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Tuatara: Volume 2, Issue 1, March 1949

Editorial

page 1

Editorial

In our first issue we made a general statement of the policy to be followed. The reception to Volume 1 has given encouragement for continuing and extending that policy. For the benefit of new readers, it may be easiest to explain this in action more specifically by reference to the contents of this issue. Firstly an account of work at the Cawthron Institute is given. Although its name is well known, there are many people who are not aware of the scope of subjects being investigated there, and the outline by its director, Sir Theodore Rigg, provides much useful information. The next article describes a very important tool for biological research—statistical method. The term statistics may lead some biologists to suppose that this subject is not applicable to their particular work, or that it is too mathematical a subject for consideration by a biologist. Dr. Campbell's article clearly shows that the main principles of statistical method can be understood without special mathematical training. It also shows that some of the methods can be applied with considerable benefit, even to the types of measurements which can be made by a field naturalist. We hope that this essay will encourage some readers to follow the subject further.

Different aspects of field biological studies are presented in the two succeeding articles. The study of the conversion of rain forest to grassland is one of special significance in this country which is so dependent on grasslands for its economy. The method of approach to a problem of plant ecology by Mr. Levy may be new to students who have confined their attentions to the study of “unmodified” associations. They will find that the inclusion of man's activities as a major modifying and controlling agency, gives some very interesting data and comparisons which closely link agriculaure with the study of the plant successions in vegetation unmodified by man. The account of a zoological field problem by Mr. Allen is of particular interest, as the popular interest of an animal usually increases as its numbers decline. In the essay on the grayling, a discussion of the possible reasons for the spectacular decline in numbers of this once abundant fish, will provide material for consideration by all interested in the problems of declining populations.

As in previous issues, keys for the identification of an animal and a plant group have ben given. The need for these in this country where so much descriptive work on species is still required, is so obvious that it does not require elaboration.

To some of our readers the contents of “Tuatara” may seem to be rather solid fare for a journal which is aiming to present general accounts of biological work. We feel, however, that it is better to retain the details necessary to support general statements, and readers may then be able to draw further conclusions from their own interpretations of the facts. In particular, it is hoped that teachers may find the contents in a form which can be readily used and expanded for class teaching.

W.H.D.