The Smith Brothers: Scottish pioneers of modern ecology

Abstract

Summary Robert Smith and his brother William (W.G.) were described by Tansley (1939) as ‘the original pioneers of modern Ecology in Britain’. However, rather few are aware of R. Smith's important role in a revolution of Botanical science in Britain just over 100 yearsago. Smith entered the University College of Dundee (now the University of Dundee) as a student in 1893 and came under the influence of Patrick Geddes, then Professor of Botany, who appointed him Demonstrator in Botany as soon as he had graduated. Geddes encouraged his interest in the newly emerging science of plant ecology and, in particular, his programme for mapping the vegetation of Scotland. To this end, he arranged for Smith to spend some months in Montpellier, where he was much influenced by Professor C. Flahault's approach to vegetation mapping on the basis of recognisable associations of plant species. On his return to Scotland , he developed this theme and applied it to making vegetation maps in various parts of Scotland, regarding ...