Ancestry and Beginnings: The Early History of the American Society of Zoologists

SYNOPSIS. The American Society of Zoologists as we know it todaydescended from two immediate progenitors, the American MorphologicalSociety and the Western Branch of the American Society of Naturalists.The latter group was known during 1901 and 1902 as the Societyof American Zoologists. The two organizations formed the AmericanSociety of Zoologists at the American Society of Naturalists'1902 meeting in Washington, D.C. The American Society of Zoologistsfirst formed with two Branches, the Eastern and the Central.These two Branches merged into a single Society after the 1913meeting in Philadelphia.     

The American Society of Zoologists, 1889-1989: A Century of Integrating the Biological Sciences

The growth and development of the American Society of Zoologists(ASZ) came in an era of rapid expansion among the life sciences,as well as during a period when biologists were seeking to providethemselves with a united and effective voice. In ASZ's earlyyears it usually remained subsidiary, overshadowed by largerorganizations like the American Society of Naturalists or theAmerican Association for the Advancement of Science, and constrainedby its small enrollment to hold meetings in conjunction withthese larger societies. As ASZ's numbers increased, however,new members entered from many specialized fields, and it becamea focal organization for associations dedicated to such studiesas ecology, genetics, animal behavior, or systematic zoology.Much of ASZ's success in achieving its integrative status canbe attributed to the formation of divisions within the Society,each dedicating itself to the specialized interests of its ownmembers under the larger umbrella of zoology. This development,of course, paralleled the interaction between ASZ and the largersocial issues that have arisen during the century of the Society'shistory. ASZ has consistently concerned itself with just treatmentfor all, regardless of race or sex; with government supportof science; with the education of science teachers and of youngand talented biologists; and with all those issues that improvethe productivity of zoologists and enhance their capacity forreaching an ever deeper understanding of animal biology.     

A Conceptual Framework for Biology Part I

These essays are part of the sixth yearly presentation of aneducational project of the American Society of Zoologists. Thepurpose is to provide background materials for those who teachthe first-year biology courses in colleges and universities.The Science as a Way of Knowing project emphasizes the conceptualframework of the biological sciences, shows how scientific informationis obtained and validated, and relates science to human concerns.The topic for consideration this year is Cell and MolecularBiology.     

Science as a Way of Knowing--VII: A Conceptual Framework for Biology Part III

This essay completes Science as a Way of Knowing, an educationalproject of the American Society of Zoologists and eleven cosponsoringorganizations. It is also the third part of my attempt to producea "Conceptual Framework for Biology." The discussion of Evolutioncontinues and is followed by Classification, Ecology, GeographicDistribution, Biology and Human Welfare, and the Nature of Science.The intended audience is those who teach the first-year biologycourses in colleges and universities as well as biology teachersin the precollege grades.     

Science as a Way of Knowing--Human Ecology

This essay is part of the second presentation of an educationalproject of the American Society of Zoologists. The purpose ofthe project is to offer suggestions for improving the first-yearbiology courses in the universities. The method consists ofemphasizing the conceptual framework of the biological sciences,showing how scientific information is obtained and evaluated,pointing out the strengths and limitations of scientific procedures,and above all showing the relevance of science for human hopesand welfare. Each year a major topic will be considered. Lastyear it was Evolutionary Biology. This year it is Human Ecology.     

Science as a way of knowing--form and function

Synopsis. These essays are part of the fifth yearly presentationof an educational project of the American Society of Zoologists.The purpose is to provide background materials for those whoteach the first-year biology courses in colleges and universities.The Science as a way of knowing project emphasizes the conceptualframework of the biological sciences, shows how scientific informationis obtained and validated, and relates science to human concerns.The topic for consideration this year is the broadest so farattempted—form and function. These introductory essaysare concerned mainly with the conceptual framework of morphologyand physiology as it developed over the ages.     

Long-range Perspectives on Neurobiology and Behavior

This essay is part of the seventh presentation of a yearly educationalproject of the American Society of Zoologists. The purpose isto provide background materials for those who teach the first-yearbiology courses in colleges and universities. The Science asa Way of Knowing project emphasizes the conceptual frameworkof the biological sciences, shows how scientific informationis obtained and validated, and relates science to human concerns.The topic for consideration this year is Neurobiology and Behavior.The introductory essay is concerned mainly with the conceptualframework of neurobiology, as developed over the ages, and afew examples of behavioral studies which can be related to neurobiologyor which are of special interest through links to human considerationsand problems.     

A Conceptual Framework for Biology Part II

This essay is part of the seventh yearly presentation of aneducational project of the American Society of Zoologists, Scienceas a Way of Knowing. It is also the second part of a "ConceptualFramework for Biology." Part II begins a discussion of evolutionand deals with an overview of living metazoans and then discussestheir history during the Phanerozoic Eon. Part III will completethe discussion of evolution and then consider "Classification,"Ecology," "Geographic Distribution," "Methods of Science,"and "Science and Human Welfare." The intended readers are thosewho teach the first-year biology courses in colleges and universitiesas well as teachers of the precollege grades.     

Science as a Way of Knowing--Genetics

SYNOPSIS. This essay is part of the third presentation of aneducational project of the American Society of Zoologists. Thepurpose is to offer suggestions for improving the first-yearbiology courses in the universities. The method consists ofemphasizing the conceptual framework of the biological sciences,showing how scientific information is obtained and evaluated,pointing out the strengths and limitations of scientific procedures,and above all showing the relevance of science for human hopesand well being. This is done annually with a major symposium,an essay distributed at the symposium, a film program, and,finally, the published proceedings, which are widely distributedto scientistteachers throughout the world. Each year a majortopicis considered. In 1983 it was Evolutionary Biology andin 1984 it was Human Ecology. This year it is Genetics.     

C. O. Whitman and the American Society of Zoologists

C. O. Whitman (1842–1910) studied under Louis Agassiz,Anton Dohrn, and Rudolph Leuchart. Under the influence of E.S. Morse, Whitman served as the second professor of zoologyat the University of Tokyo (1880–81). For three yearshe was assistant to Alexander Agassiz at the Museum of ComparativeZoology. Between 1883 and 1886 Whitman was editor of the Departmentof Microscopy for the American Naturalist. He became the firstdirector of the Marine Biological Laboratory at Woods Hole,serving until 1908, and built that institution into an internationallyfamous center for education and research. He also became firstprofessor of Zoology at the University of Chicago where he remainedfor life. In 1887 he founded the Journal of Morphology, andlater Biological Lectures, and Zoological Bulletin which becamethe Biological Bulletin. His own research was in the fieldsof embryology, heredity, and evolution. In 1890 he, with colleagues,founded the American Morphological Society which became theAmerican Society of Zoologists over a period of 13 years (1901–13)by the union of regional groups. Whitman played a leading rolein the founding and early history of the Society.     

Five-year history of the American Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons, 1974--1978.

This report was intended to summarize the significant happenings in the American Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons, and its affiliates, from the end of the annual meeting in 1973 to the end of the 1978 annual meeting. It was decided to not include our sister organizations--the American Association of Plastic Surgeons, the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, the American Society of Maxillofacial Surgeons--because their historians publish periodic reports about their activities. I am sure that the future reports of historians will record with pride the continued growth and development of plastic surgery, because the future of our specialty has never seemed brighter.     

George A. Bartholomew's Contributions to Integrative and Comparative Biology

The Bartholomew Award has now completed a decade of recognizingoutstanding young investigators in comparative physiology andbiochemistry or in related fields of functional and integrativebiology. It honors Professor George A. Bartholomew (Bart tohis many students and other friends), whose research contributionscontinue to be important in shaping these fields. Bart's influencereflects a steadfast adherence to a set of basic precepts: theinherent unity of biology; the need for an evolutionary perspectivein functional studies; the value of modern natural history inguiding research investigations; the focus on the organism andits function in nature, even in highly reductionist studies;the importance of biological variability within and betweenspecies; and the crucial interactions of physiology and behaviorin allowing animals to deal with environmental challenges. Werehe to have done nothing else in his career, he would remainan important figure in the fields with which the Society ofIntegrative and Comparative Biology's (SICB) Division of ComparativePhysiology and Biochemistry is concerned. However, his influenceis also felt through his inspirational performance as an undergraduateteacher, his skill and wisdom as a graduate mentor, his manyservices to the University of California, his insightful contributionsto scientific committees and policy boards at the national level,and his presidency of the American Society of Zoologists (nowSICB). This symposium offers the opportunity for honoring Bartfor all his accomplishments and fine personal qualities, whileillustrating the contributions of the impressive set of youngerinvestigators who are recipients of the George A. BartholomewAward.     

Effects of gonadal steroid hormones on hibernation in the Turkish hamster (Mesocricetus brandti)

Summary The Turkish hamster (Mesocricetus brandti) is a photoperiodic species in which exposure to a short day photoperiod induces gonadal atrophy. When hibernating male Turkish hamsters were administered testosterone via subcutaneous silastic capsules hibernation was abruptly terminated. The threshold serum testosterone level required to prevent hibernation was intermediate between the levels observed in males with fully-regressed and fully-functional testes. Dihydrotestosterone was as effective as testosterone in blocking hibernation. Estradiol had a partial inhibitory effect. Progesterone and corticosterone implants had no effect on hibernation. Similar results were obtained in female hamsters. The total period of hibernation for untreated males under laboratory conditions was usually 5–6 months. In most animals testicular growth began to occur toward the end of that period. As gonadal growth continued bouts of torpor decreased in frequency and duration, and hibernation was terminated when the testes approached reproductive size. Castrated males continued to hibernate much longer than intact animals. These observations suggest that in nature decreasing day length in the fall initiates gonadal regression which is followed by cold-induced hibernation. In the spring spontaneous recrudescence of the testes may lead to termination of the dormancy period. This mechanism may enable the species to prepare for the reproductive season with maximum efficiency.Supported by NIH Research Grant HD-10478 and by a grant from the Connecticut Research FoundationThe data in this paper were presented in part at the Annual Meeting of the American Society of Zoologists, Toronto, December 26–30, 1977     

Fish communities in the African Great Lakes

Synopsis Ecological conditions in tropical lacustrine systems are considered by focusing on the evolution, maintenance, exploitation and vulnerability of fish communities in the African Great Lakes. The exceptionally high biodiversities in the littoral/sublittoral zones of the very ancient, deep, clear, permanently stratified rift lakes Tanganyika and Malawi, are contrasted with the simpler systems in their pelagic zones, also with biodiversity in the much younger, shallower Victoria, the world's largest tropical lake.Paper from the Canadian Society of Zoologists symposium Great Lakes of the World, organized by David L.G. Noakes     

Science as a Way of Knowing--Evolutionary Biology

This essay is part of an educational project of the AmericanSociety of Zoologists that will make proposals for improvingthe first-year biology course inthe universities. The detailedsuggestions emphasize the importance of the conceptual frameworkof the biological sciences. The topic for this year is EvolutionaryBiology and it is developed largely by the hypothetico-deductivemethod emphasizing that science, in addition to its store ofinformation, is a way of knowing. Other topics will be consideredin future years in the ongoing project.     

The American Society for Neurochemistry (ASN): Antecedents, Founding, and Early Years

Events leading to and the influences on the founding of the American Society for Neurochemistry are recounted, with emphasis on early activities of neurochemists in the United States, as well as the international activities, that led to the founding of both the International and American societies (in 1965 and 1969, respectively). The founding of the American Society for Neurochemistry in the period 1968-1969 and its first annual meeting in 1970 are described, together with significant developments during the early years of the Society.     

Is 2020 the year when primatologists should cancel fieldwork?

Year 2020 has brought the greatest global pandemic to hit the world since the end of the First World War. The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 and the resulting disease named coronavirus disease 2019 has brought the world to its knees both financially and medically. The American Society of Primatologists has postponed their annual meetings from the end of May 2020 until the end of September 2020, while the International Primatological Society have postponed their biennial congress from August 2020 to August 2021, which has also resulted in their 2022 meetings in Malaysia being pushed back until 2023. Here, I explore the potential dangers of pursuing any primate fieldwork during this pandemic on our study species, their ecosystems, and local peoples. I believe that the risk of bringing this virus into our study ecosystems is too great and that primatologists should cancel all field research until the pandemic ends or a vaccine/reliable treatment is widely available. This is the year we all must become One Health practitioners!     

Political advocacy by the American Society for Cell Biology and its partners

I trace how the American Society for Cell Biology became a strong political advocate for the scientific community. I celebrate how good leadership and an effective staff enabled its energetic volunteer organization to have an impact, but I also ask how the effort can be made more successful.Many scientists take for granted that their scientific societies advocate for the well being of their individual members and the health of science. However, advocacy is a relatively recent development that emerged over the past two decades. Advocacy is essential in a democracy because science competes for taxpayer dollars with every other activity supported by the federal government. Advocacy is also important to ensure that lawmakers adopt sensible policies. I review how the American Society for Cell Biology (ASCB) and its allies learned how to fulfill this obligation, and I ask the reader to join the effort. The objective of these advocacy efforts is to influence political decisions through education and information, but the efforts by scientific societies are completely nonpartisan. Support from both political parties is essential to meet our goals.During the 1970s and 1980s biomedical scientists discussed federal funding and public policies that affected our science. Each year the public policy staff of the Federation of Societies of Experimental Biology (FASEB) helped member societies reach a consensus recommendation on the level of federal funding for the biosciences. However, we tended to talk to ourselves because we lacked effective ways to communicate with politicians or the outside world. For the most part we relegated the responsibility for advocacy to medical school deans and presidents of research universities. Their professional associations—the American Association of Medical Colleges (AAMC) and the Association of American Universities (AAU)—generally did a reasonable job of representing the interests of the scientists who worked at their schools.     

Harvest mortality in North American mallards: A reply to Sedinger and Herzog

Sedinger and Herzog (2012) evaluated the evidence for the impact harvest mortality may have on North American duck populations. While doing that, they questioned our review (Pöysä et al. 2004 ) and conclusion that harvest mortality in North American mallards (Anas platyrhynchos) may have shifted from compensatory to additive over the period from the 1960s to the 1980s. In this reply, we correct Sedinger and Herzog's misrepresentations of our 2004 paper and argue that our interpretations of the results published at that time have not been invalidated. © 2013 The Wildlife Society.     

Presidential address 2002. Parasitology in the 21st century

During the past several weeks, I, like many of my predecessors, have read many speeches previously delivered at the annual meeting of the American Society of Parasitologists (ASP). These are wonderful, exciting papers, and I recommend them to you. The history of our Society and much of parasitological research and philosophy are contained in these speeches. An understanding of parasitology and specifically of the ASP in the 21st century necessitates an understanding of our roots. Just as proteomics, genomics, DNA, and Mendel are a continuum, so is our progression as a science and as a Society. This thought is not original with me. Several presidents have discussed this point in detail: Eloise Cram in 1956, "Stepping Stones in the History of the American Society of Parasitologists" (Cram, 1956); Martin Ulmer in 1978, "What's Past is Prologue" (Ulmer, 1978); Harry Hoogstraal in 1984, "ASP: Its Historic Role and Modern Opportunities" (Hoogstraal, 1985); and Mike Kemp in 1988, "Parasitology a Degenerate Discipline, Populated by Degenerate Scientists, Studying Degenerate Organisms?" (Kemp, 1989).