The Botanic Garden of Trinity College Dublin 1687 to 1987

WYSE JACKSON, P. S., 1987. The Botanic Garden of Trinity College Dublin 1687 to 1987. The first botanic gardens in Europe were Physic Gardens. In Britain the earliest established was at Oxford (1621) and in Ireland at Trinity College Dublin (1687). Apart from a short-lived garden at Harold's Cross the Physic Garden remained in the College until 1806 when land was leased at Ballsbridge.
In 1804 James Townsend Mackay was appointed as gardener in the College, marking a change in the College to pure botany for the first time. The new Botanic Garden was created and cared for by Mackay for almost 60 years. He was succeeded as Curator in 1862 by John Bain, who was followed by Frederick Moore in 1877. In 1879 Moore succeeded his father David Moore as Curator of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Glasnevin. Frederick W. Burbidge then came to the post of Curator from England in 1879.
The Curatorship of the garden was abolished from 1905 to 1981, and the Professor of Botany became Director. In 1967, when the lease of the College's land at Ballsbridge was ending, a new Botanic Garden was established at Dartry and the valuable plant collection was transferred. Today-it has a high national and international reputation and is widely used for botany teaching and research.     

The heights of French-Canadian convicts, 1780s–1820s

This paper uses a novel dataset of heights collected from the records of the Quebec City prison between 1813 and 1847 to survey the French-Canadian population of Quebec—which was then known either as Lower Canada or Canada East. Using a birth-cohort approach with 10 year birth cohorts from the 1780s to the 1820s, we find that French-Canadian prisoners grew shorter over the period. Through the whole sample period, they were short compared to Americans. However, French-Canadians were taller either than their cousins in France or the inhabitants of Latin America (except Argentinians). In addition to extending anthropometric data in Canada to the 1780s, we are able to extend comparisons between the Old and New Worlds as well as comparisons between North America and Latin America. We highlight the key structural economic changes and shocks and discuss their possible impact on the anthropometric data.     

Patrick Matthew's law of natural selection

Patrick Matthew is the little‐known first originator of macroevolution by natural selection. I review his ideas, and introduce some previously unnoticed writings (catalogued at a new website: http://smarturl.it/patrickmatthew ) that clarify how they differ from Darwin's and Wallace's. Matthew's formulation emphasized natural selection as an axiomatic ‘law’ rather than a ‘theory’, a distinction that could still be of use to us today. © 2015 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2015, ●● , ●●–●●.     

The construction of Mendel's laws

While “Mendel's Laws” are generally taught as natural facts, they are actually pedagogical constructions, which originated in a series of lectures at Princeton in 1916. What accounts for their popularity?     

Research project: A history of health in Europe from the late Paleolithic era to the present

This article briefly describes a large, multidisciplinary research project that combines skeletal data in Europe over the past 10,000 years with information from sources in history, archaeology, geography and climate history to measure and analyze important aspects of human health. Over this era human health was significantly affected by climate change, the rise of settled agriculture, urbanization, new technologies, global exploration and colonization, and industrialization.     

Research project: A history of health in Europe from the late Paleolithic era to the present

This article briefly describes a large, multidisciplinary research project that combines skeletal data in Europe over the past 10,000 years with information from sources in history, archaeology, geography and climate history to measure and analyze important aspects of human health. Over this era human health was significantly affected by climate change, the rise of settled agriculture, urbanization, new technologies, global exploration and colonization, and industrialization.     

Land-use history and succession of Larix decidua in the Southern Alps of Italy–An essay based on a cultural history study of Roswitha Asche

Larix decidua, the European Larch tree, is a typical forest species of the Southern Alps of North Italy growing in mixture with Picea, in isolated pure stands, or as solitary trees on meadows at 1000–2000 m elevation. Presently, the old-growth Larix forests show no regeneration, while Picea abies, Norway spruce, invades at lower elevation, and Pinus cembra, Stone pine, at higher elevation. In this study, we investigate the conditions that lead to pure stands of L. decidua in the past. It is shown that intensive land-use of grazing was essential for Larix regeneration, and that the pure stands of Larix will disappear in the future with the change of land-use, unless management will be intensified again to produce mineral soil for Larix to regenerate.     

Holocene climate and vegetation in the Milford drainage basin,Maine, U.S.A., and their implications for human history

A 9200 ¹⁴C year fossil pollen record from a small kettle lake in central Maine, northeast U.S.A., records the development of nearby upland vegetation throughout the Archaic, Ceramic, and Historic periods of human history. The Early Archaic period (9000 to 8000 B.P.) began as open woodland dominated by Picea, Populus, and Larix, which was replaced by Pinus forest. During the Middle Archaic (8000-6000 B.P.) Tsuga-dominated forest, which developed ca. 7400 B.P., was followed by Pinus forest (ca. 6400 B.P.). The Late Archaic (6000-3000 B.P.) was a period of great transition; Tsuga forest developed again ca. 5700 B.P., but was abruptly replaced by northern hardwood forest ca. 4700 B.P. That Late Archaic expansion of hardwoods would have provided better forage for beaver. Coincidentally, boreal wetland mammals such as beaver (Castor canadensis) and muskrat (Ondatra zibethicus) increase in faunal assemblages of local archaeological sites, while remains of anadromous fish decrease. We postulate that the apparent increase in human populations throughout the region during the Late Archaic may be attributed to an increase in the resource base within both upland and wetland areas resulting from the development of hardwood forest in response to climatic cooling.     

Palaeoecological investigations towards the reconstruction of the history of forest clearances and coastal heathlands in south-western Norway

Palynological data collected over a period of 60 years have been compiled and re-interpreted in order to reveal the patterns of deforestation and health establishment in the south-western Norwegian coastal heathland. This heathland area has been divided into four sub-regions based on topography, bedrock and drift cover. The palynological investigations are from sites with pollen source areas of different sizes. The palynological signals are interpreted in terms of models that suggest an abrupt, gradual or stepwise deforestation which can be explained by terms of different pollen source areas. The deforestation seems to have been metachronous, leading to a regional mosaic pattern of different vegetation types. The deforestation process spanned more than 3600 calendar years (4000-400 B.C.), with three pronounced clearance periods at 4000-3600 B.C. (Mesolithic/Early Neolithic transition), 2500-2200 B.C. (Middle Neolithic II/Early Late Neolithic transition), and 1900-1400 B.C. (Late Neolithic to Bronze Age period II). The expansion of heathland has also been metachronous and took place over a period of ca. 4000 years between 4000-200 B.C., but was mainly completed by the end of the Bronze Age. Regional differences in the chronology of deforestation and heathland establishment are discussed. Deforestation with subsequent heathland expansion can best be explained in terms of the interaction between land-use history, topography and edaphic conditions under climatic conditions that favoured heathland development.     

Wealthier Jews,taller Gentiles: Inequality of income and physical stature in fin-de-siècle Hungary

The stereotype of rich Jews versus poor Gentiles does not apply to fin-de-siècle Hungary. Although the average income of Jews was higher than that of Gentiles, the distribution of income among Jews was extremely unequal, far more so than among Christians. Jews were over-represented at the poor end as well as at the rich end of the income spectrum. In four high schools studied the average height of Jewish students was approximately 1 cm below that of Gentiles. This height–income discrepancy goes far to explain the divergence in income distribution between the members of the two faiths.     

Offspring size in Daphnia: does it pay to be overweight?

Variation in offspring size and number has beendescribed for a wide range of organisms. In this studyI investigated the relationship between resource levelof the mother and size of her offspring in thecladoceran Daphnia magna, in order to assess whetheroffspring produced at different food levels areoptimal in size for these food levels. Optimaloffspring size was defined as the size of offspringthat yields the highest parental fitness (i.e.offspring of optimal size have the highest juvenilefitness per unit maternal effort invested in them). Iobserved that especially at the higher food levels,daphnids produced offspring that are larger than thecomputed optimal offspring size at these food levels.I interpret this as a mechanism to avoid starvation ofneonates in the case of suddenly deteriorating foodconditions.     

The development of the endoparasitoid wasp Venturia canescens in superparasitised Ephestia kuehniella

Using a molecular marker that allows the differentiation of two strains of the solitary endoparasitoid wasp Venturia canescens, the study investigated the influence of host mass and the time interval between ovipositions on the survival and development of larvae from both the first and second laid eggs in superparasitised Ephestia kuehniella. As the time interval between ovipositions increased both overall and superparasitism success decreased, however, time between, and order of, ovipositions had little effect on other developmental parameters. Adult size increased with host mass under both parasitism and superparasitism, while host mortality decreased with host mass under superparasitism. In addition, wasps emerging from superparasitised hosts were larger than wasps from parasitised hosts. The results confirm that for V. canescens on the host E. kuehniella both self- and conspecific-superparasitism will be an adaptive strategy when hosts are the limiting factor.     

Oocyte maturation and ovariole number in lines of Drosophila melanogaster selected for postponed senescence

1. Postponed senescence lines of Drosophila melanogaster have previously been generated by selection for delayed female reproduction.
2. This study addresses the question of whether the selection regime has differentiated lines with respect to oocyte maturation or ovariole number.
3. Oocyte stage and ovariole number were characterized in replicate postponed senescence lines (O) and in replicate control lines (B).
4. Oocyte maturation is delayed in O females.
5. The delay in oocyte maturation in O lines corresponds to reduced early age fecundity.
6. Selection may have resulted in an increased number of ovarioles in O females.     

Australian genetics: A brief history

Although Australia has a productive history in plant and animal breeding, fundamental genetics was late in becoming established. Before the 1950s there was no separate department of genetics in any university in the country. Reasons for the delay include geographical isolation, Australian and British colonial science policy, and the lack of a critical mass of researchers. Through the efforts of Ian Clunies Ross and the CSIR several prominent scientists were induced to come from overseas to set up the framework for an Australian-based genetics community. Since that time fundamental genetics in Australia has flourished with high quality graduates in genetics being produced at a number of universities, and many local research programs being initiated. This period has seen the gradual internationalisation of Australian genetics and increased collaboration with overseas researchers taking place. This paper provides an historical overview of the origins and progress of genetics in Australia beginning with plant breeding in the first decades of this century to the present era of molecular genetics. Significant personalities, institutions, policies, reports and publications are discussed in order to make sense of the current structures.     

柽柳科（Tamaricaceae）植物的研究历史

柽柳科（Tamaricaceae)是一个古老的科,起源于第三纪,包括亚洲中部的内的“古地中海”沿岸地区,该科植物主要为旱生植物,其中大多数种是防风、固沙造林和水土保持的优良树种,对改造沙漠和改善气候条件具有重要的生态意义。同时,该科植物在荒漠地区还具有广泛的经济用途。     

The role of the amateur in mycology—what would we do without them!

The amateur's role in the history of mycology will be traced from its early roots deeply based in the collection of fungi for food to the amateur's present day activities. Attention will be drawn to the most important key amateur figures studying fungi solely or as a wider part of natural history in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, and the early part of the present century. How their work influenced the development of mycology will be demonstrated. It is often forgotten that the authorities attached to fungal names, including those we use in mycology on a daily basis, often belong to amateurs. The true professions of these amateurs, the net-work of correspondents they developed, etc. will be revealed and discussed in the context of an overall understanding of fungi as organisms. In addition the formation of mycological societies, and how they have become a focus of amateur activity and a source of accurate and disciplined information valuable to professional scientists will be plotted. The kind of work undertaken by amateurs I refer to will be demonstrated by documenting the activities of the British Mycological Society which celebrated its centenary in 1996. The continuing work of this band of workers and their counterparts throughout the world in the closing years of the millennium will be described. It is argued that they are nationally important and necessary resources, despite many governments or their advisers, especially the most influential ones, being under the delusion that systematics is not cutting edge science. It is also emphasized that amateurs will have an even more important role to play in the future as custodians of knowledge—until hopefully opinions change. The essential points of this paper were addressed to the 42nd Annual Meeting of the Mycological Society of Japan held at Kyoto University, Kyoto, on 16–17, May 1998.     

Ecology of a pastoral caste: Gavli Dhangars of peninsular India

The Gavlis are a pastoral caste of the forested hill tracts of India 's Western Ghats region. This paper examines their shift under British colonial rule from buffalo-keepers to goatherds to cultivators of increasingly marginal hill tracts, the context of forest exploitation and malaria control as well as more recent dairy development programs of the Indian government. It concludes that if present trends continue Gavlis everywhere will follow the same progression, eventually becoming landless migrants.     

The Politics of Managing the Maine Lobster Industry: 1860 to the Present

Marine fisheries are in a state of crisis. One of the few successfully managed fisheries is the Maine lobster industry where catches are at an all time high. An important factor in this success is the effectiveness of regulations which were developed during three periods over the course of the past 125 years. In all cases, the regulations are the result of heavy lobbying activity by various factions in the industry. Both strong commercial rivalry and genuine concern for the well-being of the lobster resource played a role in generating these regulations. However, history did not repeat itself. In each period, the players, circumstances, and goals were very different. The result, however, is a set of effective regulations which are largely self-enforcing.     

Life History Recorded in the Vagino-cervical Microbiome Along with Multi-omes

The vagina contains at least a billion microbial cells, dominated by lactobacilli. Here we perform metagenomic shotgun sequencing on cervical and fecal samples from a cohort of 516 Chinese women of reproductive age, as well as cervical, fecal, and salivary samples from a second cohort of 632 women. Factors such as pregnancy history, delivery history, cesarean section, and breastfeeding were all more important than menstrual cycle in shaping the microbiome, and such information would be necessary before trying to interpret differences between vagino-cervical microbiome data. Greater proportion of Bifidobacterium breve was seen with older age at sexual debut. The relative abundance of lactobacilli especially Lactobacillus crispatus was negatively associated with pregnancy history. Potential markers for lack of menstrual regularity, heavy flow, dysmenorrhea, and contraceptives were also identified. Lactobacilli were rare during breastfeeding or post-menopause. Other features such as mood fluctuations and facial speckles could potentially be predicted from the vagino-cervical microbiome. Gut and salivary microbiomes, plasma vitamins, metals, amino acids, and hormones showed associations with the vagino-cervical microbiome. Our results offer an unprecedented glimpse into the microbiota of the female reproductive tract and call for international collaborations to better understand its long-term health impact other than in the settings of infection or pre-term birth.