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The article profiles Botanical Journal of Scotland. According to the author, in 1863 the Botanical Society of Edinburgh has been founded and in 1990 published Transactions of the Botanical Society of Edinburgh. He added that the name of the Society has been changed to Botanical Society of Scotland and the journal into Botanical Journal of Scotland. Moreover, the change has signaled the formalization of the Society becoming a Scotland-wide organization. He emphasized that one area of success of the journal is the publication of the papers from special symposia.

This paper deals with three aspects of the process of restoring planted ancient woodland sites (PAWS) to semi-natural conditions. Firstly, we describe a baseline assessment of botanical interest within a PAWS. This survey has been undertaken to determine the impact of clearfelling, particularly on lower plants and the subsequent colonisation of ground vegetation into areas currently dominated by needle litter. Secondly, we discuss some of the main considerations when undertaking restoration through alternative silvicultural systems to clearfell. Finally, we describe the main requirement for successful site monitoring for management purposes. The last decade has seen considerable attention given to the benefits of restoring plantations on ancient woodland sites (PAWS) to semi-natural conditions. The survival of species and communities associated with ancient woodland through the process of conversion will be a critical measure of success for restoration practice. It is generally assumed that a gradual approach will improve the chances of such success. Glencripesdale National Nature Reserve (NNR) is a heterogeneous area of semi-natural open ground, ancient woodland and Sitka spruce plantation. The plantation blocks contain occasional discrete elements of semi-natural vegetation, including some veteran trees. Because of difficult access and poor stability, silvicultural options are limited and clear felling is the only practical option. We describe a simple method of monitoring changes to cryptogamic communities and ground layer vegetation prior to and following clearfelling of the plantation matrix. Baseline data are presented. In more stable and accessible stands, there are a number of alternative silvicultural approaches to consider when gradually restoring a PAWS. This paper addresses the question of how to secure ancient woodland remnants. We outline some of the initial silvicultural considerations such as stability, thinning/felling pattern and light requirements of native tree species. An approach to site monitoring is presented to allow managers to assess whether conditions are improving or declining and whether they are delivering objectives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Atlantic Oakwoods support a unique breeding avifaunal community, characterised by redstarts, wood warblers, pied flycatchers and tree pipits. We have used a sample of data from the national Repeat Woodland Bird Survey to examine population changes in these four species within Atlantic Oakwoods over the last two decades. We used data from 29 woods in Argyll in western Scotland surveyed in 1985, and from 27 woods in Gwynedd in northwest Wales surveyed in 1983 and compare them with data from repeat surveys carried Out in 2003 and 2004. In this paper, we report the population changes for these species between these two periods and examine whether changes differed between Scottish and Welsh sites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper explores whether any of the familar range of current oakwood structures in the west of Scotland can be used as realistic analogues for the prehistoric oakwoods. Even for the early historic oak woodlands we have no detailed knowledge of previous structures and composition. The structure of today's oak woodlands, and to some extent even the legacy of species within that habitat, are a type of biocultural heritage. The oak woodlands that we see today are the product of a long interaction: between man's use of the woodlands and the ongoing natural processes within the oakwood ecosystem. Grazing animals, especially domestic cattle and red deer, have played a key part in determining oak woodland structure in historic times, and perhaps have a future role too. Are there lessons to be drawn from knowledge of past management and regeneration of oak which are relevant to the present day, when most managers are finding it difficult to regenerate oak woodlands on any scale? Understanding past utilisation and structure of oak woodlands is valuable mainly as a guide to future management. Indeed one might ask which models and structures are relevant for managing an oak woodland resource now regarded mainly as a wildlife habitat? [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores the relationship between ecological change and human use in Atlantic oakwoods during the last millennium. Information on vegetation change derived from high resolution pollen analytical studies can sometimes be satisfactorily linked with localised documentary evidence of historical woodland management. Key findings based on this approach using case studies of individual woods in Lorn are presented. Relatively diverse woods, probably containing old-growth, were transformed in the medieval period into disturbed open stands used for pasturage and local domestic wood supply. Around or prior to 1700 AD commercial management began and modes of exploitation changed so that, for a period until the late 19th or early 20th century, stands were cropped intensively. In the most recent 100 years or so, use of the woods has been relatively minor except as a grazing resource. The consequences of this history for the development of the current condition and character of Atlantic oakwood resources are discussed with reference to elements of woodland biodiversity such as arboreal species composition and Atlantic bryophyte assemblages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper summarises activity for the restoration of treeline woodland and montane scrub in Scotland over the last six years and into the near future. It concentrates on promotional activity by the Montane Scrub Action Group, but also includes restoration activities by other bodies. In recognising constraints on resources it proposes a method of prioritising sites in order to develop a strategic action plan for restoration. Better knowledge of the condition of sites will be fundamental to the final stages of such planning and the paper introduces Action Group plans to enlist the assistance of hill users to improve our knowledge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Scottish habitats are here reviewed in a European context. Examples are selected in order to identify those recognisable as distinctively Scottish as well as others related to Scandinavian or European counterparts. The paper begins with a resumé of the main environmental influences in Scotland, then describes examples of habitats almost unique to, or best represented in Scotland. This is followed by reference to some distinctively western versions of more widely distributed habitats, and others corresponding to related types elsewhere. The beating of this on site selection for nature conservation is discussed. Hitherto, in the UK selection for National Nature Reserves and Sites of Special Scientific Interest has been based largely on the criteria listed in A Nature Conservation Review (Ratcliffe, 1977). It is important, however, also to review Scottish habitats in a European context, as attempted in this paper. In making proposals (now approaching completion) for Special Areas of Conservation, to be recommended by the UK Government for adoption by the European Commission, it is now our duty to include not only habitats for which we have special responsibility because they are unique to or best represented in Scotland, or have distinctively western features, but also sufficient examples of all the main European types occurring in our country. Nomenclature of British flowering plants and ferns follows Stace (1991). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Atlantic Oakwoods can be seen as ‘at the edge’ in two ways. First, they lie at the extreme oceanic end of a series of Quercus robur and Q. petraea woodlands which stretches eastwards from the North Atlantic coast to the continental heartland of Europe. Second, they are at the northern limit of a range of oceanic oakwoods which extends southwards to Iberia where Q. pyrenaica is an important canopy companion. This paper outlines the main variations in trees, shrubs, herbs and cryptogams that can be seen along these two climatic gradients, so as to highlight what is truly distinctive about the Atlantic Oakwoods and how we might rightly value them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper describes the route, speed and mode of colonisation of oaks by integrating a number of independent analyses using molecular ecology, palaeoecology and simulation modelling approaches. Using a synthetic map of the contemporary distribution of chloroplast DNA (integrating several published and unpublished data sets and describing variation in 1468 trees from 313 autochthonous stands of Q. robur and Q. petraea from Britain and Ireland), and considering the postglacial topographic landscape, the most likely routes of postglacial colonisation across the British Isles are suggested. The overall pattern of these directions agrees with previous interpretations, but several routes, particularly those into Ireland, differ from previous interpretations and benefit here from using a single synthesised data set. Interestingly, the Atlantic oakwoods appear to have been colonised by individuals bearing a single haplotype (type 12). Two palaeoecology data sets, published separately for Britain and Ireland, are synthesised here and used to infer the timing of first arrival of oaks across the British Isles (between 9500 and 6000 years before present). The maximum observed colonisation speed within the British Isles is approximately 500 m year-1 in central and southern England. Outputs from a simulation model, which mimics postglacial colonisation processes, and which has been parameterised for the colonisation rate observed from the pollen core record and contemporary cpDNA structure, predict that the rapid colonisation rate observed, for at least the southern portion of the British Isles, can only be achieved via very rare (an approximate frequency 0.01 %), very long distance seed dispersal events (up to 100 km). Potential agents of such dispersal events are birds or major meteorological disturbances, e.g. hurricanes. Additional simulation modelling and genetic analysis of latitudinally stratified populations indicate that non-synchronous colonisation fronts, topographic barriers and temperature related survival may also have had an effect on the speed of migration and resulting genetic structure. Finally, in an attempt to record predicted long distance seed dispersal events, a novel curve fitting technique is applied to molecular parentage assignment data for field established seedlings from a contemporary population. A notable discrepancy is recorded between contemporary field estimates (just over 1 km) and those predicted by simulation modelling, and is discussed in detail. A concluding section describes future research priorities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Atlantic oakwoods are the oceanic oak-dominated woodlands that fringe the western coast of Britain and Ireland and, due to their high humidity and rich and luxuriant lower plant assemblages, have been regarded as ‘temperate rainforest’. However, unlike the similarly iconic Caledonian pinewoods, Atlantic oakwoods have no formal designation or associated woodland classification type, which gives some uncertainty to the extent of the oakwoods habitat on its fringes. This paper examines the various elements central to the concept of an ‘Atlantic oakwood’ and discusses their occurrence in Great Britain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Long-term survival is a feature of plant life in the Arctic both for individuals and species. Stems of willow can be centuries old and vegetatively reproducing clones can have their ages counted in millennia. Circum-polar examination of chloroplast DNA has made it possible to trace the migration of Saxifraga oppositifolia clades over a period of 4-5 million years and demonstrate that this species maintained a presence north of the ice sheets during the last glacial maximum and probably longer. There has long been speculation that the Arctic has two distinct tiaras, an ancient autochthonous flora (an original endemic flora) that has survived since the Pleistocene and an invading flora that has immigrated into the Arctic during late glacial and post-glacial times. It is therefore probable that Saxifraga oppositifolia is not alone in its Pleistocene occupation of High Arctic polar deserts. The ancient autochthonous flora consists of conservative species with widespread distributions and chromosome counts that are simple diploids, with little evidence of allo-polyploidisation. This is in marked contrast to the majority of the Species that arc now present in the Arctic which arc polyploid. This paper considers some of the physiological and genetic properties of polar-plant-populations that may facilitate persistence in uncertain and heterogeneous adverse environments. Attention is drawn to some possible advantages that diploid species may possess over polyploids. in having a mutualistic rather than a competitive relationship between varying sub-populations and local ecotypes whereby. diploid species. consisting of many variable populations that readily interbreed. provide a mutually accessible source of genetic variation that may have contributed to long-term survival. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper reports demographic studies of the endemic Cerastium nigrescens and the very rare Arenaria norvegica ssp. norvegica on the Keen of Hamar ultramafic outcrop on Unst, Shetland from June 1994 to November 1996. Plants of Cerastium nigrescens showed a Deevey type II curve and mature plants had a half-life of 3.8 years. Plants of Arenaria norvegica ssp. norvegica showed a Deevey type I curve with high mortality after flowering in the second year. There was some evidence of increased mortality during droughts but this had little impact on the total population. Seed production and seedling recruitment for both species was good throughout the study period. Seed bank measurements ranged from 12-13 m[sup -2] for Cerastium nigrescens and 24-43 m[sup -2] for Arenaria norvegica ssp. norvegica. The study showed that there was no immediate threat to the populations of the two species but because of their isolated occurrence they are susceptible to extinction and should be carefully monitored. Key words: Arenaria norvegica ssp. norvegica; Cerastium nigrescens; conservation; demography; fellfield; monitoring; seed bank. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is a range of legislation and policy relating to plant conservation in Scotland, including international, European and domestic measures (Scottish Office, 1998). There are, in addition, opportunities and challenges for plant conservation as a result of devolution. This paper reviews examples taken from the range of current policies and laws to illustrate both where these have been beneficial and where they have not been so successful for plant conservation, and offers some views on what lessons have been learnt from these actions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper describes the status of surviving montane willow scrub on or adjacent to Ben Lawers NNR, referring to eight species of willow and juniper. Most of these have no viable future on the Reserve. The evidence and reasons for decline are discussed, and the conservation work initiated since 1987 described, including its rationale and the associated objective problems. Intervention with fencing and planting is intended to test the feasibility of restoring a viable scrub community, with the proximate objective of reestablishing seed-producing populations of the respective species. The long term and uncertain nature of the work is discussed. Plant names used are according to Stace (1991). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The blanket bogs of Caithness and Sutherland are the finest examples of their type in the world. Restricted to a few parts of the world where cool, oceanic climatic conditions prevail, Britain holds approximately 13% of the total global resource of blanket bog, of which the bogs of Caithness and Sutherland form the largest and most intact area. In recent times, extensive areas of the peatlands of Caithness and Sutherland have been damaged — principally through drainage and forestry. In 1994, the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) purchased Forsinard Estate in the heart of the peatlands as part of a EU LIFE funded project on blanket bog conservation. In partnership with Scottish Natural Heritage and Caithness and Sutherland Enterprise, this four year RSPB led project promoted a number of initiatives on awareness raising and ecotourism as well as a range of practical demonstrations on restoring damaged blanket bog. More recently, a follow up LIFE Peatlands Project was launched in 2001 where RSPB extended the partnership to include SNH, Forest Enterprise, Plantlife and the Forestry Commission. This paper gives an overview of the partnership approach to the management and restoration of damaged blanket bog in Caithness and Sutherland. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper describes the assessment of upland plant communities in the context of Scottish Natural Heritage's Site Condition Monitoring (SCM) programme. The quality of all notified features on all statutory designated sites will be monitored every six years, with the first national report being produced in 2005. Notified habitat features are largely defined in terms of plant communities. It is important to appreciate that plant communities are to some extent used as proxy indicators for wider interests. Upland monitoring will cover 973 specific vegetation features (grouped into just over thirty generic feature types) and 66 habitat assemblage features, spread over 223 sites and 6516 km². Problems and solutions associated with the identification of feature boundaries, quality attributes and targets, and sampling are discussed. Three sets of assessment issues are selected for further discussion: first, appropriate species composition, and the use of direct and indirect targets; second, appropriate disturbance regimes and how this relates to naturalness and bioiversity; and third, the inclusion in monitoring of long-term progressive changes that may also be large scale. Finally, a brief summary is provided of those plant communities and processes for which, currently, monitoring can only be superficial because of insufficient information. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus L.) is a prominent species in moorland and woodland vegetation which spreads and survives mainly by vegetative growth from buds. Each berry contains many seeds but seedlings are rarely seen in Scotland. Thus, it is of interest to establish whether the lack of seedlings reflects a low production of viable seeds, their dormancy status, or germination requirements or seed longevity. Samples of V. myrtillus berries were collected from moorland in the east Grampian mountains, Scotland. Each berry contained about 70 seeds. Small seeds did not germinate but large fresh seeds achieved over 80% germination in laboratory tests. Seeds stored dry for one year did not lose viability. Seeds stored in moist cold conditions (to mimic conditions in the soil over winter) lost viability progressively and none germinated after about 43 weeks. Germination occurred over the range of 15-24°C. These seed germination and longevity characteristics may currently severely limit the window of opportunity for germination of seeds of V. myrtillus in Scotland and have implications for the spread of V. myrtillus if average temperatures increase. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Robert Smith and his brother William (W.G.) were described by Tansley (1939) as 'the original pioneers of modem 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 years ago. 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 tatum to Scotland, he developed this theme and applied it to making vegetation maps in various parts of Scotland, regarding this as a preliminary to understanding relationships between vegetation, climate, soil and human impacts. Thus, the first stirrings of practical ecology in Britain were influenced by the phytosociological outlook which was developing in Europe. Sadly, Robert Smith died prematurely in 1900, but his work was continued for a time by his brother, W.G. Smith, and others. It was the primary inspiration for the formation of a 'Central Committee for the Survey and Study of British Vegetation' in which other pioneers of plant ecology, including A.G. Tansley, participated. Although, for various masons, their interests moved away from vegetation mapping towards plant-environment interactions, ecological processes, and vegetation dynamics, Smith's work had laid the foundations for a series of important studies of Scotland's plant communities, including those of E.L. Birse and J.S. Robertson, M.E.D. Poore, D. McVean and D. Ratcliffe. In 1964 J.H. Burnett revived the aim of comprehensive description of Scottish vegetation with his book The Vegetation of Scotland. R. Smith's work helped to bring a fresh approach into British botany, and launch plant ecology as a scientific study of vegetation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents the biodiversity action plans for species and habitats in Scotland. Habitat type or taxonomic group; Three classes of research requirements; Key areas of research identified in the published species action plans and habitat action plans.

Examines the responses of Sorghum bicolor L. seedlings to soil penetration resistance. Effects of soil penetration resistance treatment on the root biomass of the seedling; Decrease in shoot growth; Increase in the carbon sink strength of the roots.

Extensive hybridisation between the two sympatric species Quercuspetraea and Q. robur is suggested by the near lack of genetic differentiation between the two species and supported by controlled crosses and mating system analysis in mixed stands. Further ecological and genetic evidence suggest that hybridisation does not impede the ecological specialisation of the two species, raising the issue of its evolutionary significance in oaks. Preferential unidirectional hybridization (pollen Q. petraea to ovule Q. robur) has been shown in various mixed stands and facilitates the introduction of sessile oak in existing pedunculate stands. If this unidirectional trend is reinforced in later backcrosses, then hybridisation leads to the dispersal of Q. petraea in existing stands of Q. robur. Hybridisation can therefore be seen as a ‘pollen-mediated’ dispersal mechanism, and has most likely contributed to the rapid migration of Q. petraea in Europe. Given the extant distribution of the species in Europe, migration through pollen swamping should be seen at the edges of the natural distribution of Q. petraea where the demographic imbalance of the two species will reinforce backcrosses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on the research on the aspects of grazing and browsing and their effects on vegetation in Scotland. According to the author, herbivorous animals influence the vegetation in many ways in addition simply to removing green leaves and shoots. He added that one of the most spectacular effects on biting, grazing and browsing is seen in bark-stripping by red deer. Moreover, the destructive effect of grazing on birchwoods is a fairly common sight throughout the Highlands. He emphasized that to recognize the degradation that is often associated with animal management on free-range is important.

The author reflects on the ecological analysis of the grassland of Orkney, Scotland. He stated that although the maritime grasslands remained on the coastal cliffs, the Nature Conservancy Council found that most enclosed fields in mainland Orkney were improved or semi-improved and species-poor. He added that S.W. Scath has classified the grasslands as wet or dry pasture and within these two types as acid, neutral or calcareous.

The article highlights the alien plants in the Tweedside district. According to the author, another source of alien seeds is the old skin works in Galashiels and wool shoddy is spread on fields to improve soil fertility. He added that the modern affluent treatment and the cessation of spreading wool shoddy has largely curtailed the introduction of alien seed except for those introduced via wild bird seed. Moreover, the alien plant together with Phacalie tanacetifolia Benth. is most often sent to the Botanic Garden for identification. Furthermore, the control of Ragweed is compulsory in many countries in continental Europe since it is hyper-allergenic and causes severe hay fever.