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Information about the papers discussed at the joint meeting of the British Ecological Society and the Association of Applied Biologists in London, England on March 11, 1960 is presented. Topics include the destruction of natural ecosystems, the monoculture of heather and its effects on hill grazings, and the effects of grass crop production on soil fertility. The event featured several ecology and biology experts including T. E. Williams, C. H. Gimingham and P. W. Richards.

The pollen content of the organic layers of nine soil profiles in the Forest of Abernethy, Inverness-shire was examined. From a discussion of the process of raw humus formation, it would appear that Mor is a broadly stratified deposit in which favourable conditions exist for the preservation of pollen, although a number of factors which may lead to the deterioration of pollen, or disturbance of stratification are also considered. Pollen diagrams from Mor profiles were interpreted with the aid of surface sample data from Abernethy presented in an earlier paper, 14C-dating of soil material, and documentary evidence. It is concluded that substantial areas of Calluna-dominated heathland have existed in Abernethy since at least AD 400, and that prior to heathland formation, some parts of Abernethy may have contained vegetation consistent with the presence of Mull rather than Mot. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a study that investigates the prevalence and implications of test errors in the use of subjective frequency estimation method in grasslands in Oxford, England. The study was administered by conducting and recording data twice and comparing the differences in its results which could vary on the types of grassland as well as its length. The study reveals that the tests are needed to sustain planning method wherein some of its errors provides startling magnitude, thus it is not suitable to be used on a particular vegetation research. It also offers information on the most commonly used frequency estimation method, symbols used as well as the sources of errors.

The article focuses on the origin of agriculture in Michigan. David Harris has made a useful distinction between two types of primitive agriculture namely seed-crop cultivation and vegeculture. He considers farming systems as man-modified ecosystems and analyzes in terms of species diversity, productivity and stability. Southwest Asia is one of the first regions of the world to have agriculture and the most intensively investigated area from the standpoint of early cultivation. Seed-cropping is a relatively simple ecosystem since it consists of few species growing in pure stands composed of large numbers of individuals while vegeculture is often a very complex ecosystem since several different species may be grown in a single field.

This article discusses a study which explored the origin and distribution of valley grasslands in east Africa. The study investigated several species of grasslands, their stature and status, and their phenological and ecological attributes. Results of the study demonstrated that grasslands are of ancient origin. The study obtained further evidence of the long history of formations of grasslands from an examination of the riverine grasslands of the Malagarasi (Tanzania) and Kafue (Zambia) drainage lines. The study suggested that optimum utilization and management of grasslands depend largely on background information.

The article presents a study that investigates the effect of soil water content on the development and growth of plants in Berkshire, England. The Imperial College of Science and Technology administered the study during summer and winter periods between 1959 and 1960 in their field station through the construction of 28 water tanks that served as water tables that were planted with agrostis tenuis and alopecurus pratensis whose yield and data were analyzed using analysis of variance. The study reveals that the interaction of elements plays an essential factor where the plants are given the capability to regenerate and develop its root system and leave appearance as well as to surpass any adverse situations.

The article presents a study that investigates the biological ecology and distribution rate of Rumex obtusifolius. The study was administered by collecting different samples of species from various countries and location and by comparing its structure through the types of habitat, topographical and climactic restrictions, geography, history and soil types as well as its perianth segment, reproduction rate and hybrid characteristics. The study reveals that the development of the species is not affected by any climactic limitations wherein the result of the survey manifests that rumex does not grow in calcareous soils. It also offers information on the different distinctions and appearance of rumex as well as an analysis on its habitat.

The article presents a study that investigates the mineral nutrient contents of several grass species in England. The study was administered to six different species of grasses that grew in sand culture and placed in an unheated glasshouse from May to June 1959 and had undergone more than eight weeks of observation and estimation of species and nitrogen interaction. The study reveals that the species show different reactions to nitrogen supply which manifest its essential role in the environmental and physiological development of grasses as well as the productivity of plant communities and soil fertility.

The article presents a study that investigates the ecological condition of woodlands that experience seasonal variation and light climate interaction in Salisbury, England. Light variance in different seasons was measured, while the status of actinography and photosite was evaluated. The study reveals that interacting variables cause the different variations in woodland light climate which is essential in biological process, particularly the position of the sun which affects photosynthesis activities, leaf expansion and pattern as well as plant morphogenesis.

The article presents a study that evaluates the effect of soil temperature during forest fires in the survivability of vegetation in Australia. The study was administered by measuring and analyzing the implications of soil temperature using a small tube which contains organic compounds and placing it under the ground with one inch deep and experience constant burning for more than eight hours. The study reveals that fires are not capable of killing the vegetation and does not provide any effect on the physical properties of the soil because of its water content that lessen the heat conductivity, in addition, some vegetation are capable of regenerating itself as well as resist high temperature.

The article presents a study that investigates the ecology of river as well as the growth and distribution of sessile algae at the River Hull in England. The study was administered by collecting the different types of algae that grows in the calcareous and non-calcareous areas within the river for more than two and a half years and its data were analyzed using qualitative observation. The study reveals that algae in calcareous water recorded the highest prevalence of growth wherein Cocconeis placentula and Ulvella frquens are dominant within the community wherein bountiful supply of nitrates and mineral salts are also present.

The article presents a study that investigates on the structure of the root system of beech that grows in woodland soil in Oxford, England. The study was carried out through qualitative observations and analyzes on the different elemental values found in the leaves and buds as well as nitrogen content and root concentrations of minerals. The study reveals that beech grow in different types and ranges of soil and the root condition depend on the availability of microorganisms. In addition, the author notes that beech that grows in escarpment soils presents higher rates of nitrogen content and mobilization with less mycorrhizal roots.

The article presents a study that investigates the physiological and ecological factors of vegetation in Jan Mayen Island. The Imperial College Expedition administered the study in 1938 by analyzing the different factors and elements found in the island which includes the collection of plant specimens, ecological description and climatic data. In addition, the author notes that the study focuses on two aspects, including the levels of soil nutrients and its relation to vegetation growth as well as the impact of short growing season on carbohydrate metabolism. The study reveals that the distribution of vegetation is affected by its exposure to wind, nitrogen and water supply that are necessary in the development of plants which are classified into 22 variations.

The article presents a study that investigates the ecological status of Breckland in Great Britain. The study was administered by analyzing the essence and characteristics of the different types of soil which corresponds to the different developmental stages of podsol and grass-heath as well as the physiognomic communities of its vegetation. The study reveals that grass-heath depicts various variable quality of floristic composition and physiognomy which is caused by the elements of soil and other factors wherein the different stages of soil shows traces of acid and calcium carbonate. It also presents a description and characterization of vegetation based on different soil types as well as evidences on the different factors of grass-heath.

The article presents a study that asserts the ecological condition of central Iceland. The study was conducted at Snaefell area, an extinct glacial volcano with outstanding topographical features, by comparing its animal and plant populations from the surrounding highlands to observe the different problems and association with northern elements of British fauna and flora. The study reveals that Snaefell manifest similar condition and specie populations from the semi-glaciated areas of Great Britain, however, the scarcity in the area is not the cause of the absence pf more than 30 species and does not provide any difference in vegetation. It also described climactic, physiographic condition of the area, principal plant communities succession interrelationships.

The article reports on the Rivularia bullata-balanus community. The occurrence of this community gives rise to a number of ecological considerations especially as featuring an instance of biotic reactions and as emphasizing the relevance of considering the sea shore as a biotic community or biome. The Rivularia genus propagates both by hormogones and spores and the hormogones provides an effective method for increasing the size of the colony and the formation of new colonies. This report of the Rivularia-Balanus community gives evidence of a study of both adelophycean stages and biotic relationships in attempting to clarify problems connected with marine ecology of the littoral region.

The article talks about the concepts and criteria used for the recognition of biotic communities. These concepts describe the fundamental use of the ecological units established by Clements and Shelford, which are used by many American and British authors. The definitions of the concepts, including association abstract, abstract communities and associes abstract, are offered. The subdivisions of the biotic formation (biome), which includes the perennial nucleus, seasonal societies of communities, and intradiel communities, are discussed.

The article talks about the nature and structure of the climax, a concept related to the development of vegetation which forms the basis for the natural classification of plant communities. It presents a summary account of the main features of the nature of the climax, which can be categorized into the unity of the climax, stabilization and change, origin and relationship, and objective relationships. The relationship between climax and biome when pertaining to the biotic community is discussed.

The article highlights a comparative study of the alga flora of two salt marshes. It reports on the ecological communities of algae such as the general Chlorophyceae community, marginal community of diatoms, marginal Cyanophyceae community, ulothrix flacca community, Enteromorpha minima-Rhizoclonium community, Anabaena torulosa community, and filamentour diatom community. It reports that an ecological study of salt marsh algae is difficult partly because they do not show sharp zonation with regard to level, and also because there is a definite periodicity according to the season of the year, the same piece of ground thus providing a substratum for several distinct algal communities which follow one another in regular succession as the seasons change.

The article relates the author's experience on using campus biotic communities in teacher training. At State University College at Potsdam in New York City he meet heterogeneous groups made up of all four types in general biology, but are most likely to meet the second type of student in elective courses such as field biology and field geology. Concepts of ecological succession, climax community, disclimaxes, ecotones, and several stages are developed with the observation on the trip, and on the follow-up class discussion meetings. Each student maintain their own aquarium and terrarium, and learn some of the techniques of the field biologist including transect and quadrat sampling, collecting and culturing, keeping data, preserving and mounting.

The article discusses ecosystem processes in a stand of Ulex Europaeus L., with focus on the cycling of chemical elements in the ecosystem. Discussed are the chemical element content of the seven-and-a-half-year-old Ulex Europaeus stand, the quantities of elements in the annual litter fall and throughfall, the accession of chemical elements in rain, biomass sampling, quantity of elements in the ecosystem, immobilization of chemical elements in the vegetation and the spectrographic analysis of the soil.

The article presents a study which discusses the comparative role of solution and particulate matter losses in the nutrient economy of a forest ecosystem in West Thornton, New Hampshire. It determines the two processes that lead to major losses of nutrients from terrestrial trial ecosystem such as by erosion and by dissolution. It examines the effect of variations in the hydrologic cycle and evaluates the implications of biota on the nutrient-hydrologic interaction. The study is based on data obtained by measuring solution and particulate matter losses in a small gaged watershed in the Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest.

The article discusses the role of man in solving the serious problems of the ecosystem. According to the author, the technology which is made by man could help him solve problems in ecosystem with the availability of deuterium in the oceans and solar radiation as potential sources of energy. In addition, man can solve many of his other problems like distilling sea water and transporting the distillate to regions of shortage with the possibility of scrap heaps and junk yard to become mines in the future.