Elton, Charles Sutherland (1900-1991)

British ecologist, a pioneer of the study of animal and plant forms in their natural environments, and of animal behaviour as part of the complex pattern of life. He defined the concept of food chains and was an early conservationist. Elton was instrumental in establishing the Nature Conservancy Council (1949), and was much concerned with the impact of introduced species on natural systems.

Elton was born in Liverpool and was educated at Liverpool College and then Oxford University, where he graduated in zoology in 1922.