Moorland Areas Research Articles

Peat depth variability at Machrie North, Arran, and its implications for archaeological survey and conservation in British uplands

The results of a series of surveys of an area of peat moorland on the Isle of Arran, Scotland, have been analysed to determine the relationship between surface indications and subsurface cultural features. The study reveals that variation in the depth of peat accounts for much of the apparent areal density of surf ace features. The paper further demonstrates how the conservation strategy enacted at the survey area, based as it was largely on surface indications, was effective in selecting for preservation those areas with shallow peat cover and not (as was believed at the time of implementation) those with a higher feature density. These findings together crystallize various doubts concerning current survey practices, and the survey and conservation policies which it has been advocated should be based upon them.

The permanence of stream networks in Britain: Further comments

AbstractPrevious surveys of the stream network in an area of blanket peat moorland in the Southern Pennines, England, are reassessed with reference to the publication of a new ordnance survey 1:10000 Metric Edition map for the area. It is concluded that a significant number of low order streams are still omitted on the new map, and that the use of field surveys remains essential in such heavily dissected terrain.

The Prehistoric and Medieval Field Archaeology of Crownhill Down, Dartmoor, England

AbstractDartmoor, a granite massif in SW England, boasts the most completely preserved landscape of the 2nd millennium B.C. in Europe, with numerous burial cairns, houses, enclosures, fields, and territorial boundaries surviving. Systematic mapping of these remains has been in progress in the last decade, mainly by the University of Sheffield. This paper describes a low-lying area of moorland partially threatened by tungsten mining. The prehistoric fields on Crownhill Down represent a piecemeal layout in contrast to the systematic “reave” systems known elsewhere on the moor. Abandoned ca. 1000 B.C., the area was not recolonized for farming until the medieval period, ca. 1000 A.C. in the period of land hunger that continued to the 14th century. Ditched field systems and boundaries and a longhouse (a farmhouse with accommodation for both humans and livestock) belong to this period. From the 16th century the Down has been mined for tin, arsenic, and tungsten. This present survey attempts to demonstrate the l...

Upland landscapes: values and prospects

SUMMARY Upland scenery has been particularly valued by the British since the time of the Picturesque landscape movement and the Romantic literary movement. More recent active mountain and moorland recreation has increased interest in upland landscapes without diminishing the value attached to their beauty. The key elements of upland scenery are open moorland, fell or mountain on high ground; pastoral land; and deep ravines along which streams flow. The variety of each place arises from the variations of these elements and the relation between them. The wild bareness of open moorland vegetation covering skylines is a key characteristic of British uplands. Coniferous forestry is being established across large areas of moorland; whether some areas should be kept free of forestry does not at present seem to be a definite part of land strategy. New agricultural grass intakes are enclosing and fragmenting some moors, for instance Exmoor, the North Yorks Moors and parts of mid Wales. The impact of such intakes o...

The permanence of stream networks in britain: Some further comments

AbstractThe conclusions of Ovenden and Gregory (1980) are reviewed in the context of a stream network on the blanket peat moorland of the Southern Pennines. The very great disparity between the 1:10560 map network and the present channel system suggests that the original survey only included the major tributaries. Map accuracy in areas of peat moorland must therefore be treated with some caution particularly if no air photograph or field checking can be done. Some problems of network definition in the peat moorlands are also briefly discussed.

Restoration of Heather Moorland and Lowland Heathland, with Special Reference to Pipelines

Reafforestation, reclamation to agriculture, urbanization, and a variety of industrial activities—such as mineral extraction and the laying of gas and oil pipelines—cause loss or severe degradation of heather moorland and lowland heathland in Britain. In recent years the expansion of the gas and oil industries has involved installation of many major pipelines, some of which traverse areas of heather moorland. Heathland vegetation is very sensitive to disturbance, and natural regeneration of its plant communities is relatively slow. Three detailed examples are given of severe disturbance caused by the laying of pipelines, where the original heathland vegetation has not recovered. There have been irreversible changes in the vegetation, to grassland with Juncus spp., and these have been associated with considerable changes in soil properties across the pipeline easement.Improved techniques have been developed for reinstatement of heather moorland and lowland heathland after pipeline installation. The techniques are based on fundamental ecological principles and have been tested during the installation of a pipeline for Scottish Gas (across the Pentland Hills near Edinburgh) and during the installation of an oil pipeline in Dorset. In both cases recovery of the heathland vegetation was satisfactory. Based on these experiences, recommendations are given for the alleviation of problems associated with the laying of pipelines through heather moorland and lowland heathland.

The Shaugh Moor Project: Second Report—The Enclosure

The Shaugh Moor project is concerned with an area of moorland in south Dartmoor north-east and north respectively of the villages of Shaugh Prior and Wotter (fig. 1). The physical threat to the evidence for settlement and land-use caused by the operations of the China Clay industry involved the Central Excavation Unit of the Department of the Environment from 1976 in a programme of survey, excavation and environmental studies related to the settlements, land boundaries, burial mounds and ceremonial structures that are to be found on this piece of moorland. The background to the project and its preliminary research strategy have been outlined in Paper I (Wainwright et al. 1979) and this publication describes the investigation of a stone-walled enclosure surrounding houses and other structures that was totally excavated in 1977 and 1978. Subsequent papers will describe the related archaeological and scientific investigations into the past environment and land-use of this block of moorland and its adjacent region.

The spider fauna of Shetland and its zoogeographic context

SynopsisThe spider fauna of Shetland is described on the basis of collections made in 1974–75 and earlier published and unpublished data. The number of species recorded is increased from 35 to 90. Work on Ronas Hill and elsewhere has shown that Shetland has a substantial array of montane spiders, many of them occurring at much lower elevations than is normal in mainland Britain: a height of 400 m on Shetland is roughly equivalent—in terms of the spider community—to one of 900 m in the Cairngorms. Shetland appears to lack, however, a number of the arctic-alpine species present at high levels in mainland Scotland and the Faroes. The spider fauna of moorland in Shetland is shown to have closely similar composition to that of a moorland area in the Pennines, although the latter has more species. Other habitats discussed include sand dunes in South Mainland and serpentine heaths in Unst.The new information permits for the first time assessment of the spider fauna of Shetland in its zoogeographic context. Almost all of the species found in Shetland, the Faroes and Iceland are present in both Scotland and Fennoscandia; however, only two-thirds of the Faroes species and less than half of the Iceland species are also found in Shetland.Consideration of the Pleistocene history of the area permits analysis of the origins of the faunas. Some species adapted to arctic conditions may have survived through the last glacial episode in Iceland, where there were ice-free areas, but such survival is most unlikely for the Faroes and Shetland: for Orkney the picture is unclear. There was no subsequent overland immigration to Iceland or the Faroes and little or none to Shetland, but Orkney may have received rather more of its species in this way. The rapid postglacial rise in sea level ensured that the bulk of the species in all these faunas had to colonise over water. Some species were transported by man and a few may have travelled on natural rafts, but the majority seem to have immigrated by ballooning.Orkney probably received all its colonists from mainland Scotland and Shetland could also have done so. Immigration from Fennoscandia, however, was undoubtedly important in the case of Iceland, significant in the Faroes and possibly also contributed to the Shetland fauna. Only Iceland can be shown to have received species from Greenland.In an Appendix the spider species recorded from Orkney, Shetland, the Faroes and Iceland are tabulated and the occurrence of these species on the Scottish mainland and in Fennoscandia and Greenland is indicated.

Age, growth and length‐weight relationship of brown trout Salmo trutta (L.) in the Loch of Strathbeg, Aberdeenshire

Most age and growth studies on brown trout in British lakes have been restricted to highland or moorland areas. In the unusual environment of a coastal dune lake (Loch of Strath‐beg, Aberdeenshire) the trout population was short‐lived with few fish surviving longer than three years. Growth was rapid compared with other naturally‐stocked lakes. Growth in length and weight differed between 1–and 2–migrants. Faster growth in the burn was the factor causing early migration by 1–migrants (71% of population), but both groups grew at the same rate on entering the loch. The effect of gill‐net selection on the estimation of the length‐weight relationship was demonstrated. A small difference was found in the length‐weight relationship among the mature stages. Factors responsible for rapid growth and small age‐range of the population are discussed.

Net Aerial Production by Calluna Vulgaris on Lowland Heath in Britain

Different aspects of the ecology of Calluna vulgaris* and the communities in which it is found have been of interest to many workers and are reviewed by Beijerinck (1940) and Gimingham (1960, 1972). Calluna occurs over much of Europe in a range of communities where it may be present in varying abundance. In Britain the plant is found from sea level to just over 1000 m and is often the dominant plant on heath and moorland areas with few associated species. As Calluna becomes dominant where the supply of available plant nutrients is low it is important to consider the overall nutrient budget of heathland and to establish and quantify the amounts of nutrients contained in the particular components of the ecosystem. In recent years a number of studies have looked at the rates of growth and the nutrient budgets of heathland and moorland areas (Robertson & Davies 1965; Bellamy & Holland 1966; Chapman 1967, 1970; Forrest 1971). With the advent of the International Biological Programme a number of Calluna sites have been examined in considerable detail, both botanically and zoologically. In nearly all such studies the measurement of some component of primary production, or the standing crop, is needed as a basis for the study of other features such as the nutrient budget, litter production, decomposition, secondary production or grazing. This present account describes the net aerial production by C. vulgaris and associated plant species growing on an area of lowland heathland in southern Britain. It is hoped that the data are presented in such a way that comparisons can be made with Calluna growing under different climatic or geographical conditions; for this reason the results are detailed in an appendix as well as being presented in graphical form. The measurement of root production poses many problems and is generally less well studied than aerial production. The work described here is no exception and concentrates upon above ground production. It is impossible to make full and valid comparisons with other sites and types of vegetation without considering root production; preliminary but less satisfactory estimates of root production have been made (Chapman & Webb 1975) and will be published in more detail later.

SucanandLlymruin Wales

In common with most hilly regions in Britain, oats have long been the staple crop grown in the upland farming districts of Wales. Wales has often been described as a land of mountains or a land of hills and while this is in some ways an accurate description—to the geographer the country falls into three divisions, namely lowlands, moorland,, and mountains.The moorland areas, that is generally the land between 600 and 2,000 ft. are extensive and form the largest portion of the country. Generally, the soils are heavy and cold, and moisture rather than sunshine and warmth is the outstanding feature of the climate, thus making farming in these areas predominantly pastoral. A characteristic view from these moorlands is that of a sea of hilltops, stretching as far as the eye can see and between the hills deep V-shaped valleys with cultivated fields on their floors.

Problems of Afforestation in North Scotland

The forest area of north Scotland has been almost trebled since the end of the second world war, and the planting rate is still accelerating. The British forestry effort is becoming increasingly concentrated in the Scottish Highlands, and rapid afforestation has in places been associated with land-use problems. Most of the land undergoing afforestation is open moorland carrying only light stocks of hill sheep. Gradually forestry is being forced on to poorer quality land as the available area of better quality land diminishes. Poor quality land means that rates of tree growth are slow, and the profitability of the forestry enterprise is doubtful. Also the age-class structure (the proportion of trees of different ages) is highly abnormal, since most of the forests are young, and most of the production is in the form of small roundwood (small logs) rather than sawlogs. Marketing difficulties have arisen over the supplies of small roundwood produced as thinnings, despite the establishment of a pulp and paper mill near Fort William. Although the labour force directly employed in forestry is declining as a result of mechanization, forestry is still a more intensive employer than the land uses with which it competes, and employment provision is an important element in forest policy. SINCE the second world war, large areas have been afforested in north Scotland (defined on Figure i), as in other parts of Upland Britain, and the traditional pattern of land use dominated by sheep farms and deer forests' has been considerably diversified. Afforestation has taken place mainly on an open landscape of extensive rough grazings and moorlands capable of supporting only light sheep stocks. The population density in the moorland areas is extremely low, falling to one person per 25 km2 or more, compared with the Highland (Crofting Counties) average of eight persons per km2. The sparsity of rural population, except in the crofting areas of the north and west seaboards, where in any case forestry potential is extremely low, means that afforestation has had little detrimental effect on rates of depopulation. Most of the land is held in large, privately-owned estates, which may operate both sheep-farm and deer-forest enterprises, and apart from the lowland areas and the crofting fringe there are few family farms. Both state and private enterprise are involved in afforestation schemes through the Forestry Commission and estate owners respectively. At present a third category of woodland owner is beginning to emerge in the form of commercial companies or syndicates, but as yet most of this type of involvement is confined to the better forest land in the south of Scotland. There is at present no well-established tradition of vertical linkages between forestry and the woodusing industry. Equally, there is no tradition of involvement in forestry on the part of the general body of the rural population, so that the seasonal dichotomy of occupation between farm and forest is not part of the Highland scene. THE ENVIRONMENT AND FORESTRY POTENTIAL Although the environment of parts of the Scottish Highlands is well suited to rapid tree

Breeding performance and shooting bags of Red Grouse in relation to public access in the Peak District National Park, England

A three-years' study was begun in 1967 to investigate complaints from moor owners in the Peak District National Park that recent agreements, which allow people to walk over moorland areas away from public rights-of-way, had resulted in a decline in the numbers of Red Grouse shot each year. Broods of Red Grouse were counted on study areas on three moors where people had unrestricted access and on three moors where access was limited to rights-of-way. Past bags of the Grouse shot on 15 moors were also examined. Grouse bred no worse on study areas on moors where people had unrestricted access, and Grouse bags showed no evidence of a decline associated with public access agreements. Counts on two busy Sundays in July and August showed that only 5 per cent of visitors strayed from the main paths, despite access agreements. Heather management for Red Grouse was poor on three of the study areas.

Pupation and fecundity of Molophilus ater Meigen (Diptera: Tipulidae) in relation to larval weight.

The life cycle of the cranefly Molophilus ater Meigen on an area of Pennine moorland in Britain is described. The later recruitment of females into the adult population is referable to a slightly longer period of larval development for females than for males, and not to any difference in the duration of the pupal stage. Significant relationships exist between larval weight and sex of pupae, and pupal weight and adult fecundity. Implications of these findings to the preparation of population budgets for the species are discussed.

The Post-Glacial Development of Vegetation and Soils in Northern Cardiganshire

The paper describes work on soil profiles derived from Lower Palaeozoic sedimentary rocks in an area centred on the Plynlimon (Pumlumon) upland, West Wales. Pollen and spore counts were undertaken on selected soil profiles and the data analysed. Profiles studied include soils of moorland plateaux, the peaty podsols and their variants, as well as soils of sloping land west of, and marginal to, the plateaux. It is suggested that Post-glacial vegetation changes initially exerted a direct control on soil development but that, as soil acidification progressed, edaphic factors assumed greater importance. Evidence suggests that Post-glacial woodland extended to the limits of the study area (c. 600 m) but that exposure imposed local restrictions. The view is put forward that the decline in woodland above about 300 m represented a natural degradation and that the action of Bronze Age man was to destroy secondary woodland rather than a Post-glacial climax formation. The establishment of a raw humus layer in moorland areas is associated with the development and extension of an Ericaceous flora. It is considered that, under these conditions, podsolization was initiated and that this led in many instances to impeded surface drainage and peat formation. Vegetation changes in pasture, woodland, and moorland profiles have been identified and it is considered that the degree of consistency in the records obtained confirms that the vertical pollen distribution in soil is essentially a function of time. THE WORK of G. W. Dimbleby (1957, 1962) demonstrates how soil pollen analysis can be used to reconstruct the outlines of vegetational and land-use history for given sites. Furthermore, the comparison of site evidence permits inferences to be drawn regarding regional vegetation distributions. Dimbleby has concentrated on the British heathlands, and many of the sites he examined had already yielded an archaeological datum, which assisted in the interpretation of the pollen records. It is evident that pollen analysis applied to soils allows a much greater variety of sites to be studied than in the case of pollen analysis restricted to peats. There has been little detailed work on the extraction and interpretation of pollen from soils of upland Britain, particularly above 300 m, although C. B. Crampton (1963, 1965) has studied selected localities in South Wales. The area with which the present paper is concerned centres on a part of Cardiganshire which has advantages in terms of relatively undisturbed soils and uniform lithology. An attempt is made to reconstruct Post-glacial changes in soil profiles from a consideration of vegetation changes and other empirical methods. In all, twenty-seven sites have been analysed (R. T. Smith, 1969). The area includes a series of upland planation surfaces. The Plynlimon (Pumlumon) mass surmounts the highest surface; from this core, valleys radiate northward to the River Dovey (Dyfi) and westward to Cardigan Bay. The local rocks consist of Ordovician and Silurian shales and grits (greywackes). Frequently, the shales are identified at the surface by smoother gentler relief, while the occasional grit bands give rise to sharper knolls and ridges. Pleistocene glacial

Predation as a Factor in the Ecology of Triclads in a Small Weedy Pond

The population biology of the four lake-dwelling species of triclad turbellarians, Polycelis nigra (O. F. Muller), P. tenuis (Ijima), Dendrocoelum lacteum (O. F. Miiller) and Dugesia lugubris (O. Schmidt) has been studied by Reynoldson (1960, 1961), Taylor & Reynoldson (1962) and Young & Reynoldson (1966). It was shown that these populations of triclads existed at or near the limit of their food supply for considerable periods of the year. This results from three features of triclad biology, namely an ability to react to food shortage by shrinkage, resistance to senescence and the stability of their physicochemical habitat. Reynoldson (1966) in a review of the population biology of the lakedwelling species of triclads, based his hypothesis of the distribution and abundance of triclads on interand intra-specific competition for food, the food resource acting both as a density-governing factor (sensu Nicholson 1954) and as food refuges for the four triclad species. It was assumed, based on laboratory evidence and the literature, few animals preyed upon triclads. In the moorland area of Snowdonia near Llanllechid at 340 m above sea level, two field experiments were carried out in a small weedy pond 4-2 x 4-8 m with emergent Juncus effusus L. and Sphagnum cuspidatum Ehr. ex Hoffm. around the edges and Potamogeton sp. leaves floating on the surface of the water. The pond contained large numbers of a few species of potential predators but no triclads. The purpose of the investigation was to study the incidence and intensity of predation on triclads introduced into the pond and to determine firstly whether predation could reduce the triclad population below the level atwhich competition for food occurs, and secondly if some species of triclad were preyed on more heavily than others. Young & Reynoldson (1965) reported that attempts to establish triclads in the pond were unsuccessful and suggested that this was due to predation. Experimental verification of predation was attempted by the introduction of triclads into the pond followed by sampling of the potential predators, by taking sweeps with a net (twelve meshes/cm). As triclads are soft-bodied animals with no easily identifiable hard parts, evidence of predation by the examination of predator gut contents could not be obtained, and a serological technique was developed. In essence this required the production of four specific antisera, one against each of the triclad species, which would react with the remains of ingested triclads but not against the predator itself or other prey organisms. Initial cross-reactions were absorbed out and specific rabbit antisera against Polycelis nigra, Dendrocoelum lacteum and Dugesia lugubris were produced. Loss of sensitivity after absorption prevented the preparation of a specific anti-Polycelis tenuis serum; therefore an anti-P. tenuis serum which retained sensitivity but cross-reacted with P. nigra was used (Davies 1969). Immediately on collection suspected predators

The Distribution of Mineral Nutrients in Soil after Heather Burning

1) Soil blocks from seven moorland areas in the United Kingdom representing a range of soil types were collected together, treated with ash from burnt heather and left exposed to weather for 12 months. 2) Plots at three sites were similarly treated after being cleared of vegetation. Similar plots were burned or cleared but not treated. 3) Soil samples were taken at intervals and analysed for extractable mineral nutrients. Rainwater sampled regularly at these sites was also analysed. 4) At five sites the nutrients dissolved from the ash were almost wholly retained in the surface organic layer. At two sites with sandy soils some movement down the profile was also recorded. 5) Some uptake of nutrients by regenerating vegetation occurred. This was most notable on the soil blocks from the areas with the lowest nutrient status. 6) Income by precipitation greatly exceeded the amounts carried down the profile. It was concluded that this income more than made good any losses of mineral nutrients likely to occur by leaching of heather ash after burning. Pe30ome 1. lOl'BeHHIm e MOHOJIHTLT, B3HTbIe H3 7 BepeuLaTHHKOB BeRIRKo6pHTaHIIH, npeRCTaBJISIToLX eAHbIR PAA IIO'qBeHHbIX THnOB, co6paHM6 B ORHO MeCTO, o6pa6oTaHbl 30J1O coxoieHHorO BepeCKa H OCTaBj1eHb Ha OTKpbITOM B03,gyXe Ha 12 MecHLxeB. 2. HIOqBeHHbIe HnTOigaAKH B 3 yiaCTiax ocBo6oxcgeHbI OT paCTHTeNjbHOCTH H o6pa6oTaHM6 CXOAHbIM o6pa3oM. oxAo6HbIe rnjoI1aRgKH 6bIur COKKeHbI Him OqeHU6H OT paCTHTeJIBHOCTI, HO He o6pa6oTaHbl. 3. '1epe3 pa3JIRlHbI e HnpoMe;YTKH BpeMeHH C HCCfIeAOBaHHMIX y'IaCTKOB 6paJIR HO'IBeHHbIe npo6bI, B KOTOPbIX oipeqesiAiiH cogepxcaHze paCTBOPHMbIX MHHepaHjhH]IX cojieli. Ha 3THX wce yqacTKax peryJIspHo co6iaparnH goKxceBYlO BOAy. 4. Ha 5 yiaCTKax MlHepajIbHbie COJIH, BbIMbIBaeMbme H3 30JZb1, IO'ITH HOJIHOCTMO OCTalOTCS Ha lOBsepXHOCTH opraHzqecKoro CJIOA. Ha 2 y'aCTKaX C necmaHOR HOlBOR 3aperHCTpHpOBaHO OIIYCKaH1{e 30JIbHbIX 3JIeMeHTOB BHH3 1I10 HOYlBeHHOMY npo4)HJIIO. 5. HeKOTopaq laCTB 3OJIEHbIX 3JieMeHTOB yCBaHBaeTCA BOCCTaHaBJIHBaToTiie2iCri paCTHTejibHOCTMO. 3TO oco6eHHo 3aMeTHO B HO'lBeHHbIX MOHOJIRTaX, B3ATbIX H3 MeCT C HaH6ojlee BMICOKHM co~epxaH~eM 30JIbHbIX 3)IeMeHTOB. 6. YBeJIWieHHe cogaepKaHHIK ocaqK)raKioL xcS MHHepaJIbHXIX coneft HaMHoro fipeBbillfaeT KOIWHIeCTBO OIIYCKaiOWLLHXCA BHH3 no0 nOBeHHOMY Hpo0n{HIIo 3OJbHbIX 3JIeMeHToB. 3To yBeJIH'leHHe BOCIIOJIHReT TaKwKe HOTepH 30JhbHbIX 3JIeMeHTOB, npoHcxoAsAMe B pe3yJlbTaTe BMiiitejamHBaHH5 BepeCKOBOA 30JIEJ. Manuscript accepted November 1967.

The Adoption of the Metric System in the Ordnance Survey

Imust admit to some early trepidation when I was asked if I would be prepared to table this paper, 'The adoption of the Metric System in the Ordnance Survey'. In the first place, the results of metrication, whilst massive in the numbers of docu? ments affected are fairly ordinary in substance in comparison with, say, the adoption of the metric system in aircraft instrumentation and less likely therefore to give rise to impassioned argument and discussion! Secondly, the Ordnance Survey has proposed to begin its adoption of the metric system at that end of its work which you generally might find to be less interesting, although the reverse may be true for those of you who are engineers, surveyors or architects. Lastly, it is not a subject which lends itself to presentation by magic lantern, which would conveniently hide deficiencies in my presentation. To assess the merits of a contour interval, or the clutter created by the inclusion of new material on a map, or the effect of more colour, must be gauged for its visual effect at scale, and projection does nothing to help the appreciation. I should add, finally, that my paper does not state accepted Government policy, which is still under discussion. The Ordnance Survey's task.?Looking back at papers presented by the Ordnance Survey and others concerning the Ordnance Survey, in the past, I am struck by the fact that speakers generally assume that, because the Ordnance Survey has been going for a considerable time, everybody knows precisely what it has done in the past, is doing at present and plans to do in the future. They then launch into a specialized subject. Perhaps they are right, but in talking about the effect of metri? cation in the Ordnance Survey, I cannot take this sort of risk because it really is essential for metrication to be assessed and measured against what would have been happening in the future without it. A good deal of my research has shown that there is not really very much appreciation of what we are doing. I am sure I do not need to go back to the Ordnance Survey's first published map in 1801, and it may simply be confirming your knowledge when I say by the 1930's the state of mapping had so deteriorated that Lord Davidson's Committee was appointed in 1935 to consider what measures were needed to restore the national survey. The recommendations of the Committee provided for the retriangulation of the whole country so that all its maps and plans could be revised and reconstituted upon a uniform system of control (now the national grid) which until then had been lacking, and also for the continuous revision of the large scale plans to ensure that the deterioration of the preceding years should never recur. A new and larger scale, 1/1250, was introduced for major built up areas, and the Ordnance Survey has been engaged on completing this, and on the recompilation and revision of the old twenty-five inch scale maps of cultivated areas and minor towns, as well as the resurvey of mountain and moorland areas at the six-inch scale, since the end of the Second World War. The 1/1250 scale survey is nearing completion. About 48,000 plans are involved. The 1/2500 and the six-inches to one mile, as well as the 1/25,000 is unfortunately however a different story. Of the total of some 182,000

THE REPRODUCTIVE CAPACITY OF JUNCUS SQUARROSUS

SummaryThe six attributes which govern the reproductive capacity of Juncus squarrosus have been measured in plants from a variety of habitats at different altitudes, mainly in an area of moorland at the head of Teesdale in the north Pennines.It was found that about eighty inflorescences per square metre were produced, but this number was reduced in adverse conditions such as at high altitudes in unfavourable seasons, or when there was a spring drought. The average number of florets per inflorescence varied from about six on well‐drained sites and at high altitudes to twenty‐two in moist conditions at lower levels. Up to 60% of the florets ripened into capsules, but in 1962, a very poor summer, less than 10% ripened at 550 m, and in 1963 only 19% ripened at 700 m. Altitude and the seasonal climate also had a marked effect on the number of seeds per capsule, and their viability. In good conditions fifty seeds developed per capsule, and viability approached 100%, but in 1962 at all altitudes, and in 1963 at high levels, values were much lower than this. Normally most of the seeds produced are dispersed, but close to the limit of capsule maturation the capsules may never open.The total number of viable seeds dispersed was estimated. Even in 1962 about 150 viable seeds per m2 were dispersed at 550 m, and in 1963 the figures varied between 2000 and 13,500 seeds per m2, according to the soil conditions. At the lower levels more seeds may be produced but this is counterbalanced by losses caused by larvae of the moth Coleophora alticolella.

Some Nematodes From the Moor House National Nature Reserve, Westmorland

Information is given on nematodes collected over a period of two years from a British montane moorland area with predominantly acid peat soils. Thirty-eight genera and twenty-eight species were indentified, but although these vary in their distribution on the different habitats studied, no strictly moorland nematode fauna was found.