> So, are ecologists just as much a part of the > problem as everyone else?
Yes, especially the middle and senior aged ecologists. You can gain data on the lifestyles of ecologists and biologists yourself in a a few hours time using your home computer. Simply visit the Biology Dept. websites of some univeristies and copy down the names of the full professor level faculty members (as they tend to be middle and senior aged). Then obtain the home addresses of these professors at whitepages.com or using a people search type website. Then look up the size and value of their homes at a real estate value website such as http://bankofamerica.cyberhomes.com/ It will quickly become apparent to you that a majority of full professor level biology/ecology professors live in above average sized homes on above average sized lots. With regard to vehicle choice, we've discussed this many times on Ecolog-l and it was clear that a substantial percentage of ecologists own a heavy, four wheel or all wheel drive vehicle that gets only 20-25 miles per gallon or less (e.g. even a Subaru Forester weighs 3300-3600 lbs). Factor in all the extra travel ecologists do compared to an average person (the average person has only a high school education) and it becomes apparent that in general, ecologists consume MORE open space and petroleum resources than the average person, especially during their middle and senior years. It is also instructive to visit the websites of ecological or environmental activist organizations and copy down the names of the middle and senior aged board members and officers to investigate their lifestyles. The same pattern emerges - most live in above average size homes. Paul Cherubini El Dorado, Calif.
