1. Ecological Surveys and the Relations of Animals to Habitat ConditionsJournal of Animal Ecology, Vol. 26, No. 2 (Nov., 1957), pp. 502-505Published by: British Ecological SocietyStable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/1769 .

Accessed: 03/05/2014 03:45

Your use of the JSTOR archive indicates your acceptance of the Terms & Conditions of Use, available at .http://www.jstor.org/page/info/about/policies/terms.jsp

.JSTOR is a not-for-profit service that helps scholars, researchers, and students discover, use, and build upon a wide range ofcontent in a trusted digital archive. We use information technology and tools to increase productivity and facilitate new formsof scholarship. For more information about JSTOR, please contact support@jstor.org.

.

British Ecological Society is collaborating with JSTOR to digitize, preserve and extend access to Journal ofAnimal Ecology.

http://www.jstor.org

This content downloaded from 62.122.73.92 on Sat, 3 May 2014 03:45:01 AMAll use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions

502 A bstracts 1. ECOLOGICAL SURVEYS AND THE RELATIONS OF ANIMALS TO

HABITAT CONDITIONS

(a) MARINE AND BRACKISH

Johnson, A. L. (1957). Seal marking 1956-57. Nature in Wales, 3, 377-381. 154 Seals (82 cows, 65 bulls and 7 undetermined) ringed by the West Wales Field Society

from September 1956 to March 1957 inclusive, many of them on Ramsey Island. Seventeen recoveries, 12 locally, 3 from sDuth-west England, one from Eire, and one from the French coast.

(b) FRESH WATER

Alabaster, J. S., Herbert, D. W. M. & Hemens, J. (1957). The survival of rainbow trout (Salmo gairdnerii Richardson) and perch (Perca fiuviatilis L.) at various concentrations of dissolved oxygen and carbon dioxide. Ann. Appl. Biol. 45, 177-188.

An investigation of the relative importance of dissolved oxygen and carbon dioxide in determining the lethal effect of an environment for rainbow trout and perch. Apparatus was devised to control the concentrations of the gases in a body of water.

Davis, R. A. (1956). The coypu. Agriculture, 63, 127-129. Although its range has increased in recent years, actual numbers are -not much greater.

Habitat requirements are too circumscribed for it to become ubiquitous.

Jackson, D. J. (1956). Observations on water-beetles during drought. Ent. Mon. Mag. 92, 154-155.

Discusses habits and means of survival of both flying and flightless water-beetles after six weeks' drought in Inverness-shire.

Kettle, D. S. (1956). Rainfall and larval density of Culicoides impunctatus Goetghebuer (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae). Proc. R. Ent. Soc. Lond. (A) 31, 173-177.

Close correlation shown between larval density in autumn and rainfall during the preceding period of adult activity.

Lansbury, I. (1956). Further observations on the ecology of Cymatia coleopitrata (Fabricius) (Hemipt.-Heteroptera, Corixidae) in southern England. Entomologist, 89, 188-195.

Maps the vice-comital distribution in Great Britain and compares the ecological conditions in ponds in north Somerset, east Kent, southern Essex and southern Hertfordshire in which C. coleoptrata is common or dominant. Depth and pH varied considerably, but optima were 3-4 ft. and 7,5-8,5, respectively. In all the ponds there was a dense vertical growth of submerged vegetation, of which Ceratophyllum was commonest, but Myriophyllum also appeared to be very important. (See 1955, Entomologist, 88, 66-67 and abstract in 1955, J: Anim. Ecol. 24, 473.)

Weerekoon, A. C. J. (1956). Studies on the biology of Loch Lomond. 1. The benthos of Auchentullich Bay. Ceylon J. Sci. (Sect. C, Fisheries). 7, 1-94.

Describes bathymetric and seasonal distribution of the bottom fauna, discussing quantita- tive sampling methods and rapid extraction techniques.

Weerekoon, A. C. J. (1956). Studies on the biology of Loch Lomond. 2. The repopu- lation of McDougall Bank. Ceylon J. Sci. (Sect. C, Fisheries), 7, 95-133.

Discusses repopulation of a submerged bank at least 450 m from shore by larvae of flying insects. Shows that eggs do not reach it and postulates current transport of planktonic larval phases and selective settlement.

(C) LAND

Barnes, H. F. (1956). Gall midges as pests of farm crops (2). Agriculture, 63, 336-339. Damage caused by and control of various species is discussed.

This content downloaded from 62.122.73.92 on Sat, 3 May 2014 03:45:01 AMAll use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions

Ecological surveys 503

Brian, M. V. (1956). The natural density of Myrmica rubra and associated ants in west Scotland. Insectes Sociaux, 3, 473-487.

Traces changes in ant populations during overgrowth of a glade in spruce-pine woodland, mainly through colony elimination. Statistical demonstration of aggregation of four ant species, each species, however, showing either random distribution or overdispersal.

Broadbent, L. (1956). Brassica virus diseases. Agriculture, 63, 69-72. Spread by aphids whose numbers depend largely upon the weather.

Bryce, D. (1956). Notes on the life-history of Tijpula cheethami Edw. (Dipt., Tipulidae). Ent. Mon. Mag. 92, 104-106.

Notes on the habitat requirements and food of the larvae of this semi-aquatic species, with a description of the larva.

Chant, D. A. (1956). Predacious spiders in orchards in south-eastern England. J. Hort. Sci. 31, 35-46.

Lists spiders found in sprayed and unsprayed orchards in Kent and Essex, with a discussion on their relative abundance, food preferences, and notes on the habits of spiders belonging to the families Theridiidae and Linyphiidae.

Charles, W. N. (1956). The effects of a vole plague in the Carron Valley, Stirlingshire. Scot. For. 10, 201-204.

Vegetation changes; damage outside the forest; sampling. Up to 75 % (locally 100%) of plantation trees up to 15 years old were damaged or killed.

Crooke, M. & Bevan, D. (1957). Note on the first British occurrence of Its cembrae Heer (Col. Scolytidae). Forestry, 30, 21-28.

In 1955 this larch bark beetle was discovered in 29 localities in Moray, Nairn, Banff and Inverness, the first British records for this species. It is assumed that I. cembrae entered the country in post-war shipments of German timber and has persisted in small numbers until the damage to woodlands caused by the gale of 1953 provided favourable conditions for its increase. Twig tunnelling by the adult beetles produces crown pruning, and may kill established trees.

Dobson, R. M. (1956). A note on the relative abundance of flea beetles (Phyllotreta Stephens and Psylloides Berthold) on different cruciferous crops. J. Hort. Sci. 31, 291-294.

Examination of flea-beetle populations suggests that small cruciferous plants are more severely attacked than are large ones. Host preferences are indicated for Phyllotreta undulata, P. atra, P. nemorum, P. nigripes and P. cruciferae.

Hunter, W. R. (1957). Mollusca from limestone in Skye, with special reference to Pyramidula rupestris (Draparnaud). J. Conch. 24, 171-173.

The effect on the distribution of snails of isolated outcrops of limestone.

Hussey, N. W. (1956). The extent of seed-loss in Douglas fir caused by Megastigmus. Scot. For. 10, 191-197.

Megastigmus spermotrophus the Douglas fir seedfly, frequently attacks Douglas fir seed very seriously. Factors affecting survival of eggs, larvae and pupae; survey of extent of crop infection in successive years. Predation by small rodents is important. A useful ecologi- cal study.

Irvine, T. W. (1956). Larch bark beetle. Scot. For. 10, 218-219. A short note about the eight-toothed larch bark beetle, Ips cembrae. Can attack trees

only slightly reduced in vigour, and even kill them.

Lockley, R. M. (1957). Grassholm: some facts and a legend. Nature in Wales, 3, 382-388.

Gives a summary of the history of the gannet on Grassholm and discusses a stone-walled enclosure, which is suggested to have been a gannet-catching corral.

This content downloaded from 62.122.73.92 on Sat, 3 May 2014 03:45:01 AMAll use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions

504 A bstracts Mackenzie, J. M. D. (1956). Tree-creepers using nest-boxes and other artificial

nest-sites. Scot. Nat. 68, 84-91. Experiments in Scotland: 45 out of 70 bark-type sites were used, and 20 out of over 500

boxes. Instructions how to make a tree-creeper box.

Mackenzie, J. M. D. (1956). Parasitism of bird nests by bumble bees. Scot. Nat. 68, 114-115.

Fifty instances of bird nests in nest-boxes taken over by bees, probably all Bomnbus Zucorum, also eight wasps' nests, usually in empty boxes.

Milne, B. S. (1956). A report on the bird population of Beddington sewage farm, 1954-55. Lond. Bird Rep. 20, 39-54.

Describes habits and habitats of breeding, feeding and wintering birds and discusses weight of various factors adverse to breeding populations.

Oates, F. B. (1956). Menace of the mole. Agriculture, 63, 79-82. Although essentially insectivorous the mole is a menace to agriculture because of its

habit of tunnelling under growing crops. The mole spends most of its time in its complex system of feeding runs where its appetite for insects and worms is insatiable. It has few natural enemies and is distasteful to some predators. Badgers become adept at catching moles.

Singh, M. P. & Kevan, D. K. McE. (1956). Notes on three common British species of Agrotid moth. 1. Longevity and oviposition. Ent. Rec. 68, 233-235.

The result of laboratory investigations on Triphaena pronuba, Agrotis segetum and A mathes c-nigrum.

Southwood, T. R. E. & Scudder, G. G. E. (1956). The bionomics and immature stages of the thistle lace bugs (Tingis ampliata H.-S. and T. cardui L.; Hem., Tingidae). Trans. Soc. Brit. Ent. 12 (3), 93-112.

Host plants, life histories, larval structure, key to larvae, wax secretion, geographical distribution and distribution on host plants.

Stokes, B. S. (1957). Observations and experiments on the hessian fly (Mayetiola destructor Say). Ann. Apfl. Biol. 45, 122-132.

The hessian fly was recorded on couch grass (Agropyron repens), but wheat was the pre- ferred host. More midges were reared from young plants than from mature ones. There were three main flights per year, with some overlapping of the generations. Other hosts are listed.

Thompson, H. V. (1956). Myxomatosis: a survey. Agriculture, 63, 51-57. There are now no really heavy rabbit infections in England although some moderate ones

or small pockets exist. Myxomatosis is not the complete answer to all rabbit problems and follow-up measures are necessary.

Thompson, J. L. Cloudsley- (1956). The effect of rock cover on the diurnal range of microclimatic conditions. Entomologist, 89, 213-215.

Comparative measurements on, above and under rocks in sun and shade show the micro- climate under the rocks to be much the most equable. Detailed data given.

Thompson, J. L. Cloudsley- & Sankey, J. H. P. (1956). Some aspects of the fauna of the district around Juniper Hall, Mickleham, Surrey-III. Ent. Mon. Mag. 92, 132-134.

Includes a list of invertebrates collected on the banks of the river Mole, where the relative humidity was 89-2 % at ground level and averaged 80 ? on trees at a height of 1 5-m, and others of invertebrates collected on acid and base-rich soils, in which the approximate number per sq. m of each is indicated. (See 1953, Ent. Mon. Mag. 89, 284-286 and abstract in 1955, J. Anim. Ecol. 24, 214.)

This content downloaded from 62.122.73.92 on Sat, 3 May 2014 03:45:01 AMAll use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions

Methods, etc. 505 Williams, C. B., Singh, B. P. & El Ziady, S. (1956). An investigation into the

possible effects of moonlight on the activity of insects in the field. Proc. R. Ent. Soc. Lond. (A), 31, 135-144.

Extensive trapping data reveal no regular lunar cycle in numbers of insects caught.

Wiltshire, E. P. (1956). Studies in the geography of Lepidoptera VI. A new suggestion regarding the history of the swallow-tail butterfly in the British Isles. Ent. Rec. 68, 257-260.

In Baghdad, the principal food plant of Papilio machaon is cultivated rue (Ruta), on which its survival depends, and it is suggested that the virtual disappearance of this butterfly in Britain within historic times may be correlated with the disappearance of rue from gardens, where it was formerly cultivated for medicinal purposes.

2. METHODS, APPARATUS, POPULATION STATISTICS AND TAXONOMIC STUDIES OF USE TO ECOLOGISTS

Acton, A. B. (1956). The identification and distribution of the larvae of some species of Chironomus (Diptera.) Proc. R. Ent. Soc. Lond. (A), 31, 161-164.

Discusses identification of chironomid larvae by use of the band pattern in giant chromo- somes.

Alam, S. M. (1956). The taxonomy of some British aphelinid parasites (Hymenoptera) of scale insects (Coccoidea). Trans. R. Ent. Soc. Lond. 108, 357-384.

Provides a key to some genera of the Aphelinidae.

Barnes, H. (1955). Underwater television and research in marine biology, bottom topography and geology. Sonderd. Deutsch. Hydrograph. Z. 8, 213-236.

Describes, with examples, the use of underwater television for observing and estimating quantitatively both bottom-living and planktonic organisms. Difficulties and failures are discussed.

Boyd, H. J. (1957). Gulls on Lundy, 1947-56. Rep., Lundy Fld. Soc. 10 (1956), 26-32. The breeding populations of Larus argentatus, L. fuscus, L. marinus and Rissa tridactyla

are tending to decline, probably due to mortality of adults away from the island.

Chiswell, J. B. (1956). A taxonomic account of the last instar larvae of some British Tipulinae (Diptera: Tipulidae). Trans. R. Ent. Soc. Lond. 108, 409-484.

Describes and illustrates the last instar larvae of thirty-six British species and provides a key to the species.

Davidson, A. (1956). A method of counting Ephemeropteran eggs. Ent. Mon. Mag. 92, 109.

Method, devised for Cloieon simile; the eggs are counted in a standard Sedgwick-Rafter plankton-counting cell after being stained and sieved.

Dobson, R. M. & Lofty, J. R. (1956). A simple cage for confining small insects during experimental exposure to fumigants, etc. Ent. Mon. Mag. 92, 157-158.

A cage of two brass washers, to each of which fine phosphor-bronze gauze is soldered, held face to face by means of a rubber band.

Evans, G. 0. & Hyatt, K. H. (1956). British mites of the genus Pachylaelaps Berlese (Gamasina-Pachylaelaptidae). Ent. Mon. Mag. 92, 118-129.

Keys to the females of the seven known British species and the males of four of them. P. multidentatus and P. undulatus are both described as new from females collected from decaying wood in Hertfordshire, the latter also found in pond refuse in Middlesex. P. tesselatus is recorded for the first time in Britain, from Essex.

R J. A. E.

This content downloaded from 62.122.73.92 on Sat, 3 May 2014 03:45:01 AMAll use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions