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This article analyses the first years of the land order system of immigration that dominated Queensland's settlement as a colony. Queensland issued land orders worth £30 per adult to farepaying British and Irish immigrants who were mechanics, agriculturalists and people with modest amounts of capital. This form of immigration was facilitated through the work of an Emigration Commissioner - later an Agent-General - based in the British Isles. Henry Jordan held these positions in the period 1861-6. The article argues that land orders only partly met their intended outcomes, but that Jordan's activities were essential for the scheme's limited success. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new method has been developed to directly assimilate volume scans of radar reflectivity data with 4D‐Var in the Met Office Unified Model. The method has been demonstrated in the convective‐scale hourly‐cycling UKV forecast model. Reflectivity observations from 18 C‐band radars in the British Isles are assimilated. This article describes the method of observation processing and quality control, the observation operator, and assimilation method. The assimilation method uses a minimum threshold rainwater content in the forward operator to give sensitivity to reflectivity observations where there is no rain in the background. Furthermore, the use of the Huber norm in the observation penalty function allows the use of observations with large innovations in the assimilation. A change was made to the precipitation efficiency in the microphysics scheme of the linear perturbation forecast model to ensure stability of the scheme. A case‐study is presented which demonstrates how the inclusion of reflectivity observations enhances convergence through analysis increments to the wind field, leading to improvements to the location of convective precipitation features in the forecast. Two‐month trials for summer and winter seasons demonstrate significant improvements to rain forecasts in the nowcasting range. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Management of avian species threatened by land use and climate change requires a thorough understanding of their site fidelity and dispersive behaviors. Among long-lived colonial seabird species, the behavior of returning to the natal colony to breed, i.e., natal philopatry, may increase the likelihood that adequate resources and mates are available, but it may also increase the potential for inbreeding, competition, and ecological traps. Successful management of seabird populations--using chick translocation to encourage colony establishment to locations having minimal threats--must also be informed by the likelihood that birds will return to the new sites. However, the extent of philopatry, and the traits that dictate variation across seabirds, have yet to be fully summarized. We evaluated whether seabirds returned to their natal colony at rates greater than those predicted by colony size and various dispersal variables, based on data gathered for 36 seabird species nesting in the British Isles and the Hawaiian Archipelago. We compiled long-term banding and census data across 663 colonies. A linear mixed-effects model was employed to determine the relationship between philopatry and colony demographics, wingspan (mobility), and spatial variables. Our results indicate that philopatric rates are higher in the Hawaiian Archipelago than in the British Isles. Additionally, our research suggests that seabird management using chick translocation will have the greatest success with Procellariiformes species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three clearly defined abrupt cooling events (ACEs) can be observed within Greenland Interstadial (GI)‐1 in the Greenland ice‐core records. However, the spatial variation in amplitude and timing of these ACEs is poorly understood due to the paucity of well‐dated records with quantified temperature reconstructions. This study presents high‐resolution chironomid‐inferred July air temperature (TJul) and oxygen isotope (δ18O) records from Crudale Meadow (Orkney Isles, UK). Three centennial‐scale ACEs punctuate the Windermere Interstadial at Crudale Meadow. The largest ACE shows an amplitude of 5.4 °C and a 1% isotopic decline and is centred on ~14.0 ka bp, consistent with the timing of the GI‐1d event in the Greenland stratigraphy. The two other observed ACEs are of smaller magnitude and are centred on ~13.6 ka bp and ~13.2 ka bp, with these smaller magnitude events tentatively correlated with the GI‐1cii and GI‐1b events, respectively, but lack sufficient chronological constraint to fully assess their timing. When comparing the Crudale Meadow record with other locations in the British Isles a strong relationship can be observed between the magnitude of TJul cooling and latitude, with a reduced signal in more southerly locations, indicating that oceanic forcing may be a key driver of the ACEs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The influence of the North Atlantic on the margins of Europe means the region is particularly sensitive to changes in the ocean–atmospheric system. During the Last Glacial–Interglacial Transition (16–8 cal ka bp) this system was repeatedly disrupted, leading to a series of abrupt and short‐lived shifts in climate. Despite much research, the number and magnitude of these 'centennial‐scale' events is not well understood. To address this, we expand upon investigations at Quoyloo Meadow, Orkney, Scotland, one of the best chronologically constrained palaeoclimate records in northern Britain. By coupling stable isotope and chironomid fossil analyses with existing data, this study identifies multiple phases of centennial‐scale disturbance at: c. 14.0, 11.1, 10.8, 10.5, 10.45 and 10.3 cal ka bp, with the events at 14.0 and 10.3 exhibiting a particularly pronounced cold‐climate signature. During the Holocene, the strongest response to climate forcing was at c. 10.3–10.0 cal ka bp, expressed as a two‐stage drop in mean July temperatures, a shift in pollen spectra indicative of 'less‐stable' climatic regimes, and a depletion in δ18O values. We interpret this as the first reliably dated incidence of the '10.3‐ka event' in the British Isles and consider the wider impact of this climatic reversal in other Holocene records. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In many cases of apparent contact-induced change the contribution of genealogical correlation in the language sample and its interaction with processes such as matter and pattern replication are difficult to specify. In order to get a better sense of the relevance of shared ancestry, we quantify the change in similarity since the late Middle Ages in a sample of Romance and Germanic languages with data from a selected grammatical domain (expression of reflexivity). We compare their dynamics to patterns of change of similarity in two contact zones in Europe, namely the British Isles (Dedio et al., 2019) and the Balkans. Concerning the genealogical signal, the results indicate a maintenance and gain of similarity in Romance as opposed to a loss of similarity in Germanic. This hints at the importance of the inherited states, the time since the split from the common ancestor, and subsequent developments. We presume that these factors are likely to be at the origin of the maintenance and increase in similarity observed for the sampled Romance varieties. While this result cannot be generalized beyond the specific case study presented here, the basic approach will contribute to a better understanding of how contact, genealogy and culture interact in shaping the dynamics of linguistic similarity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Imperfect historical records and complex demographic histories present challenges for reconstructing the history of biological invasions. Here, we combine historical records, extensive worldwide and genome-wide sampling, and demographic analyses to investigate the global invasion of Mimulus guttatus from North America to Europe and the Southwest Pacific. By sampling 521 plants from 158 native and introduced populations genotyped at >44,000 loci, we determined that invasive M. guttatus was first likely introduced to the British Isles from the Aleutian Islands (Alaska), followed by admixture from multiple parts of the native range. We hypothesise that populations in the British Isles then served as a bridgehead for vanguard invasions worldwide. Our results emphasise the highly admixed nature of introduced M. guttatus and demonstrate the potential of introduced populations to serve as sources of secondary admixture, producing novel hybrids. Unravelling the history of biological invasions provides a starting point to understand how invasive populations adapt to novel environments. Vallejo-Marín et al. combine historical records, extensive worldwide and genome-wide sampling, and demographic analyses to investigate the global invasion of Mimulus guttatus from North America to Europe and the Southwest Pacific. They found that M. guttatus was first likely introduced to the British Isles from the Aleutian Islands (Alaska), followed by admixture from multiple parts of the native range, and hypothesise that populations in the British Isles then served as a bridgehead for vanguard invasions worldwide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A new measure (DBS) of tuberculosis improved precision, consistency and uniformity. • Using DBS showed that sex, weight and M. avium response influenced TB in badgers. • A covariate model reduced error equivalent to using 30% more animals in a study. An oral vaccine is a potential tool to tackle the reservoir of Mycobacterium bovis in European badgers (Meles meles), which contributes to tuberculosis of cattle in the British Isles. Inferences about vaccine protection against experimental challenge with M. bovis depend on the measurement of tuberculosis. Assessment of tuberculosis in larger species, such as badgers, is typically based on the tuberculous lesions visible at post-mortem examination and histopathology. We have developed a robust scoring system for tuberculous lesions by combining several parallel measures, which we call the "disease burden score" (DBS). Alternative scoring systems were compared within a regression analysis applied to observations from a total of 168 badgers from eight studies, including 107 badgers subjected to vaccination treatment and 61 non-vaccinated controls. The analysis included incidental observations that were recorded from each badger as potential covariate factors explaining some of the variation among animals sourced from the wild. DBS was found to be the most accurate and reliable of the scoring systems compared. By taking account of significant covariates affecting disease, application of the DBS reduced residual variance by 22.9%. A previously used measure, based on assessment of visible lesions, was suboptimal due to non-uniform variance that increased with expected value, although square root transformation addressed this issue. The covariate model fitted to DBS included sex (males had higher DBS), weight (negatively associated with DBS) and immunological evidence of prior exposure to Mycobacterium avium (positively associated with DBS). We identified improved measures of tuberculous disease derived from data already collected. We also demonstrated that the proper scaling of measurements of disease in such models is necessary and can be determined empirically. The covariates which were most strongly associated with the severity of disease are important in experimental studies involving outbred animals with variable background. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biodiversity plays an important role in ecosystem functioning, habitat recovery following disturbance and resilience to global environmental change. Long‐term ecological records can be used to explore biodiversity patterns and trends over centennial to multi‐millennial time‐scales across broad regions. Fossil pollen grains preserved in sediment over millennia reflect palynological richness and diversity, which relates to changes in landscape diversity. Other long‐term environmental data, such as fossil insects, palaeoclimate and archaeologically inferred palaeodemographic (population) data, hold potential to address questions about the drivers and consequences of diversity change when combined with fossil pollen records.This study tests a model of Holocene palynological diversity change through a synthesis of pollen and insect records from across the British Isles along with palaeodemographic trends and palaeoclimate records. We demonstrate relationships between human population change, insect faunal group turnover, palynological diversity and climate trends through the Holocene.Notable increases in population at the start of the British Neolithic (~6,000 calendar years before present [bp]) and Bronze Age (~4,200 bp) coincided with the loss of forests, increased agricultural activity and changes in insect faunal groups to species associated with human land use. Pollen diversity and evenness increased, most notably since the Bronze Age, as landscapes became more open and heterogeneous. However, regionally distinctive patterns are also evident within the context of these broad‐scale trends. Palynological diversity is correlated with population while diversity and population are correlated with some climate datasets during certain time periods (e.g. Greenland temperature in the mid‐late Holocene).Synthesis. This study has demonstrated that early human societies contributed to shaping palynological diversity patterns over millennia within the context of broader climatic influences upon vegetation. The connections between population and palynological diversity become increasingly significant in the later Holocene, implying intensifying impacts of human activity, which may override climatic effects. Patterns of palynological diversity trends are regionally variable and do not always follow expected trajectories. To fully understand the long‐term drivers of biodiversity change on regionally relevant ecological and management scales, future research needs to focus on amalgamating diverse data types, along with multi‐community efforts to harmonise data across broad regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Alopecurus myosuroides (blackgrass) is a major weed in Europe with known resistance to multiple herbicide modes of action. In the UK, there is evidence that blackgrass has undergone a range expansion. In this paper, genotyping‐by‐sequencing and population‐level herbicide resistance phenotypes are used to explore spatial patterns of selectively neutral genetic variation and resistance. We also perform a preliminary genome‐wide association study (GWAS) and genomic prediction analysis to evaluate the potential of these approaches for investigating nontarget site herbicide resistance. RESULTS: Blackgrass was collected from 47 fields across the British Isles and up to eight plants per field population (n = 369) were genotyped by Restriction site‐associated DNA (RAD)‐sequencing. A total of 20 426 polymorphic loci were identified and used for population genetic analyses. Phenotypic assays revealed significant variation in herbicide resistance between populations. Population structure was weak (FST = 0.024–0.048), but spatial patterns were consistent with an ongoing westward and northward range expansion. We detected strong and consistent Wahlund effects (FIS = 0.30). There were no spatial patterns of herbicide resistance or evidence for confounding with population structure. Using a combination of population‐level GWAS and genomic prediction we found that the top 20, 200, and 2000 GWAS loci had higher predictive abilities for fenoxaprop resistance compared to all markers. CONCLUSION: There is likely extensive human‐mediated gene flow between field populations of the weed blackgrass at a national scale. The lack of confounding of adaptive and neutral genetic variation can enable future, more extensive GWAS analyses to identify the genetic architecture of evolved herbicide resistance. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article discusses the changing ways in which the Oxford English Dictionary has recorded the vocabularies of 'World English'—English as spoken outside of the British Isles—from the first to the present edition. Based on direct analyses of the coded text of multiple editions, it documents and compares the practices of successive editors, taking into account various contextual factors, such as editorial principles and policies, institutional resources, and historical language development. Significant attention is given to labelling practices, including the notorious 'tramline' mark of the First Edition and Second Supplement, designating 'alien' vocabulary; the evolution of the notion of 'regional' English within the dictionary; and the contributions of technology to the art of lexicography. The final section details changes in policy and methods in the current revision and expansion, evaluating both its practices vis-à-vis its predecessors, and the picture it gives us of the current state of World English. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many stereotypes run through the historiography on Vikings and violence. This article proposes to reassess the fate of the captives during the Viking raids in the British Isles through a non-exhaustive corpus. The aim is to analyse the typology of captivity, the conditions of detention and the punishment inflicted by the Northmen: are the Scandinavians more violent than other peoples? Does being a prisoner of the Vikings necessarily imply terrible abuses ? Were the cruel acts cited in the sources actually practised ?

The settlement of Iceland in the Viking Age has been the focus of much research, but the composition of the founding population remains the subject of debate. Some lines of evidence suggest that almost all the founding population were Scandinavian, while others indicate a mix of Scandinavians and people of Scottish and Irish ancestry. To explore this issue further, we used three-dimensional techniques to compare the basicrania of skeletons from archaeological sites in Iceland, Scandinavia, and the British Isles. Our analyses yielded two main results. One was that the founding population likely consisted of roughly equal numbers of Scandinavians and people from the British Isles. The other was that the immigrants who originated from the British Isles included individuals of southern British ancestry as well as individuals of Scottish and Irish ancestry. The first of these findings is consistent with the results of recent analyses of modern and ancient DNA, while the second is novel. Our study, therefore, strengthens the idea that the founding population was a mix of Scandinavians and people from the British Isles, but also raises a new possibility regarding the regions from which the settlers originated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The annual plant Impatiens glandulifera (Himalayan balsam) is the most widespread invasive non‐native weed in the British Isles. Manual control is widely used, but is costly and laborious. Recently, biological control using the rust fungus Puccinia komarovii var. glanduliferae has been trialled. We designed an experiment to assess the impact of these control methods on invertebrate communities in relation to unmanaged and uninvaded habitats, and to determine whether mycorrhizal inoculation aided post‐control recovery of these communities. Sixty invaded and twenty uninvaded field soil blocks were transplanted to the experiment site, where a mycorrhizal inoculum was added to half of all blocks. Biological and mechanical control treatments were applied to twenty invaded blocks independently; the twenty remaining invaded blocks were left intact. Above‐ and belowground invertebrate samples were collected from the blocks at the end of the growing season. Overall, aboveground invertebrate abundance increased with the removal of I. glandulifera, and several groups showed signs of recovery within one growing season. The effect of mechanical control was more variable in belowground invertebrates. Biological control did not affect aboveground invertebrate abundance but resulted in large increases in populations of belowground Collembola. Our experiment demonstrates that mechanical removal of I. glandulifera can cause rapid increases in invertebrate abundance and that its biological control with P. komarovii var. glanduliferae also has the potential to benefit native invertebrate communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The earliest records in Britain for the western European house mouse (Mus musculus domesticus) date from the Late Bronze Age. The arrival of this commensal species in Britain is thought to be related to human transport and trade with continental Europe. In order to study this arrival, we collected a total of 16 ancient mouse mandibulae from four early British archaeological sites, ranging from the Late Bronze Age to the Roman period. Results: From these, we obtained ancient mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) house mouse sequences from eight house mice from two of the sites dating from the Late Bronze to Middle Iron Age. We also obtained five ancient mtDNA wood mouse (Apodemus spp.) sequences from all four sites. The ancient house mouse sequences found in this study were from haplogroups E (N = 6) and D (N = 2). Modern British house mouse mtDNA sequences are primarily characterised by haplogroups E and F and, much less commonly, haplogroup D. Conclusions: The presence of haplogroups D and E in our samples and the dating of the archaeological sites provide evidence of an early house mouse colonisation that may relate to Late Bronze Age/Iron Age trade and/or human expansion. Our results confirm the hypothesis, based on zooarchaeological evidence and modern mtDNA predictions, that house mice, with haplogroups D and E, were established in Britain by the Iron Age and, in the case of haplogroup E, possibly as early as the Late Bronze Age. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Societal impact statement: Plants are essential for all life, providing the infrastructure and energy for our ecosystems. A recent report indicates that more than 500 plant species are already presumed extinct and many more could have been lost without anyone being aware, especially in species‐rich areas with high levels of human impact, and where botanical knowledge is poor. Inequality in the availability and accessibility of biodiversity data, professional expertise, and funding interact to produce chronic differences in knowledge between countries. Here, we illustrate this using an example from Madagascar. Understanding these knowledge inequalities will strengthen our ability to improve the situation for people as well as for plants. Summary: In order to understand geographic differences in our knowledge of plant extinction, species occurrence knowledge is compared for the grasses (Poaceae) of Madagascar and the British Isles. Poaceae are a useful model system for exploring extinction because they are globally diverse and present interesting characteristics compared with plants as a whole: grasses have a similar species description curve and percentage assessed as threatened, but they have broader and more continental distribution ranges.Historical and current factors affecting the documentation of the Malagasy and British floras are reviewed with regard to science funding, human capital, accessibility, and existing records. Knowledge of Poaceae is compared in the light of these constraints. Global patterns of grass diversity are examined and future extinction rates for Malagasy grasses are estimated.Multiple factors interact to shape a set of constraints on species distribution knowledge. The flora of Madagascar has been described largely by foreigners, science funding is external, and Malagasy botanists face difficult challenges. Spatial data for Madagascar are more limited and less even. We demonstrate that unrecorded extinctions are more likely among Malagasy than British and Irish grasses: they were described later, have smaller ranges, and are more threatened. It is possible that extinction rates of Malagasy grasses will increase tenfold in the next century.Differences in our knowledge of the Malagasy and British floras are long‐standing, deep, and perpetuated by numerous modern‐day factors. We urge researchers to understand and acknowledge these differences, and we provide recommendations for future work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Marine scholars have come to realize the importance of including historical perspectives as part of comprehensive assessments made of the social–ecological systems involved in sustainable fisheries management. In particular, there is increasing recognition of the value in examining information contained within historical anecdotes as a prelude to implementing current conservation actions as well as setting future restoration objectives. The present study demonstrates that careful parsing of eyewitness accounts of unidentified marine objects which at the time were purported to be sea serpents—of the "many‐humped" or "string‐of‐buoys" typology—actually reveals that marine fauna in the British Isles have been victims of entanglement in fishing gear for a much longer period than is customarily assumed. The temporal baseline for the onset of entanglement in this region certainly predates, by more than a century, the advent and widespread use of plastic in fisheries and other maritime operations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This account presents information on all aspects of the biology of Crataegus monogyna Jacq. (Hawthorn) that are relevant to understanding its ecological characteristics and behaviour. The main topics are presented within the standard framework of the Biological Flora of the British Isles: distribution, habitat, communities, responses to biotic factors, responses to environment, structure and physiology, phenology, floral and seed characters, herbivores and disease, history and conservation.Crataegus monogyna is native to the British flora, occurring frequently in hedgerows, scrubs, thickets and woodland. It can be found throughout almost all of Europe, on all soils of medium conditions regarding pH value, nutrient and water supply.Crataegus monogyna is a deciduous shrub or rarely a small tree of 2–8 m. Its twigs and branches bear sharp thorns about 1 cm long. Crataegus monogyna is of both ornamental and ecological value. During flowering in May and June, shrubs may appear white through a multitude of flowers, presenting pollen and nectar to a variety of different insects. Starting in August, almost the whole shrub can become dark red with the huge number of small red berries (pomes) produced during fruiting. The fruit are a preferred food for many birds.Although hybridizing freely and frequently with the other native species, Crataegus laevigata (Poir.) DC., the two species are easily recognizable in natural stands in the British Isles. Elsewhere, and with the occurrence of horticultural naturalizations and many intermediate forms of hybrid origin with closely related Crataegus species (especially the similar looking one‐styled species Crataegus rhipidophylla Gand. s.l. and Crataegus × subsphaerica Gand. s.l.) expert knowledge is required to avoid misidentifications and thus inaccurate understanding of frequency and distribution–not only on continental Europe but also increasingly in the British Isles.Identification in the field is further complicated by inbreeding of horticultural stock, which suffers from a myriad of descriptions and given names at different hierarchical levels. Cultivars are commonly planted in hedges and along roadsides or for ornamental purposes. The origin of this stock is not always known, so genetic exchange with the natural populations may lead to introgression and thus genotypes that are more adapted than the local genotypes in a changed environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This account presents information on all aspects of the biology of Crataegus laevigata (Poir.) DC (Midland hawthorn) (C. oxyacanthoides Thuill.) that are relevant to understanding its ecological characteristics and behaviour. The main topics are presented within the standard framework of the Biological Flora of the British Isles: distribution, habitat, communities, responses to biotic factors, responses to environment, structure and physiology, phenology, floral and seed characters, herbivores and disease, history and conservation.Crataegus laevigata is primarily a shade‐tolerant shrub or small tree up to 12‐m tall of ancient woodlands (of which it is an indicator plant) and occasionally old hedges, usually on heavy clay soils and avoiding limestone and chalk. It is native to central and northern Europe and in the British Isles is native to southeast England, occurring naturally up to the Midlands, hence the common name. It is largely absent naturally from Scotland, Wales and Ireland.Flowers usually have two styles, varying from (rarely) 1 to 5 with an equal number of pyrenes in the fruit, differentiating it from C. monogyna with usually one style and pyrene. Pollination is by insects and fruit are dispersed primarily by birds. Fruit has traditionally been used for food, and with the leaves and flowers have a long tradition in herbal medicine.Disturbance and fragmentation have allowed C. monogyna to permeate into old woodlands and hybridise with C. laevigata. These two species are inter‐fertile and barriers to hybridisation are primarily spatial separation thus allowing extensive introgression such that in many parts of Europe, pure C. laevigata is becoming scarce. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wood macrofossil remains of alder and willow/poplar have been recovered from a sediment sequence in the valley of the Turker Beck in the Vale of Mowbray, North Yorkshire. These remains have yielded radiocarbon dates early in the Devensian Late Glacial (14.7–14k cal a bp), equivalent to the early part of the Greenland Interstadial (GI‐1e) of the GRIP ice‐core record. These are the earliest dates recorded for the presence of alder in the Late Glacial in the British Isles. Associated biological remains have provided a palaeoenvironmental record for this early part of the Greenland Interstadial, generally indicative of open environments dominated by herbaceous taxa on both the wetland and dryland surfaces. However, stands of alder, birch and willow woodland were also present, and indicate the possibility that such tree species survived in cryptic refugia in Britain as elsewhere in northern Europe during the Last Glacial Maximum. The absence of alder pollen at Turker Beck, in a sequence in which its macrofossil remains are relatively abundant, lends support to the view that pollen can be a poor indicator of the presence of tree species in Late Glacial sequences in northern and western Europe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

After the Battle Dunbar between English and Scottish forces in 1650, captured Scottish soldiers were imprisoned in Durham and many hundreds died there within a few weeks. The partial skeletal remains of 28 of these men were discovered in 2013. Building on previous osteological work, here we report wide-ranging scientific studies of the remains to address the following questions: Did they have comparable diet, health and disease throughout their lives? Did they have common histories of movement (or lack of movement) during their childhoods? Can we create a collective biography of these men? Strontium and oxygen isotope analysis of tooth enamel investigated childhood movement. Carbon and nitrogen isotope analysis of incrementally sampled dentine addressed childhood diet and nutrition. Metaproteomic analysis of dental calculus investigated oral microbiomes and food residues; this was complemented by microscopic analysis of debris in calculus from ingested materials. Selected individuals were examined for dental microwear. The extent of hydroxylation of proline in collagen was examined as a potential biomarker for scurvy. An osteobiography for each man was created using the full range of data generated about him, and these were synthesised using an approach based on the historical method for a collective biography or prosopography. The childhood residences of the men were primarily within the Midland Valley of Scotland, though some spent parts of their childhood outside the British Isles. This is concordant with the known recruitment areas of the Scottish army in 1650. Their diets included oats, brassicas and milk but little seafood, as expected for lowland rather than highland diets of the period. Childhood periods of starvation or illness were almost ubiquitous, but not simultaneous, suggesting regionally variable food shortages in the 1620s and 1630s. It is likely there was widespread low-level scurvy, ameliorating in later years of life, which suggests historically unrecorded shortages of fruit and vegetables in the early 1640s. Almost all men were exposed to burnt plant matter, probably as inhaled soot, and this may relate to the high proportion of them with of sinusitis. Interpersonal violence causing skeletal trauma was rare. Based on commonalities in their osteobiographies, we argue that these men were drawn from the same stratum of society. This study is perhaps the most extensive to date of individuals from 17th century Scotland. Combined with a precise historical context it allows the lives of these men to be investigated and compared to the historical record with unprecedented precision. It illustrates the power of archaeological science methods to confirm, challenge and complement historical evidence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses fragilities of the distinction between the cultural effects and mathematical constraints. Topics include evolutionary links between cartography, the cultural theory of science and artistic activity in geography of the mathematical symbolism; and information on a project 'Objects of Baroque Literature: Literature and Material Culture in the British Isles and France in Early Modernity', inviting the opposition between the non-classical Latin charta.

The Late Neolithic and Copper Age were a time of change in most of Europe. Technological innovations including animal traction, the wheel, and plow agriculture transformed the prehistoric economy. The discovery of copper metallurgy expanded the spectrum of socially significant materials and realigned exchange networks away from Neolithic "greenstone," obsidian, and Spondylus shells. New funerary practices also emerged, signifying the growing importance of lineage ancestors, as well as new ideas of personal identity. These phenomena have long attracted researchers' attention in continental Europe and the British Isles, but comparatively little has been done in the Italian peninsula. Building on recent discoveries and interdisciplinary research on settlement patterns, the subsistence economy, the exchange of socially valuable materials, the emergence of metallurgy, funerary practices, and notions of the body, I critically appraise current models of the Neolithic-Bronze Age transition in light of the Italian regional evidence, focusing on central Italy. In contrast to prior interpretations of this period as the cradle of Bronze Age social inequality and the prestige goods economy, I argue that, at this juncture, prehistoric society reconfigured burial practices into powerful new media for cultural communication and employed new materials and objects as novel identity markers. Stratified political elites may not be among the new identities that emerged at this time in the social landscape of prehistoric Italy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

NEMETODE, a network of low-light video cameras in and around the British Isles operated in conjunction with the BAA Meteor Section and other groups, monitors the activity of meteors, enabling precise measurement of radiant positions as well as the altitudes, geocentric velocities and solar system orbits of meteoroids. The results from observations of the Quadrantid and December alpha Draconid meteor showers during 2012-2019 are presented and discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The arctic skua (Stercorarius parasiticus) is one of the most long‐lived bird species. In 2010, we captured in Finland an adult, female arctic skua which had been ringed as a nestling in 1987. We tagged it also with a color ring. The bird has last been seen in July 2020 at the age of 33 years, making it most likely the oldest known arctic skua of the world. In 2010–2011 the bird carried a light‐level measuring geolocator, the data of which revealed that the bird had spent the nonbreeding season in the Canary Current area on the west coast of Africa. Breeding populations of arctic skuas have declined recently especially in British Isles, thus it is useful to get longevity data of this species with a high breeding site fidelity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The role and importance of military musicians changed and intensified in the late eighteenth century through two important processes. The first was the culture of display that took root in both the home-based army and units in the colonies. The second was the result of successive militia acts which effectively ensured that military units with bands would be systematically placed in every corner of the British Isles. It became evident that music as a component of military display served an important diplomatic purpose. Music performed in public spaces was heard by a population deeply sceptical of the army and with an essentially local sense of identity. The experience of the sight and sound of military music raised entirely new perceptions of nation and of the state as a benign power. Two important and related themes emerge here. The first is the historical process that led, almost accidentally, to a realization that music as part of military display had potential to influence populations across the country and in the colonies. The second, more challenging, theme concerns the nature of the evidence for this idea and how it is to be treated. It is an idea that is totally convincing if the experience of hearing and seeing military spectacle by the mass of the people can be shown to have had impact. What is the evidence of listening to music by those people at whom it was targeted, how robust is it and what can be made of it? [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Increasing evidence indicates that the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is associated with adverse psychological effects, including heightened levels of anxiety. This study examined whether COVID-19-related anxiety levels during the early stage of the pandemic predicted demanding working memory (WM) updating performance. Altogether, 201 healthy adults (age range, 18–50) mostly from North America and the British Isles were recruited to this study via the crowdsourcing site www.prolific.co. The results showed that higher levels of COVID-19-related anxiety during the first weeks of the pandemic outbreak were associated with poorer WM performance as measured by the n-back paradigm. Critically, the unique role of COVID-19-related anxiety on WM could not be explained by demographic factors, or other psychological factors such as state and trait anxiety or fluid intelligence. Moreover, across three assessment points spanning 5–6 weeks, COVID-19-related anxiety levels tended to decrease over time. This pattern of results may reflect an initial psychological "shock wave" of the pandemic, the cognitive effects of which may linger for some time, albeit the initial anxiety associated with the pandemic would change with habituation and increasing information. Our results contribute to the understanding of cognitive–affective reactions to a major disaster. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on data from 1162 wind turbines, with a rated power of at least 1.8 MW, installed in Sweden after 2005, the accuracy of the annual energy production (AEP) predictions from the project planning phases has been compared to the wind-index-corrected production. Both the production and the predicted AEP data come from the database Vindstat, which collects information directly from wind turbine owners. The mean error was 7.1%, which means that, overall, the predicted AEP has been overestimated. The overestimation was higher for wind turbines situated in open terrain than in forest areas and was higher overall than that previously established for the British Isles and South Africa. Dividing the result over the installation year, the improvement which had been expected due to the continuous refinement of the methods and better data availability, was not observed over time. The major uncertainty comes from the predicted AEP as reported by wind turbine owners to the Vindstat database, which, for some cases, might not come from the wind energy calculation from the planning phase (i.e., the P50-value). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This account presents information on all aspects of the biology of Tilia platyphyllos Scop. subsp. cordifolia (Besser) C.K. Schneid (Large‐leaved Lime) that are relevant to understanding its ecological characteristics and behaviour: all British native material is this subspecies. The main topics are presented within the standard framework of the Biological Flora of the British Isles: distribution, habitat, communities, responses to biotic factors, responses to environment, structure and physiology, phenology, floral and seed characters, herbivores and disease, history, and conservation.Tilia platyphyllos is a tall, shade‐tolerant tree of old relict woods. It is rare as a native and restricted to England and Wales, where it is often found on calcareous and brown soils of low phosphate status, with Fagus sylvatica or Fraxinus excelsior and Quercus petraea.In contrast to Tilia cordata, with which it hybridizes, it was mainly planted, probably first in monastic times then more widely since the Middle Ages. After 1650, it has often been accompanied by the hybrid (T. x europaea) in parks, towns and gardens throughout lowland parts of the British Isles. Hybrids and backcrosses have led to difficulties with identification and significant over‐recording of T. platyphyllos in the British Isles.The flowers are entomophilous, and rich in nectar. Tilia platyphyllos is fertile, regenerating sparsely from seed in many localities. Germination of pollen occurred at temperatures as low as 7–9°C (several degrees lower than for T. cordata), which probably explains its relatively high fertility in the north of England. It has ectotrophic mycorrhiza. Different parts of the tree are palatable to birds, mammals and many invertebrates.Evidence presented in this account alleviates doubts about the native status of T. platyphyllos; previously, it was believed that it might have been introduced from France by Premonstratensians (White Canons) in Medieval times. Tilia cordata, however, was widely native but also planted, mainly as coppice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Noteworthy records of microlepidoptera obtained in the British Isles during 2019 are summarised. This includes three species new to the British Isles, although all are now known to have been found in previous years. numerous new vice-county records are detailed, with notable observations of 456 species in total. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This special issue contains three papers on evolutions in logic during the so-called 'post-medieval' period (roughly the years 1450–1700). The papers discuss the following topics: (1) traditions of logic in the British Isles during the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries; (2) approaches to validity in medieval and post-medieval logic; and (3) scholastic and humanist interpretations of the prologue to Galen's Art of Medicine. All papers provide an original contribution to research on post-medieval logic, which to date is still in the early stages. Together they testify to the great diversity of the discourse on logic during the period under consideration, something that has not been sufficiently appreciated in the scholarship. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Intuitionism had been one of the most prominent ethical approaches over two hundred years, especially on the British Isles. In the first third of the 20th century it started losing its power; however, in the last few years several philosophers have been trying to renew this approach, which has made it one of the most discussed topics of contemporary metaethics. Intuitionism is a foundationalist approach which regards basic moral beliefs, i.e., intuitions, as self-evident. Nonetheless, modern intuitionists have to cope with empirical evidence which shows that intuitions are not as reliable a source of moral knowledge as would be necessary in this case. The aim of the paper is to present and discuss contemporary critique of intuitionism. First, I introduce intuitionism and its basic assumptions, both ontological and epistemological. Second, I focus on the criticism itself, especially on its empirical aspects concerning the role and the reliability of intuitions. As some of the proponents of intuitionism try to react to these objections and create a less flawed version of this approach, in the third part, I describe one of these attempts, i.e., Michael Huemer's revisionary intuitionism. Finally, I try to explain why intuitionism -- despite these efforts -- remains a problematic approach and why ethics might be better off without it. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although native to eastern Canada and the USA, American lobsters (Homarus americanus) have been reported from British coastal waters in recent years. The introduction of most have been as escapees from holding facilities or releases by members of the public for animal welfare or religious reasons. Life-history traits of H. americanus put them at a potential competitive advantage over and hybridisation with the European lobster (Homarus gammarus), the 5th most valuable seafood to the UK. While yearly reported numbers of H. americanus found in British waters have been low, a mass release of 361 H. americanus into the English Channel off Brighton, southern England, took place in June 2015. This review identified 162 records of H. americanus in British waters between 2012 and 2018, with specimens caught mainly in or around Brighton, although additional H. americanus released may have gone undetected. While this evidence suggests a growing potential for establishment of the species, further information is provided evidencing hybridisation between released H. americanus and native H. gammarus via genetic analysis. This review highlights the need for a more robust means of detecting H. americanus and other non-native species in British waters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With over a century of records, we present a detailed analysis of the spatial and temporal occurrence of marine turtle sightings and strandings in the UK and Ireland between 1910 and 2018. Records of hard-shell turtles, including loggerhead turtles (Caretta caretta, N = 240) and Kemp's ridley turtles (Lepidochelys kempii, N = 61), have significantly increased over time. However, in the most recent years there has been a notable decrease in records. The majority of records of hard-shell turtles were juveniles and occurred in the boreal winter months when the waters are coolest in the North-east Atlantic. They generally occurred on the western aspects of the UK and Ireland highlighting a pattern of decreasing records with increasing latitude, supporting previous suggestions that juvenile turtles arrive in these waters via the North Atlantic current systems. Similarly, the majority of the strandings and sightings of leatherback turtles (Dermochelys coriacea, N = 1683) occurred on the western aspects of the UK and the entirety of Ireland's coastline. In contrast to hard-shell turtles, leatherback turtles were most commonly recorded in the boreal summer months with the majority of strandings being adult sized, of which there has been a recent decrease in annual records. The cause of the recent annual decreases in turtle strandings and sightings across all three species is unclear; however, changes to overall population abundance, prey availability, anthropogenic threats and variable reporting effort could all contribute. Our results provide a valuable reference point to assess species range modification due to climate change, identify possible evidence of anthropogenic threats and to assess the future trajectory of marine turtle populations in the North Atlantic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Upper Palaeolithic is characterised by the appearance of iconographic expressions most often depicting animals, including anthropomorphic forms, and geometric signs. The Late Upper Palaeolithic Magdalenian saw a flourishing of such depictions, encompassing cave art, engraving of stone, bone and antler blanks and decoration of tools and weapons. Though Magdalenian settlement exists as far northwest as Britain, there is a limited range of art known from this region, possibly associated with only fleeting occupation of Britain during this period. Stone plaquettes, flat fragments of stone engraved on at least one surface, have been found in large quantities at numerous sites spanning the temporal and geographical spread of the Magdalenian, but they have been absent so far from the archaeological record of the British Isles. Between 2015 and 2018, ten fragments of stone plaquettes extensively engraved with abstract designs were uncovered at the Magdalenian site of Les Varines, Jersey, Channel Islands. In this paper, we report detailed analyses of these finds, which provide new evidence for technologies of abstract mark-making, and their significance within the lives of people on the edge of the Magdalenian world. These engraved stone fragments represent important, rare evidence of artistic expression in what is the far northern and western range of the Magdalenian and add new insight to the wider significance of dynamic practices of artistic expression during the Upper Palaeolithic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The physical mechanisms whereby the mean and transient circulation anomalies associated with the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) drive winter mean precipitation anomalies across the North Atlantic Ocean, Europe, and the Mediterranean Sea region are investigated using the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts interim reanalysis. A moisture budget decomposition is used to identify the contribution of the anomalies in evaporation, the mean flow, storm tracks and the role of moisture convergence and advection. Over the eastern North Atlantic, Europe, and the Mediterranean, precipitation anomalies are primarily driven by the mean flow anomalies with, for a positive NAO, anomalous moist advection causing enhanced precipitation in the northern British Isles and Scandinavia and anomalous mean flow moisture divergence causing drying over continental Europe and the Mediterranean region. Transient eddy moisture fluxes work primarily to oppose the anomalies in precipitation minus evaporation generated by the mean flow, but shifts in storm-track location and intensity help to explain regional details of the precipitation anomaly pattern. The extreme seasonal precipitation anomalies that occurred during the two winters with the most positive (1988/89) and negative (2009/10) NAO indices are also explained by NAO-associated mean flow moisture convergence anomalies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Unlike other European countries, the human population genetics and demographic history of Metropolitan France is surprisingly understudied. In this work, we combined newly genotyped samples from various zones in France with publicly available data and applied both allele frequency and haplotype-based methods to describe the internal structure of this country, using genome-wide single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) array genotypes. We found out that French Basques, already known for their linguistic uniqueness, are genetically distinct from all other groups and that the populations from southwest France (namely the Gascony region) share a large proportion of their ancestry with Basques. Otherwise, the genetic makeup of the French population is relatively homogeneous and mostly related to Southern and Central European groups. However, a fine-grained, haplotype-based analysis revealed that Bretons slightly separated from the rest of the groups, due mostly to gene flow from the British Isles in a time frame that coincides both historically attested Celtic population movements to this area between the 3th and the ninth centuries CE, but also with a more ancient genetic continuity between Brittany and the British Isles related to the shared drift with hunter-gatherer populations. Haplotype-based methods also unveiled subtle internal structures and connections with the surrounding modern populations, particularly in the periphery of the country. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Self-organizing maps provide a powerful, non-linear technique of dimensionality reduction that can be used to identify clusters with similar attributes. Here, they were constructed from a 1000-year-long gridded palaeoclimatic dataset, namely the Old World Drought Atlas, to detect regions of homogeneous hydroclimatic variability across the European continent. A classification scheme of 10 regions was found to describe most efficiently the spatial properties of Europe's hydroclimate. These regions were mainly divided into a northern and a southern subset, linked together with a northwest-to-southeast orientation. Further analysis of the classification scheme with complex networks confirmed the divergence between the northern and southern components of European hydroclimate, also revealing that is not strongly correlated to the Iberian Peninsula. On the contrary, the region covering the British Isles, France and Germany appeared to be linked to both branches, implying links of hydroclimate with atmospheric/oceanic circulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: There is limited evidence that rituximab, a B cell depletion therapy, is an effective treatment for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Data on the mechanisms of B cell depletion in SLE indicate that the combination of rituximab and belimumab may be more effective than rituximab alone. The safety and efficacy of belimumab after B cell depletion therapy in systemic LUPUS erythematosus (BEAT-LUPUS) trial aims to determine whether belimumab is superior to placebo, when given 4-8 weeks after treatment with rituximab. This article describes the statistical analysis plan for this trial as an update to the published protocol. It is written prior to the end of patient follow-up, while the outcome of the trial is still unknown.Design and Methods: BEAT-LUPUS is a randomised, double-blind, phase II trial of 52 weeks of belimumab versus placebo, initiated 4-8 weeks after rituximab treatment. The primary outcome is anti-dsDNA antibodies at 52 weeks post randomisation. Secondary outcomes include lupus flares and damage, adverse events, doses of concomitant medications, quality of life, and clinical biomarkers. We describe the trial's clinical context, outcome measures, sample size calculation, and statistical modelling strategy, and the supportive analyses planned to evaluate for mediation of the treatment effect through changes in concomitant medication doses and bias from missing data.Discussion: The analysis will provide detailed information on the safety and effectiveness of belimumab. It will be implemented from July 2020 when patient follow-up and data collection is complete.Trial Registration: ISRCTN: 47873003 . Registered on 28 November 2016. EudracT: 2015-005543-14 . Registered on 19 November 2018. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Impatiens glandulifera or Himalayan balsam (HB), is an invasive alien weed throughout the British Isles (BI). Classical biological control of HB in the BI using a rust fungus from the Himalayan native range was implemented in 2014. However, not all HB populations are susceptible to the two rust strains currently released. Additional strains are needed that infect resistant populations in order to achieve successful control. These are best sourced from the historical collecting sites. A molecular analysis was conducted using six chloroplast DNA sequences from leaf material from across the BI and the native range. Herbarium samples collected in the Himalayas between 1881 and 1956 were also included. Phylogenetic analyses resulted in the separation of two distinct groups, one containing samples from the BI and the native range, and the other from the BI only; suggesting that HB was introduced into the BI on at least two occasions. The former group is composed of two subgroups, indicating a third introduction. Ten and 15 haplotypes were found in the introduced and native range respectively, and with two of these found in both regions. Results show where to focus future surveys in the native range to find more compatible rust strains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This account presents information on all aspects of the biology of Poa nemoralis L. (Wood Meadow‐grass) that are relevant to understanding its ecological characteristics and behaviour. The main topics are presented within the standard framework of the Biological Flora of the British Isles: distribution, habitat, communities, responses to biotic factors, responses to environment, structure and physiology, phenology, floral and seed characters, herbivores and disease, history, and conservation.The grass Poa nemoralis is widespread and frequent to locally common across the British Isles, except for western and central Ireland, and northern Scotland. In both its native Eurasian range and introduced ranges in, for example, the Americas, its main habitat comprises temperate (mixed) deciduous woodland. The species finds important secondary habitats in hedgerows, as well as in non‐woodland vegetation such as on cliffs, screes and walls or sporadically in grassland and heathland. Although not always taxonomically or morphologically distinct units, the species is suspected to comprise many cytological races and hybrid polyploid populations with variable morphology. Morphological variation among P. nemoralis populations may also be a sign of local environmental adaptation or a result of introgressive hybridization with other, morphologically variable members of Poa section Stenopoa such as P. glauca, P. compressa or P. pratensis.Poa nemoralis is a small‐statured, loosely caespitose grass, with populations ranging from a few individual tufts to those visually defining the aspect of the herbaceous understorey. The species tolerates moderate to deep shade on the forest floor, yet it tends to forage for available light, occurring more and growing taller in canopy gaps, forest edges and hedgerows. The amount of light is central to its survival and reproductive ecology, being important for flower induction, seed production and seed germination. The species produces large quantities of small, light seeds which facilitate spatial and temporal dispersal.The species occupies a wide range of soil pH (3–7) and nutrient conditions (C/N ratio ranges between 10 and 25), though it clearly prefers moderately acid and somewhat drier soils with limited litter thickness, avoiding soils with mor humus types. Poa nemoralis displays distinct small‐scale acidifuge responses, being absent in areas of low soil pH (<3).Poa nemoralis is a moderately strong indicator of ancient woodland: it can quickly colonize recently established wooded areas adjacent to ancient woodland when it is not hindered by dispersal limitation and elevated nutrient levels. Nonetheless, dispersal limitation impedes rapid colonization of isolated, recently established woodlands, in spite of ample records of zoochorous seed dispersal. While currently frequent to locally common, the species is at risk if ancient woodlands continue to decline in its native Eurasian range. Across N.W. Europe, it is already in moderate decline in temperate deciduous ancient woodlands because of acidification, eutrophication and darkening of the forest understorey. In its introduced ranges, it is considered invasive. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Anglo-Saxon immigration of the 5th-6th centuries AD led to a dual contact situation in the British Isles: with the native inhabitants of the settlement areas in south-eastern England (internal contact zone), and with the Celtic polities outside the Anglo-Saxon areas (external contact zone). In the internal contact zone, social and ethnogenetic processes resulted in a complete acculturation of the natives by the 9th century. By contrast, the external contact zone between Anglo-Saxon and Celtic polities resulted in a cultural and linguistic split right across the British Isles up to the 7th century, and arguably well beyond. The cultural boundary between these two domains became permeable in the 7th century as a consequence of Anglo-Saxon Christianization which created a northern communication zone characterized by a distinct art style (Insular Art). In the early medieval British Isles, contact resulting from migration did not lead to cultural exchange for about two centuries, and it took profound ideological and social changes to establish a basis for communication. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Formally accepted records of immigrant lepidoptera occurring in the British Isles during the year 2016 are listed and discussed. For less frequently encountered species, full information is given in Annex 1, presented in vice-county order, the individual localities then listed alphabetically for each VC. For the more regular/frequent immigrant species recorded during the season, annual summaries and a selection of the more significant reports are presented in Annex 2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Early Palaeozoic crinoids are known only patchily from the British Isles except for accumulations at starfish beds. A single, exquisitely preserved crinoid is reported from the Telychian (Llandovery, Silurian) of the Pysgotwr Grits Formation of the Llangurig area, Powys, mid-Wales. This sedimentary succession is turbiditic in origin and poorly fossiliferous. The crinoid is a diplobathrid camerate, Euptychocrinus longipinnulus sp. nov., preserved as an external mould without counterpart. It has a high, shuttlecock-like crown; a conical, unsculptured cup; low infrabasals; a pair of long, slender, feather-like arms on each ray, each bearing numerous long pinnules; and a heteromorphic column. Most previous reports of this genus have been from the Upper Ordovician – lower Silurian series of Laurentia; uncertainly, it is described from the Upper Ordovician deposits of Morocco (Gondwana). Euptychocrinus longipinnulus is the first Avalonian occurrence. The beautiful preservation of the arms, including cover plates of pinnules, contrasts with the proxistele, which is a series of 'broken sticks'. This crinoid responded to an adverse environmental fluctuation, probably a turbidity current, by autotomizing the stem, but it was carried downslope and buried alive. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The true grasses (Poaceae) comprise one of the largest plant families on earth. The group is peerless in its contribution to global agricultural production and its members dominate many of the world's most important habitats. However, morphological diagnosis of wild grasses is notoriously problematic and it is often impossible in the absence of flowering individuals. The advent of DNA barcoding provided a useful tool to address this problem for larger-scale or longer-term studies but the need for sequencing precludes its use in a field laboratory context or in situations where either funding or time is limited. Here, a chloroplast DNA (cpDNA)-based Cleaved Amplified Polymorphic Sequence (CAPS) system of molecular species diagnosis that has the capacity to address this problem is presented using British grasses as a model. First, PCRs were performed using universal primer pairs targeting 21 regions of the chloroplast genome in authenticated representatives of the 117 grass species from the British Isles, and universal amplification for all loci targeted was demonstrated. Second, 54 restriction enzymes were applied on amplification products generated from all species. There were 10 locus-enzyme combinations (with the highest variation) that had the best diagnostic utility for the 117 grass species.CAPS analysis on 16 representatives of three genera (Calamagrostis, Phleum, and Agrostis) was then used to illustrate the potential utility of the pipeline for establishing a field-laboratory screen of species identity. CAPS DNA barcoding system developed here may have ecological, conservation, and commercial applications. However, it has limited possibilities for intraspecific differentiation due to the highly conserved nature of loci targeted within species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]