Ecology can be defined as the study of the inter-relationships between
organisms and the physical and biological components of their environment. With such a broad field for research, ecologists, perhaps more than
any other group of biologists must find it difficult to keep up with developments occurring at the many growing points of their subject. It is
the intention of Advances in Ecologicnl Research to present comprehensive accounts of selected topics of ecological research in such a way that
biologists with a general interest in ecology as well as specialists in
ecology, can obtain a balanced picture of what is taking place.
The scope of the articles to be published in this series will not be
strictly limited to ecology. Advances within ecology are very dependent
on changes occurring in other branches of science. It is important,
therefore, that from time to time, articles surveying developments related to ecology in such subjects for example, as genetics, biochemistry,
taxonomy and biometrics should be published. There has never been a
rigid division between pure and applied research in ecology and many
of the major advances in the subject have come from the investigation
of applied problems. It is our intention, therefore, that contributions
which show the application or development of ecological principles in
applied biology should receive adequate treatment in this publication.
This first number contains four contributions which in their different
ways discuss important aspects of ecology. Much of our knowledge of
the activity of soil organisms is dependent upon more accurate assessments of their numbers and their distribution. The literature of this
subject is scattered throughout many journals and the efficiencies of the
various techniques are inadequately known. A. Macfadyen’s review of
methods for the extraction and study of soil arthropods provides information which should be of assistance not only to those concerned with
arthropods but to many contemplating or engaged upon the study of
other soil organisms. The main theme of M. J. D. Poore’s paper is the
analysis and description of plant communities. This subject as well as
being the basis of plant ecology is of interest to animal ecologists and to
applied ecologists concerned with the utilization of biological resources.
L. B. Slobodkin in Energy in Animal Ecology, deals with a branch of research which is developing rapidly. Here again is a topic which goes
beyond the confines of one type of ecologist. The problems of how energy
vii
organisms and the physical and biological components of their environment. With such a broad field for research, ecologists, perhaps more than
any other group of biologists must find it difficult to keep up with developments occurring at the many growing points of their subject. It is
the intention of Advances in Ecologicnl Research to present comprehensive accounts of selected topics of ecological research in such a way that
biologists with a general interest in ecology as well as specialists in
ecology, can obtain a balanced picture of what is taking place.
The scope of the articles to be published in this series will not be
strictly limited to ecology. Advances within ecology are very dependent
on changes occurring in other branches of science. It is important,
therefore, that from time to time, articles surveying developments related to ecology in such subjects for example, as genetics, biochemistry,
taxonomy and biometrics should be published. There has never been a
rigid division between pure and applied research in ecology and many
of the major advances in the subject have come from the investigation
of applied problems. It is our intention, therefore, that contributions
which show the application or development of ecological principles in
applied biology should receive adequate treatment in this publication.
This first number contains four contributions which in their different
ways discuss important aspects of ecology. Much of our knowledge of
the activity of soil organisms is dependent upon more accurate assessments of their numbers and their distribution. The literature of this
subject is scattered throughout many journals and the efficiencies of the
various techniques are inadequately known. A. Macfadyen’s review of
methods for the extraction and study of soil arthropods provides information which should be of assistance not only to those concerned with
arthropods but to many contemplating or engaged upon the study of
other soil organisms. The main theme of M. J. D. Poore’s paper is the
analysis and description of plant communities. This subject as well as
being the basis of plant ecology is of interest to animal ecologists and to
applied ecologists concerned with the utilization of biological resources.
L. B. Slobodkin in Energy in Animal Ecology, deals with a branch of research which is developing rapidly. Here again is a topic which goes
beyond the confines of one type of ecologist. The problems of how energy
vii