ECOLOGICAL STUDIES AT LOUGH INE
199
conditions. It is possible that the multiplicity of niches on the seashore
favours polymorphism (Battaglia, 1965). The selective advantages which
we have found in varieties of Thais (Nucella) lapillus recall other work
on colour varieties of land snails and on melanic Lepidoptera. Our review closes with an approach towards the problem of the control of
populations in a limited area of the shallow sublittoral- the problem
on which we are principally engaged a t present. We are now investigating the interactions of organisms within this community and the
ways in which their behaviour and rhythms of activity contribute qualitatively to a more or less steady state with limited fluctuations. I n due
course we hope that it will be 1)ossible to treat the number of organisms
quantitatively in terms of population dynamics.
Studies a t Lough Ine are far from complete. Detailed knowledge of
distribution is confined to the larger plants and animals and our attention has been given mainly to sedentary or slow-moving organisms. We
know little about the microfauna, about the animals of the mud or
gravel bottom, the plankton or the nekton. We recognize, too, that the
exact balance between animal and environment, between predator and
prey, may alter with season (our observations have all been made between June and September) or from season to season, and that our
results may be true only for Lough Ine and not for other regions. Nevertheless, we think that some of the relationships we describe may
occur elsewhere, and that, in any case, the general principles may apply
widely.
Our investigations were started from the Marine Biological Station
of University College, Cork, to which we were iiitroduced by Professor
1,. P. W. Renouf. As the work expanded we built the Dromadoon
Laboratory on the hillside east of tho Rapids, with provision for running (not recirculated) sea water pumped from the Rapids. We idso
set up as a base the Glannafeeri Laboratory beside a small bay on the
south shore of the lough, in a situation convenient for various “field”
experiments which we shall describe.
A general description of the Lough Ine area and of its flora and fauna
has been given by Renouf (!931), together with some valuable lists for
Lough h e . Rees (1035) has made an extemive survey of the algae of
the lough, and Grubb and Martin (1937) have described the algal flora
of the Bullock Island cave. The work which wc describe was carried out
in collaboration with a number of eolleagucs whose names appear as
co-authors of our series of papers. \Ye also gladly acknowledge the help
of other senior workers and of many university students during our
visits to Lough Ine.
199
conditions. It is possible that the multiplicity of niches on the seashore
favours polymorphism (Battaglia, 1965). The selective advantages which
we have found in varieties of Thais (Nucella) lapillus recall other work
on colour varieties of land snails and on melanic Lepidoptera. Our review closes with an approach towards the problem of the control of
populations in a limited area of the shallow sublittoral- the problem
on which we are principally engaged a t present. We are now investigating the interactions of organisms within this community and the
ways in which their behaviour and rhythms of activity contribute qualitatively to a more or less steady state with limited fluctuations. I n due
course we hope that it will be 1)ossible to treat the number of organisms
quantitatively in terms of population dynamics.
Studies a t Lough Ine are far from complete. Detailed knowledge of
distribution is confined to the larger plants and animals and our attention has been given mainly to sedentary or slow-moving organisms. We
know little about the microfauna, about the animals of the mud or
gravel bottom, the plankton or the nekton. We recognize, too, that the
exact balance between animal and environment, between predator and
prey, may alter with season (our observations have all been made between June and September) or from season to season, and that our
results may be true only for Lough Ine and not for other regions. Nevertheless, we think that some of the relationships we describe may
occur elsewhere, and that, in any case, the general principles may apply
widely.
Our investigations were started from the Marine Biological Station
of University College, Cork, to which we were iiitroduced by Professor
1,. P. W. Renouf. As the work expanded we built the Dromadoon
Laboratory on the hillside east of tho Rapids, with provision for running (not recirculated) sea water pumped from the Rapids. We idso
set up as a base the Glannafeeri Laboratory beside a small bay on the
south shore of the lough, in a situation convenient for various “field”
experiments which we shall describe.
A general description of the Lough Ine area and of its flora and fauna
has been given by Renouf (!931), together with some valuable lists for
Lough h e . Rees (1035) has made an extemive survey of the algae of
the lough, and Grubb and Martin (1937) have described the algal flora
of the Bullock Island cave. The work which wc describe was carried out
in collaboration with a number of eolleagucs whose names appear as
co-authors of our series of papers. \Ye also gladly acknowledge the help
of other senior workers and of many university students during our
visits to Lough Ine.