fall, when I utilize the office the most, there is really no room for my files and books. Like many people, I need a lot of space for the tools of my trade, but at this office my needs must be met by what is in my laptop computer or in my head. Moreover, my work is often interrupted, for I have to share the space with others who also come to the river to escape the clutter of suburban life. I’m happy to share the office with them, unless I see their picnic garbage floating down the river. Farther downstream, and a short drive down the accompanying highway, is my real office at The Ohio State University. There, within the city of Columbus, the river takes on a vastly different nature. There are few trees to provide shade, and mammalian life is largely restricted to students and squirrels (not to mention the...

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