ECOLOGY. 309 



Experimental Mycology, by F. E. Clements and E. S. Clements. 



A comprehensive study of the hfe-history and adaptation of the fungi, 

 including the hchens, has been begun by means of experimental and statistical 

 methods, similar in a general way to those already developed for flowering 

 plants. This has been organized around the transplant method, but Ufe- 

 history, statistics, and the quadrat method all play essential parts in the plan. 

 As a prelmiinary step, individuals and groups of a considerable number of 

 genera of fungi and lichen-fungi have been staked in different situations for 

 the purpose of tracing the life-history and the seasonal and habitat variations. 

 Representative individuals of these have been moved to a transplant transect, 

 which affords three different minor habitats. Each species has been trans- 

 ferred into each of these, those of the same genus, family, or order being placed 

 together for the sake of comparative values. Changes of soil and substratum 

 have also been effected to further test the adaptability of the lichens especially. 

 Reciprocal transfers of the latter have also been made between the montane 

 and the alpine climaxes. In connection with the quadrat project, permanent 

 quadrats have been located in these climaxes and chartered to scale by means 

 of the camera, and denuded ones have been installed to show lichen reestab- 

 lishment and growth. Finally, an inquiry has been initiated with respect to 

 the evolution and migration of typical boreal fungi in the hope of obtaining 

 additional Ught on the phylogeny and relationship of genera and species and of 

 discriminating more closely between species and their variads. 



Phylogenetic Method in Taxonomy, hy F. E. Clements and H. M. Hall. 



The first attempt to introduce experimental and quantitative methods into 

 taxonomy has been made in the treatment of three important genera of North 

 American plants, namely, Artemisia, Chrysothamnus, and Atriplex, which has 

 been published in the form of a monograph during the year. Since experi- 

 mental methods, to be conclusive, must extend over a long period of time, 

 these are still in progress on the genera just named, but the results already 

 secured warrant their publication for their intrinsic value as well as for a 

 guide to others who wish to do objective work in this field. Particular 

 emphasis is also placed in this volume upon the importance of field studies, of 

 an improved nomenclature, and of the more readily intelligible expression of 

 results, while the absolute adherence to phylogeny as the basis of classifica- 

 tion is especially urged. 



The following results were obtained in applying these methods to the North 

 American forms of the selected genera: The 125 "species" of Artemisia of 

 certain authors are grouped into 29 major species, 29 subspecies, and 120 

 minor variations; the 88 described forms of Chrysothamnus are brought into 12 

 species, 40 subspecies, and 44 minor variations; the forms of Atriplex, com- 

 prising as many as 103 species, according to a recent authority, are grouped 

 into 47 species, 37 subspecies, and 70 minor variations. The further elabora- 

 tion of these genera and the similar treatment of others will follow as rapidly 

 as the results from field, garden, and herbarium can be obtained. 



Taxonomy of Haplopappus, hy H. M. Hall. 



As a result of intensive herbarium studies, following several years' work in 

 the field and garden, it is developing that practically all of the numerous 

 genera proposed as taxonomic segregates from Haplopappus are based upon 



