Data from the Continuous Plankton Recorder survey are used to compare the distribution and seasonal and year-to-year variations in the abundance of the plankton of the area of the Rockall Channel with both the shelf and the adjacent oceanic areas. It is argued that the distribution and size of overwintering stocks of zooplankton provide the key to understanding the dynamics of the plankton of this area.

It would appear that, due to inherent limitations to the net rate of increase of zooplankton populations, the distribution of the overwintering stocks has an influence on the distribution and abundance of most species through the rest of the year. This affects the dynamics of the seasonal cycle and also influences the form of year-to-year changes in abundance

The plankton of the area of the Rockall Channel is characterised by low overwintering stocks, coupled in spring with higher rates of population increase as compared with the adjacent shelf. There is a pronounced spring bloom of phytoplankton, which does not appear to be controlled by grazing, followed by a period of nearly five months of relative stability of stocks of both phytoplankton and zooplankton. It is suggested that during this period the zooplankton graze the daily production of phytoplankton, the growth of which is determined to a large extent by nutrients recycled from the zooplankton. The effects of this pattern of dynamics on the form of year-to-year changes in the abundance of the plankton over the last few decades is discussed.

Mussels (Mytilus edulis), collected from up to nine sites, were used to monitor the degree of chemical contamination (by petroleum hydrocarbons and organotins) and the associated sublethal biological effects (scope for growth) in the vicinity of the North Sea oil terminal at Sullom Voe from 1982 to 1989. Gluss Voe represented a ‘clean reference’ site at which mussels showed a very low level of contamination and a consistently high ‘scope for growth’ (>20 J g−1 h−1). Spatial and temporal changes in the concentration of polyaromatic hydrocarbons in the mussel tissues reflected the major sources of oil inputs and the number and size of oil spillages around the tanker loading jetties. Hydrocarbon concentrations in mussels at the oil tanker jetties were typically 10-fold higher than mussels at Gluss Voe. The concentrations of tributyltin in the tissues were greatest in the area near the tanker jetties and showed a steady decline between 1986 and 1989 which correlated with a decline in tanker activity (r = +0.98).

The results demonstrated a significant correlation between the net quantity of oil spilled during the month prior to sampling and the accumulated aromatic hydrocarbons in the mussel tissues (r = +0.89). In addition, there was a significant negative relationship between scope for growth and the log concentration of aromatic hydrocarbons in the mussel tissues (r = −0.83). Toxicological interpretation of tissue residue data indicated that the decline in SFG was caused by accumulated PAHs rather than TBT. Although mussels showed a significant reduction in scope for growth in Sullom Voe they were still able to grow, reproduce and maintain their populations. When these results are placed in a wider geographical context and compared with other UK sites, it is apparent that the ‘clean reference’ site in the Shetland has the lowest recorded levels of organic contaminants, and that other sites in the vicinity of the Sullom Voe Oil Terminal are less contaminated and impacted than many estuaries on the UK mainland.

The relative resource value and use of the Estuary and Firth of Clyde have varied through time. Until the eighteenth century the estuary was difficult to navigate. The firth, with its rich fishing grounds and sheltered harbours, was the focus of early settlement. However, increasing trade with the Americas, larger ships and growing competition between Glasgow and the more accessible ports of Greenock and Dumbarton stimulated plans to improve the navigability of the estuary. This was achieved by deepening and widening the main channel, a process which continued as the size of ships increased and more sophisticated techniques of river improvement developed. Within a century and a half the bed of the estuary was transformed from an obstacle to navigation into a major water-route, from which the largest passenger liners in the world were launched.

Since the Second World War the relative resource values of the estuary and the firth have changed with the increase in air travel, the decline of ship building and heavy industry on the Clyde, and the increase in the size of cargo vessels. The economic focus shifted from the estuary to the natural, deepwater harbours of the firth.

At present redevelopment of derelict docklands and industrial sites along the estuary is taking place, while the firth is suffering from the effects of economic recession. Planning is now being increasingly directed toward the development of the amenity, recreational and tourist potential of both the estuary and the firth.

The passage of ova down the Fallopian tube and uterine horn of one side into the horn of the other side is generally referred to as transuterine migration. There is evidence that such transmigration can occur in a wide variety of animals—Ungulata, Carnivora, Cheiroptera, Insectivora and Primates (Boyd, Hamilton and Hammond, 1944; Marshall's Physiology of Reproduction, 1952). In all these forms the genital tract has a single supravaginal segment varying from a common cervical canal to the single uterine cavity of the primate uterus simplex. The uterus of the albino rat is generally described as “uterus duplex”, with separate cervical canals opening independently into the vagina, and it has been stated by Hanson and Boone (1925, 1926) and by Slonaker (1927) that there is no evidence that transuterine migration occurs in the albino rat. In the course of an experimental investigation of the vascular pattern in pregnancy in the rat, some results were obtained which indicate that transuterine migration can occur in the albino rat.

Examination of mammalian pelts reveals the presence of two types of hair—long, glossy fibres known as “guard”- or “top-hair,” and shorter, softer, more curly fibres termed ”ground”- or “under-wool.” Guard-hairs are of two kinds: primary fibres classified by Toldt (1910) as “Leithaare,” and shorter, less robust secondary fibres which Toldt described as “Grannenhaare.” The under-wool is analogous to Toldt's “Wohlhaare.” More recently Toldt (1935) has described the appearance of the various fibre types occurring in hair from a wide range of mammals, and gives an extensive bibliography on hair from many orders of mammalia, including the two at present under consideration. Glaister (1931) made a photomicrographic survey of whole mounts and transverse sections of fibres from a large number of mammals. This work, however, suffers from the disadvantage that the photomicrographs were taken at low magnifications. When photographed at magnifications of the order × 500, transverse sections of fibres readily demonstrate the distribution and structure of cuticle, cortex and medulla. Such information is valuable as a means of studying structural variations in hair from different types of mammals, and often possesses considerable taxonomic significance and practical value—Dearborn (1939) reports the use of cross-sections of mammalian guard-hairs as a help to identifying small hairs found in the stomachs and excreta of predators, while the importance of fibre histology in forensic science has been reviewed by Smith and Glaister (1939). Furthermore, microchemical tests carried out on wool fibres (Bekker and King, 1931) and on transverse sections of kolinsky and hare fibres (Stoves, 1943 a) have shown that cuticle, cortex, and medulla exhibit different chemical properties, so that morphological differentiation is accompanied by variation in chemical reactivity.

The polyamine amides comprise a newly-discovered class of compounds which exhibits considerable potential for the development of selective pharmacological tools and pharmaceutical agents. In mammals and other vertebrates, they are selective, non-competitive antagonists of ionotropic glutamate receptors, but they also interact with other ionotropic receptors (e.g. nicotinic acetylcholine receptors). Thus, they are channel blockers which are selective for cation channels. We report on synthetic studies undertaken to produce hybrid analogues of these toxins based upon the argiotoxins of spider venoms and the philanthotoxins of parasitic, predatory wasp venom. The synthesis and characterisation of a mono-acylated spermine is also described. In addition, an account of current views on the many possible sites and modes of actions of the polyamine amides is presented and their potential for therapeutic neurochemistry, e.g. for the possible treatment of ischaemic damage to the nervous system, is highlighted.

The methods of nature conservation applied within the Inner Hebrides are those which are now standard throughout Britain and are governed by legislation. The procedures for habitat or site protection and species protection are illustrated in the descriptions of the reserves, the Sites of Special Scientific Interest and the protected species within the archipelago. The reserves and sites cover interests in the geology, geomorphology, zoology, botany and ecology of the islands and the surrounding seabed. National Scenic Areas are also mentioned. Relationships between nature conservation and the uses of land and sea are discussed. With the exceptions of the commercial exploitation of the island pastures in sheep husbandry, with much uncontrolled burning, and the exploitation of fin fish and shell fish and consequent widespread depletion of stocks, the Inner Hebrides are comparatively undisturbed by modern industrial development.

Morphology and histology of the males of Acanthobonellia miyajimai (Ikeda) and Acanthobonellia vulgaris Menon and DattaGupta have been described. The males of the two species are large and look alike in all respects. Ciliated epithelium, subepidermal glands and two to four seminal vesicles are characteristics of these worms. The alimentary canal is in the form of a chain of vesicles which appear to be a common feature of Acanthobonellia, Acanthohamingia or Ikedella. Anatomical features have been described and figured.

Published studies on the Coleoptera of the Inner Hebrides from 1853–1981 are briefly reviewed and a full bibliography is provided. This is supplemented with data obtained from museum and private collections, unpublished manuscripts, etc., and the results of extensive surveys undertaken on eight of the islands during 1980 and 1981. Doubtful published records are discussed and records of 716 species are accepted. To these, 221 species have been added as new to the Inner Hebrides, together with numerous new island records. A comprehensive table lists the 937 species of Coleoptera and shows on which of the 15 largest, or best documented islands, they occur. Details of the limited known fauna for three of the remaining islands are also given. Our knowledge of the fauna of the Inner Hebrides remains very incomplete. Only 54% of the species recorded are known from the Outer Hebrides, whilst their faunal relationships with the Scottish mainland cannot be assessed until surveys of similar detail have been done on the west coast.

The mineral base of the soils in Islay, Tiree, Coll and the Outer Hebrides is composed mainly of erosion products of Lewisian and Torridonian rocks, together with materials taken from solution in the sea biotically, and subsequently deposited in the form of shell-sand on the windward coasts. The soils composed for the most part of erosion products are acid, and those of marine products basic. Along transect lines at right angles to the coast there is in many places a wide range of soil conditions from calcareous sand to peat, in distances of about 1 kilometre.

The distribution of the Lumbricidæ, a group known to be affected by pH, available calcium content, and moisture content of the soil, is studied within this range in soil types. Seventeen species are involved, three of which are grouped (in numerical considerations) owing to taxonomic difficulties, and these are described in groups living in the main ecological zones of the soil habitat. Relationships are found between the abundance of those species and soil types.

The occurrence of earthworms in three different soil niches—open soil, in and under cow-pats, and under stones—is described, and niche preferences of the dominant species discussed.

Both respiration and generation by soybean embryonic axes showed a sharp increase upon germination, leading to a significant increase in the steady-state concentration of and H2O2 after 6 h of imbibition. An assay was developed to assess in vivo generation of reactive oxygen species, based upon DCFH-DA oxidation. Fluorescence of the external medium was dependent on reaction time and axes number and was inhibited by catalase.

α-Tocopherol content declined significantly after 24 h of incubation, as compared to the content at the onset of germination. Incubation in the presence of redox cycling agent paraquat (4 mM) for 24 h increased α-tocopherol content to 1.9±0.2 nmol per axis from 1.0 ± 0.1 nmol per axis in the absence of paraquat. Supplementation of the incubation medium with 500 μM Fe-EDTA increased α-tocopherol content to 1.8±0.1 nmol/axis and DCFH-DA oxidation by two-fold.

The data presented here showed that active metabolism at the onset of germination increased steady-state concentration of oxygen active species and suggest that cellular content of α-tocopherol is physiologically adjusted as a response to conditions of oxidative stress.

The question as to the existence of life at great depths was still a matter of controversy in the last century. In spite of the fact that the remains of living animals were recovered from several hundreds of metres, many marine biologists hesitated to believe that animal life could exist in deep-sea conditions. In 1841, Sir James Clark Ross, the leader of the British Antarctic Expedition, claimed:‘… and although contrary to the general belief of naturalists, I have no doubt that from however great a depth we may be able to bring the mud and stones of the bed of the ocean, we shall find them teeming with animal life; the extreme pressure at the greatest depth does not appear to affect these creatures; hitherto we have not been able to determine this point beyond a thousand fathoms, but from that depth several shellfish have been brought up with the mud’ (Murray 1895, p. 79). Edward Forbes, naturalist on H.M.S.S. Beacon, for instance, referred to the marine environment in excess of 550 m as the ‘azoic zone’. But the classical deep-sea expeditions in the second half of the nineteenth century, among others the famous voyage of the Challenger, produced overwhelming evidence for a more or less abundant abyssal fauna.

The expression of heritable variation in mammals is usually studied among the attributes of the adult; for example, in the body weight, milk yield, or colour of the pelt. A relatively new subject of study is that of heritable variation in the characteristics of gametes. It is of particular interest, because such variation in gametes may affect their fertility, which in turn might have repercussions on both fundamental and applied genetics. Current research is directed mainly to surveying the ways in which spermatozoa are subject to genetic influences. In the present work, heritable variations in the spermatozoa of mice are demonstrated, in the form of differences between inbred strains. The results are in virtually complete agreement with those of a previous study. It has also been found that variation in first generation crosses made from the pure strains can be largely accounted for by a blending inheritance of the characteristics of the parental types, together with an effect of heterosis. This appears to be the first demonstration in gametes of the phenomenon of heterosis, which is nearly but not quite the same as “hybrid vigour”.

The estuary and Firth of Forth support an outstanding number and variety of wildfowl and waders at migration seasons and in midwinter. Although populations of wildfowl and waders fell from 25–35,000 and 50–65,000 respectively in the 1970s, to 10–15,000 and 30–40,000 by the mid-1980s, the Forth remains one of few British estuaries to support more than fifteen waterfowl species of national importance for conservation. The ecology and decline of diving ducks off Edinburgh and population studies of shelduck have been given particular attention by researchers. Among waders, distributions, movements and feeding have been studied in detail. The causes of the recent declines amongst waders, notably for knot (Calidris canutus) and dunlin (Calidris alpina) on the estuarine Forth, remain uncertain, but are likely to include natural factors as well as those linked to man's activities.

Contrary to previous ideas, it is suggested that Harris and the major part of Lewis were covered by a large local ice cap during the last glacial phase. Local glaciers from central Lewis and the interior of North Lewis moving over the eastern fringe across the Eye peninsula and towards the north-west coast appear to have overridden and redistributed deposits from earlier glaciers of external origin. There is some evidence that the northern tip of Lewis and the Tolsta Head peninsula were also invaded by external ice during the final glacial phase. The application of a theoretical icesheet-surface profile substantiates the concept that Scottish mainland ice at its maximum advanced over northern parts of the island. According to the C-14 date of an organic layer beneath glacial till at Tolsta Head the last incidence of external and/or local ice in the island occurred after 27,300 years BP. Deglaciation phenomena at Uig, south-west Lewis, mark an earlier stage in the dissolution of the ice cap, while hummocky moraine in the mountain and submountain zone indicate the retention or renewed formation of valley glaciers during the late Devensian.

There are two commonly met with types of defective eggs laid by the domestic hen that result in considerable financial loss to the poultry farmer, and are frequent enough in their occurrence to affect perceptibly the potential food supply derived from the poultry industry.

The first of these results from the inclusion of blood or meat spots in eggs, and the second is the production of eggs so small as to make the majority of them unsaleable—the so-called “Miniature” eggs.

The presence of blood on the yolk of an egg was recorded by Aristotle as early as 300 B.C., and he attributed it to premature ovulation. Later, about A.D. 1600, Fabricius (Adelmann, 1942), during a demonstration of “sanguineous” eggs to his anatomy class, described a livercoloured body included in an egg. The occurrence of blood spots in eggs led both these authors to propound the theory that the yolk was directly formed from blood.

Curl-tip disease of bracken (Pteridium aquilinum) is recorded from many sites in Great Britain. Evidence is presented which corroborates the findings of earlier workers that more than one organism is associated with the disease. Three fungi (Phoma aquilina, Ascochyta pteridis and Septoria sp.) are commonly isolated, even from the first visible necroses, suggesting that synergism may operate in pathogenesis. However, Phoma aquilina Sacc. and Penz. is more pathogenic than the others when used independently in inoculations via wounds into bracken raised in growth cabinets or the greenhouse. Field trials of a formulation of spores of P. aquilina, suspended in a dilute solution of the herbicide ioxynil with broth and glycerol, are reported. The potential of such a mycoherbicide for bracken control is considered.

The large hydro-electric schemes developed by the early 1960s now (1984/85) supply 12% of Scottish electricity demand. The pumped storage schemes contribute to the balance of production and demand but are not nett producers of electric power. Schemes remaining for development are numerous but small, in the range below 10 MW. Private development for local use is the best economic prospect for schemes below 500 kW. A rolling five-year programme of 10–15 MW per annum is suggested for the development of remaining resources. In Scottish conditions, peat does not appear to be a viable alternative to diesel power. Wave power is practicable, but probable costs are too high to justify investment at present. Wind power is promising, especially for island sites, but not as a complete replacement for diesel. Developments since 1980 include a successful small machine on Fair Isle and machines at 250 and 300 kW on Orkney where a 3 MW generator is being erected. A 750 kW machine has been ordered for Shetland.

Red deer are now being farmed for meal production on an intensive scale. They are manageable, adaptable and healthy animals, and. with care and good nutrition, they become far more productive than wild deer.

Their digestive efficiency resembles that of sheep. Productive activities caking and lactation, fattening and antler growth occur in summer when food is plentiful and depend on endocrine and metabolic cycles entrained by day length. Dietary energy needs of deer are similar to those of cattle but higher than those of sheep: however, because young deer store little fat, they produce lean meat as efficiently as sheep.

Deer produce rich milk: the growth of sucking calves reflects the supply of nutrients available to their dams. In winter, calves benefit from shelter: nonetheless, their growth and appetite decline, even when day length is experimentally lengthened. While good nutrition improves winter growth, this is costly: furthermore, improved winter growth is followed by somewhat poorer growth during the succeeding summer. Slaughter of calves at 6 months of age rather than 16 months may allow greater efficiency of meat production.

Deer carry 50%more muscle than sheep, much of it in their well-priced haunch. Cahes deposit little fat until half grown: adults lose their summer fat during the rut and winter. The lean character of venison well matches modern consumer requirements.