Description: (Zoologist)
Victor Ernest Shelford was an influential American zoologist and animal ecologist who made significant contributions to the field of ecology. He played a crucial role in establishing ecology as a distinct area of study and was the inaugural president of the Ecological Society of America. Shelford was also a co-founder of the Nature Conservancy and conducted vital research on the ecological importance of Volo Bog in Northern Illinois. His efforts resulted in the preservation of Volo Bog as the initial acquisition of the Illinois Nature Conservancy.