ECOLOGY. 305 



more to the country Miid the world at large than the conclusive demon- 

 stration of the coincidence of sun-spot cycles and climatic cycles. For 

 this reason a large part of the winter will be devoted to a further scrutiny 

 of the astronomic, climatic, and biotic evidence of such cycles and their 

 incorporation into an ecologic system. In particular, it is proposed to 

 obtain new evidence by estabhshing cyclic series of permanent quad- 

 rats in grassland and forest and to extend these as soon as possible to 

 field crops. This will determine conclusively whether there is a sun- 

 spot climatic cycle of sufficient intensity to control plant production 

 under cultivation as well as in nature. 



Climatic Cycles and Succession in Bad Lands. 



Bad Lands afford a unique field for studying the succession of plant 

 and animal populations and the correlations of the latter with major 

 climatic cycles. Present-day succession in Bad Lands has now been 

 investigated in 75 localities and 12 States and a large amount of geologic 

 and biotic material has been obtained. During the summer especial 

 attention has been given to the alternating horizons of shale, sand- 

 stone, and conglomerate in 20 bad-land formations from the Permian 

 to the Miocene. It has proved possible to use alternating deposition as 

 a measure of cycles of erosion and climate on the uplands and hence to 

 give a much more complete picture of upland life than hitherto. With 

 the generous help of Dr. Knowlton, of the National Museum, and of 

 Dr. Matthews, of the American Museum, graphic compilations have 

 been made of the distribution of plants from the Permian to the 

 Pleistocence and of animals throughout the Tertiary. Dr. Hay, of 

 the Carnegie Institution of Washington, has kindly offered his records 

 of Mesozoic and Pleistocene animals for the compilation of similar 

 tables. As a consequence, it is hoped to obtain a number of new 

 correlations, which will throw additional light upon the connection 

 between climatic cycles and life cycles. Incidentally, the question of 

 reclaiming Bad Lands has received some attention; since they cover 

 manj^ thousands of square miles, even their partial reclamation for 

 grazing purposes vdll prove of much importance. 



A System of Permanent Quadrats. 



In working toward the basic correlations involved in synthetic ecol- 

 ogy, it has long been felt that the use of selected areas to determine 

 changes of population from year to year is imperative. In no other 

 way can accurate and conclusive evidence be obtained as to the efTect 

 of climate and soil upon plant and animal communities. If carried 

 through the eleven-year period of the sun-spot cycle, a series of such 

 permanent quadrats will furnish final evidence as to the existence of a 

 corresponding cycle in climate. On the practical side, it will prove 

 invaluable in tracing the fluctuations of carrying capacity on the range, of 



