In previous blog posts ("Evolution" and "Speciation") we looked at works that mentioned ecology but were classed with evolution or a subtopic of evolution; what about works classed with subtopics of ecology? For example, consider Symbiosis. It has the LCSH:
Here is the summary:
Discusses the three kinds of symbiosis: mutualism, commensalism, and parasitism and describes examples of these relationships.
The examples include microorganisms, plants, and animals.
Browsing the Relative Index for "symbiosis" yields:
Symbiosis 577.85
Symbiosis—animals 591.785
Symbiosis—factor in evolution 576.85
Symbiosis—plants 581.785
The schedule entry 577.85 Symbiosis has 577 Ecology in its upward hierarchy. It has both 577.852 Mutualism (with "commensalism" in the including note) and 577.857 Parasitism in its downward hierarchy. The entry 577.85 has the class-elsewhere notes "Class symbiosis as a factor affecting evolution in 576.85" and "Class symbiosis in the sense limited to mutually beneficial relationships in 577.852," but neither note is relevant to this work. The work Symbiosis is classed in 577.85 Symbiosis.
The work Mutualism: Ants and their Insect Partners has the LCSHs:
Mutualism (Biology)
Ants—Ecology
Mutualism (Biology)—Case studies
Browsing the Relative Index for "mutualism" yields:
Mutualism (Biology) 577.852
In the upward hierarchy for 577.852 Mutualism, at 577 Ecology, is the see reference: "For animal ecology, see 591.7." That see reference has hierarchical force. In the upward hierarchy for 591.7Animal ecology, animals characteristic of specific environments, at 591 Specific topics in natural history of animals, is the scatter class-elsewhere note: "Class a specific topic in natural history of animals with respect to a specific taxonomic group of animals with the group of animals, plus notation 1 from table under 592–599, e.g., beneficial mammals 599.163." That class-elsewhere note also has hierarchical force.
Browsing the Relative Index for "ants" yields:
Ants 595.796
. . . . .
Ants—ecology 595.79617
Browsing the Relative Index for "insects" yields:
Insects 595.7
. . . . .
Insects—ecology 595.717
Since the focus of the work is specifically on mutualism relationships of ants with other kinds of insects (rather than on mutualism relationships among all kinds of insects), the correct choice for base number is 595.796 Formicidae (Ants). Mutualism: Ants and their Insect Partners is classed in 595.79617852 Mutualism in ants, built with 595.796 Formicidae (Ants) plus 1 General topics of natural history of animals from add table under 592–599 Specific taxonomic groups of animals, following add instructions at 595.796 and 592–599, plus 7 from 591.7 Animal ecology, animals characteristic of specific environments, following add instruction at notation 1 in add table at 592–599, plus 852 from 577.852 Mutualism, following add instruction at 591.71–591.78 Specific topics in animal ecology; specific environments. There is no way to express in this number the idea that the partners in mutualism are other kinds of insects.
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