2. Ecological Surveys; Distribution Studies Including Introductions and Migration; Relations toEnvironmentJournal of Animal Ecology, Vol. 40, No. 2 (Jun., 1971), pp. 547-552Published by: British Ecological SocietyStable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/3273 .

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Abstracts 547

Rice, A. L. (1968). Growth 'rules' and the larvae of decapod crustaceans. J. nat. Hist. 2, 525-30. The 'rules' governing the relationship between the size of successive arthropod instars are examined

with reference to decapod Crustacea. It is concluded that 'Brook's Law' holds good for this group but that 'Przibram's Rule' stating that the weight increases between instars by some power of two is not supported by length data. Gurney's suggestion that growth factors in decapod larvae do not exceed 1 5 does not apply throughout the order as a whole.

Sage, B. L. (1969). Breeding biology of the coot. Br. Birds, 62, 134-43. Williams, B. G. (1968). Laboratory rearing of the larval stages of Carcinus maenas (L.) [Crust-

acea:Decapoda]. J. nat. Hist. 2, 121-6. Larvae of Carcinus were reared to the crab stage in the laboratory for the first time. Stage I zoeae fed on

Prorocentrum while stage II zoeae onwards fed on Artemia nauplii. On these diets overall survival rates to first crab stage were about 3000 and the average development time 57 7 days.

Yeates, G. W. (1970). Studies on laboratory cultures of dune sand nematodes. J. nat. Hist. 4, 119-36.

Six species of dune nematodes were maintained in monaxenic culture with Bacillus cereus var. mycoides, and fecundity, longevity and generation time studied over a range of temperatures. Two species were amphimictic whereas in Monochoides potohikus, though males occur and copulation has been observed, fecundity, fertility and sex of progeny are not affected by insemination of females. In this species fecundity and fertility decrease with increasing temperature, but with four of the remaining species the reverse is true. With the exception of M. potohikus all species showed temperature limitation in the range 7-28? C.

2. ECOLOGICAL SURVEYS; DISTRIBUTION STUDIES INCLUDING INTRO- DUCTIONS AND MIGRATION; RELATIONS TO ENVIRONMENT

(a) MARINE AND BRACKISH

Armitage, P. D. (1970). A survey of the marine littoral fauna of the Axmouth-Lyme Regis nature reserve, with some notes on the effect of freshwater run-off. Proc. Dorset nat. Hist. archaeol. Soc. 91, 147-65.

The shore was surveyed and certain parts selected as study areas. A list of species from collections made along listed transect lines in seven areas is given, along with details of the physical features of the transect areas. The relative effects of fresh water and substrate type on the fauna are discussed.

Atkinson, K. (1969). The association of living foraminifera with algae from the littoral zone, south Cardigan Bay, Wales. J. nat. Hist. 3, 517-42.

Living Foraminifera from four areas (the littoral fringe, high level and low level rock pools and the sub-littoral zone) were collected and their association with algae studied. Only four living species were found on the littoral fringe, which was due probably to the lack of algal cover. Algae from the eulittoral zone provided large numbers and a large variety of Foraminifera, as did the holdfasts of Laminaria from the sub-littoral zone. Certain species were regarded as diagnostic of the littoral zone.

Atkinson, K. (1970). The marine flora and fauna of the Isles of Scilly. Foraminifera. J. nat. Hist. 4, 387-98.

Lists all foraminiferans so far taken around the Scilly Isles.

Bamett, P. R. 0. (1968). Distribution and ecology of harpacticoid copepods of an intertidal mudflat. Int. Revue ges. Hydrobiol. Hydrogr. 53, 177-209.

The distribution and abundance of harpacticoid copepods on a mud flat at Hamble Spit, Southampton Water, was studied in 1956-57 by means of core samples from a single intertidal transect, with five sampling stations over a distance of 520 m. Of the seventeen species found, five show distinct zonation. Stenhelia palustris was most abundant at the uppernmost station, Canuella furcigera at the middle station, and Harpacticus flexus at the lowest station. The fauna was dominated at all times by the species of Platychelipus; P. littoralis was most abundant at the upper stations, and P. laophontodes at the lower stations, with a mixture of the species at the middle station. The majority of harpacticoids were restricted to the upper 0-5 cm layer of mud. P. laophontodes may be restricted to the lower shore because of its lower tolerance to reduced salinity. P. littoralis has a greater tolerance and appears to be better adapted to life in the drier mud and larger particles of the upper shore, than to the softer, fine muds of the lower shore.

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548 Abstracts

Crothers, J. H. (1970). The distribution of crabs on rocky shores around the Dale peninsula. Fld Stud. 3, 263-74.

Crab distribution on rocky shores at low tide is comparable with that of more sedentary organisms described in earlier papers about the Dale peninsula, Pembrokeshire, Wales. All the six species studied increase in abundance with- decreasing exposure, but only Carcinus maenas reached maximum abundance on the most sheltered shores, the other species all reaching maximum abundance on shores of exposure five or six.

Ellison, N. F. & McMillan, N. F. (1968). The fauna of the Marine Lake at West Kirby, Cheshire. Lancs. Chesh. Fauna Soc. Publ. 53, 19-23.

The Marine Lake is an old artificially constructed lake, regularly replenished with water from spring tides which cover the western wall. A preliminary list of species found includes thirteen fish, about six of which appear to be permanent residents. No birds nest on the lake, but many are annual residents. Numbers of waders were recorded when the lake emptied. The list includes Mollusca, Crustacea, Annel- ida and Porifera.

Harvey, L. A. (1969). The marine flora and fauna of the Isles of Scilly. The islands and their ecology. J. nat. Hist. 3, 3-18.

A brief description of the climate of the islands, with a consideration of the possible origins of the marine fauna. Ecological conditions on the various shores are considered in conjunction with the associ- ated littoral communities.

Holdich, D. M. (1970). The distribution and habitat preferences of the Afro-European species of Dynamene (Crustacea: Isopoda). J. nat. Hist. 4, 419-38.

Describes the distribution of the seven known species of the genus Dynamene in the light of the recent discovery of three new species. D. bidentata has a boreal distribution and is the only species from Britain. Two of the other species are Atlanto-Mediterranean forms and three are strictly Mediterranean, while one, D. ramuscula, is recorded from south-east Australia. All species inhabit intertidal algae as juveniles, while adults shelter in crevices and empty barnacle shells.

Juniper, A. J. & Steele, R. D. (1969). Intertidal sponges of the Portsmouth area. J. nat. Hist. 3, 153-63.

A list with distribution and ecological notes of the twenty-one species of littoral and sub-littoral sponges found in the Portsmouth area.

King, P. E. (1970). Sea spiders in Glamorgan. Nature Wales, 12, 24-31. An account of the distribution of Pycnogonida on the Gower shores of Glamorgan, with reference to

intertidal zonation and floral distribution. There are hints of possible inter-zone migrations related to reproductive activities.

Meadows, P. S. (1969). Sublittoral fouling communities on northern coasts of Britain. Hydro- biologia, 34, 273-94.

The seasonal pattern of underwater fouling communities at Greenock, Mallaig, Thurso, Rosyth and Newcastle is described. Fouling was heaviest at Mallaig, followed by Greenock, Newcastle and Rosyth, and was light at Thurso. The number of organisms and species increased with time. Balanus crenatus was the most abundant species, followed by Mytilus edulis and Fabricia sabella, while other important species were B. balanoides, Elminius modestus, Spirorbis spirillum and Pomatoceros triqueter. Seventy-four species were recorded, but the first three accounted for 61-96% of the records. The severe winter of 1962- 63 did not influence the fouling fauna.

Morton, J. E. & Challis, D. A. (1969). The biomorphology of Solomon Islands shores with a discussion of zoning patterns and ecological terminology. Phil. Trans. R. Soc. B, 255, 459-516.

A descriptive account and a biological classification of the various Solomon Islands shore types are given, together with an account of the zonation patterns of shore organisms.

Neale, J. W. (1970). The marine flora and fauna of the Isles of Scilly. Crustacea: Ostracoda. J. nat. Hist. 4, 399-411.

Lists, with localities, the thirty-five ostracod species described from the Scilly Islands.

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Abstracts 549

Robins, M. W. (1969). The marine flora and fauna of the Isles of Scilly. Cnidaria and Cteno- phora. J. nat. Hist. 3, 329-43.

An annotated list of cnidarians and ctenophores taken from the shores of the Scilly Isles.

Thurston, M. H. (1970). The marine flora and fauna of the Isles of Scilly. Crustacea, Eucarida. J. nat. Hist. 4, 239-48.

An annotated list of eucarid Crustacea from the Scilly Isles. A total of seventy-five species is recorded.

Warwick, R. M. (1969). The marine nematode Eurystomina terricola (De Man, 1907) and its distribution on British shores. Hydrobiologia, 34, 392-400.

Eurystomina terricola is redescribed from specimens from the River Exe estuary, Devon. It is proposed that Gerlachystomina Inglis, 1962, be synonymized with Eurystomina. E. terricola prefers coarse, relatively dry substrates and is therefore confined to the extreme upper levels of sandy shores and the drier crevices of rocky shores. The nematode fauna of crevices at Cullercoats, Northumberland, indicates three faunal elements to be present; marine species characteristic of littoral weeds or holdfasts, marine species charac- teristic of soft substrates, and terrestrial species.

Webb, J. E. (1969). Biologically significant properties of submerged marine sands. Proc. R. Soc. B, 174, 355-402.

With the aid of a new design of permeameter it was demonstrated that two marine interstitial organ- isms, Branchiostoma lanceolatum and Evansula incerta, react to differences in both permeability and capill- ary space of the sediments in which they live. It was shown that permeability and capillary space change with both the temperature, and with the nature of the film coating the sand particles.

Wells, J. B. J. (1970). The marine flora and fauna of the Isles of Scilly. Crustacea: Copepoda: Harpacticoida. J. nat. Hist. 4, 255-68.

An annotated list of harpacticoid copepods comprising 160 species.

(b) FRESHWATER

Galliford, A. L. (1969). The Cladocera of Lancashire and Cheshire. Lancs. Chesh. Fauna Soc. Publ. 55, 31-40.

Additions to previous reports of 1947 and 1949 by the same author. Some sixty-two species recorded under families, some ecological notes added to the records for a few species.

Graham, T. R. & Logan, K. G. (1970). Preliminary studies of Lough Neagh Ostracods. Ir. Nat. J. 16, 326-8.

A brief account of a preliminary study with particular reference to the possible use of ostracods as indicators of water quality. Freshwater ostracods appear to be abundant in the sheltered, soft-bottomed areas with an organic bed, rather than the cleaner, stonier areas. Tolerance of low oxygen and more variable temperature and pH, characteristic of such an environment, is supported by laboratory experi- ments.

Osborne, P. J. & Shotton, F. W. (1968). The fauna of the channel deposit of early Saalian age at Brandon, Warwickshire. Phil. Trans. R. Soc. B, 254, 417-24.

The fauna consisted largely of fish and Coleoptera, most of which appeared to have inhabited the water in which the deposit was laid down, and indicates a body of standing water with a rich growth of vegeta- tion, including Salix surrounding it. The fauna indicates a climate cooler than at present but not a full glacial climate.

(c) LAND

Barber, A. D. & Eason, E. H. (1970). On Brachyschendyla dentata Brolemann & Ribaut (Chilo- poda, Schendylidae), a centipede new to Britain. J. nat. Hist. 4, 79-84.

Several specimens of a species taken previously only in the Pyrenees, were recorded from two Surrey localities.

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550 Abstracts

Bell, B. D. (1969). Some thoughts on the apparent ecological expansion of the reed bunting. Br. Birds, 62, 209-18.

There is evidence that the reed bunting Emberiza schoeniclus is expanding its ecological range into drier habitats more characteristic of the yellow bunting E. citrinella. It is suggested that changes in the British countryside brought about by agriculture and urbanization, may have altered selection pressures on the reed bunting. Further, it is likely that reduction of wetland habitat has increased interspecific competition. More research is needed to assess the nature of competitive pressures and adaptations of these two buntings.

Benham, B. R. & Muggleton, J. (1970). Studies on the ecology of Coccinella undecimpunctata Linn. (Col. Coccinellidae). Entomologist, 103, 153-70.

Discussions of life history, British distribution, migration and aggregation.

Brown, A. J. (1970). Dorset hoverflies (Diptera: Syrphidae). Proc. Dorset nat. Hist. archaeol. Soc. 91, 166-71.

Listed under subfamilies with localities and collectors.

Condry, W. (1970). Marsh and willow tits in Wales. Nature Wales, 12, 1-6. Discusses taxonomic and distributional factors, together with some habitat features used to distinguish

these two species in Wales.

Coope, G. R. (1968). An insect fauna from mid-Weichselian deposits at Brandon, Warwickshire. Phil. Trans. R. Soc. B, 254, 425-56.

Another fauna from Brandon, again dominated by Coleoptera. Similar to the previous, with much marshy ground but with little open water present. However, some species found were characteristic of running water with gravelly margins. Much Salix scrub was present (as indicated by the presence of the weevil Rhynchaenus foliorum) and also poor acid heathland with much open ground. In general the area must have closely resembled the tundra biome of today. This is further supported by the presence of many species which are today restricted to arctic or alpine situations.

Dance, S. P. (1970). Trumpet ram's-horn snail in North Wales. Nature Wales, 12, 10-4. Gives an historical review of the snail's distribution in Britain, followed by an assessment of the eco-

logical factors governing its establishment at a particular station.

Davis, P. E. & Jones, P. Hope (1970). Welsh bird report. Nature Wales, 12, 112-28. A systematic list of bird records for Wales for 1969, together with breeding notes and suggestions to

account for reduced records in respect of whitethroats, redstarts and guillemots.

Duffey, E. (1970). Habitat selection by spiders on a saltmarsh in Gower. Nature Wales, 12, 15-23.

The zonation of a saltmarsh is related to the spider population of a zone at any given time, and to the fluctuating populations over a whole year. Ecological factors as determinants of populations are dis- cussed.

Edington, M. A. (1970). Studies on habitat utilisation in the song birds of the Nant Sere valley. Breconshire Birds, 3, 18-24.

A study of passerine distribution during the spring and summer in a valley in the Brecon Beacons. Territory organization is discussed, together with aspects of feeding related to habitat utilization.

Hamilton, F. D. & MacGregor, K. S. (1970). The birds of Aberlady Bay Nature Reserve. Trans. E. Loth. Antiq. Fld Nat. Soc. 8, 85-117.

In March 1959 a survey was started to ascertain accurately the status of the various species frequenting the Aberlady Bay area during the year. Records for 190 species with notes, listed under common names only.

Harrop, J. M. (1970). The chough in North Wales. Nature Wales, 12, 65-9. A review of the status of the chough in North Wales, together with an indication of favoured nesting

sites, nest material and enemies.

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Abstracts 551

Humphrey, J. (1970). Some birds on the Gwenffrwd reserve, Carmarthenshire. Breconshire Birds, 3, 30-1.

A warden's account of the birds in his reserve, which includes some notes on species inter-relationships and habitat preferences.

Hurst, G. W. (1970). Can the colorado potato beetle fly from France to England? Entomolog- ist's mon. Mag. 105, 269-72.

Concludes that it can and probably has done so.

Lawrence, P. N. & Greenslade, P. J. M. (1969). Soil fauna studies illustrated by Collembola. Phil. Trans. R. Soc. B, 255, 307-20.

Shows that of those species whose distribution is known, most appear to be cosmopolitan or pan- tropical. However, a large portion of the taxa collected have not yet been fully studied and may show other patterns of distribution. Species lists from individual sites appear similar to those from equivalent sites in temperate climates, which may be due to the relative absence of litter and poor humus layers in lowland tropical rain forests.

Miles, P. M. (1970). Some observations on the black slug Arion ater L. Nature Wales, 12, 84-8. Habitat and food preferences for this slug in the Hengwm valley of Cardiganshire are related to popula-

tion factors, especially following flooding of the valley.

Mackie, D. W. (1969). The spiders of the Marbury Mere Reserve, Cheshire. Lanc. Chesh. Fauna Soc. Publ. 55, 18-23.

Descriptive notes of some twenty-five spiders found in the Reserve, followed by a list of species already found in the Reserve.

Macqueen, D. C. (1970). The lepidoptera of the Uppingham area, Rutland. Entomologist's mon. Mag. 105, 253-7.

Two hundred and nine species listed. Based mainly on light trapping in 1968.

Packham, J. R. & Liddle, M. J. (1970). The Cefni salt marsh, Anglesey, and its recent develop- ment. Fld Stud. 3, 331-56.

A paper mainly concerned with changes in deposition and associated plant cover, but containing some information on animals-notably birds and spiders.

Preece, M. V. (1969). Wader populations of the Severn Estuary. Mon. Ornith. Soc. Rep. 1969, 177-84.

The incidence and numbers of waders observed along the Monmouthshire bank of the River Severn from 1966 onwards, arranged in four quantitative groups.

Rankin, W. T. C. (1969). The bats of Cheshire. Lancs. Chesh. Fauna Soc. Publ. 55, 12-5. Nine of the fourteen species of bats in the British Isles are now recorded from Cheshire. Each of these

is listed in the paper with brief notes on the species. Common and specific names are given for each.

Rogers, A. E. F. (1970). Local movements of sand martins on the river Usk. Nature Wales, 12, 7-9.

An account of the recurrent use by sand martins of the same river bank colonies, with an indication of factors which can enforce a change.

Shotton, F. W. (1968). The Pleistocene succession around Brandon, Warwickshire. Phil. Trans. R. Soc. B, 254, 387-400.

A study of a series of exposures in the Brandon area revealed further successional interrelationships and biota in the Pleistocene deposits of the Upper Avon Valley.

Snow, D. W. (1969). The moult of British thrushes and chats. Bird Study, 16, 115-29. The relationship between moult and autumn migration is discussed. In fully migratory species, those

that spend the shortest time in this country have the most rapid moult. More information is required on the relation of moult to movements in partial migrants.

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552 Abstracts

Spencer, R. (1969). Report on bird-ringing for 1968. Br. Birds, 62, 393-442. Williamson, K. (1969). Habitat preferences of the wren on English farmland. Bird Study, 16,

53-9. Habitat preferences were judged during increase and recolonization following the heavy mortality of

wrens in the 1963 cold winter. Favoured habitats were in wooded haunts and among vegetation alongside rivers and streams. As the population recovery continued, a larger proportion of territories were based on gardens and orchards, while later there was recolonization of field and laneside hedges. Hedgerows appeared to be the least favoured and the most unstable of habitats, for a higher proportion of such territories failed to survive as occupied sites for more than 1 year.

3. POPULATION STUDIES

Banks, J. W. (1970). Observations on the fish population of Rostherne Mere, Cheshire. Fld Stud. 3, 357-79.

Rostherne Mere was fished with gill nets and funnel traps for 2- years. Curves of length for age, and regressions of weight on length were produced for roach, perch and pike. Rostherne roach are the fastest growing British population so far described. The analysis of roach food was only qualitative but for the other two both the occurrence and points methods were used. Some data on gonad development, spawn- ing time and sex ratios are also recorded.

Barker, J. S. F. & Podger, R. N. (1970). Interspecific competition between Drosophila melano- gaster and Drosophila simulans: effects of larval density on viability, developmental period and adult body weight. Ecology, 51, 170-89.

Many experiments with mixed cultures of the two species are described. The most important general result is the finding of highly significant effects of the variable, time, on all components studied. As experimental conditions were kept as similar as possible at each time, variation due to time means essent- ially variation due to uncontrolled microenvironmental factors. The outcome of competition within a generation was both density and frequency dependent, and given as well the significant effects of time, variations among populations and among generations can be expected.

The dynamics of interspecific competition in continuous Dopulations will not be simply predictable.

Dickinson, B. H. B. & Dobinson, H. M. (1969). A study of a greenfinch roost. Bird Study, 16, 135-46.

At a roost near Oxford, the greenfinch population using the roost over each winter must have been several times greater than the highest number present on any one night; use of the ringing technique showed a rapid turn-over. The function of social roosting is discussed; warmth, population regulation and social food-finding are discussed, but none is thought to provide a completely satisfactory hypothesis.

James, B. L. (1968). The occurrence of Parvatrema homoeotecnum James 1964 (Trematoda: Gymnophallidae) in a population of Littorina saxatilis tenebrosa (Mont.). J. nat. Hist. 2, 21-37.

Marking experiments, variations in population density and observations on breeding indicate that this species of Littorina migrates down to the lower fringe of the supralittoral to produce young in January and in July. The young and adults then migrate up towards the top of the supralittoral, including those infected by the trematode. Thus parasitized specimens occur throughout the supralittoral fringe. The seasonal changes in percentage infection are correlated with breeding, growth, mortality and migration of the host snails.

Norman, R. K. & Saunders, D. R. (1969). Status of little terns in Great Britain and Ireland in 1967. Br. Birds, 62, 4-13.

The little tern Sterna albifrons is decreasing in numbers in the British Isles because its nesting beaches are being disturbed increasingly by holiday-makers. A 1967 census indicated a total breeding population not exceeding 1600 pairs, distributed in small colonies (50% of which contained one to five pairs only), with a preponderence in south-eastern England.

Snow, D. W. (1969). Some vital statistics of British mistle thrushes. Bird Study, 16, 34-44. Analyses of breeding success, mortality rates and movements of British Turdus viscivorus, based on

British Trust for Ornithology nest record and ringing data.

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