, LECTURES OF TH YEAE R

5. , LECTURES OF THE YEAR

P R E S I D E N T I A L ADDRESS

C A L I F O R N I A N L A N D S C A P E .

Dr. J.A.Rattenbury. 2 4 . 4 - 5 2 .

Dr Rattenbury who took the post of Lecturer i n Genetics i n the Botany Dept, i n 1952 i s a keen f i e l d worker,tramper and mountaineer. He i s a graduate of B r i t i s h Columbia University,and of the U n i v e r s i t y of C a l i f o r n i a , a n d has done research work i n Portugal. As F i e l d Club's P r e s i ­dent he has been a very h e l p f u l and a c t i v e member during 1952.He has w r i t t e n f o r "Tane" a condensed account of h i s very i n t e r e s t i n g president­i a l address,which was accompanied by many f i n e coloured s l i d e s .

C a l i f o r n i a and New Zealand,with respect to t h e i r general vegetation c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s , h a v e a s u r p r i s i n g l y good d> a l i n common. L a t i t u d i n a l l y , C a l i f o r n i a extends from about Wellington almost to the Kermadecs. I t s r a i n f a l l v a r i e s from almost none to w e l l over 100 inches annually. This compares with N.Z. although .the r e s p e c t i v e areas of high and low p r e c i p i t a t i o n are g r e a t l y d i f f e r e n t . C a l i f o r n i a , o n the whole,because of i t s c o n t i n e n t a l l o c a t i o n , i s considerably hotter i n summer except along the coast;while at comparable l a t i t u d e s i t i s s l i g h t l y colder i n winter.

Like N . Z . , C a l i f o r n i a has extensive grasslands as w e l l as large forested aread. The dominant trees,however,are coniferous,while these are somewhat subordinate i n N.Z. The success of several C a l i f o r n i a n c o n i f e r s i n N.Z. suggests a s u i t a b l e climate i n t h i s country f o r such trees

Unlike N.Z...the d i f f e r e n t i a t i o n of vegetation i n C a l i f o r n i a i s s t r i k i n g both i n an east-west d i r e c t i o n and north and south. This gives r i s e to a p r o p o r t i o n a t e l y greater v a r i e t y of h a b i t a t s which are functions of l a t i t u d e , a l t i t u d e and climate. The accompanying maps give some i n d i c a t i o n of the general d i s t r i b u t i o n of v e g e t a t i o n a l types and of t h e i r c o i v o l ^ c i o n with physiography.

A sub-median, east-west transect of C a l i f o r n i a . , such as i s shown d i a g r a m a t i c a l l y i n the accompanying f i g u r e , i n d i c a t e s the sequence of topographical regions c h a r a c t e r i s t i c of the s t a t e i n general and which have t h e i r own c h a r a c t e r i s t i c f l o r a l components. From west to east these are as f o l l o w s :

(1) COASTAL ZONE -cha r a c t e r i z e d by low p r e c i p i t a t i o n except i n the north but covered by fog during the major part of the year f o r at l e a s t part of the day. The coast redwood (sequoia sempervirens) i s c h a r a c t e r i s t i c of t h i s region e s p e c i a l l y m the north and c e n t r a l part. Elsewhere chaparral,composed of woody,often d i v a r i c a t i n g shrubs,almost impossible to penetrate,covers the low h i l l s . (2) 0JTER COAST RANGES - s t i l l under the i n f l u e n c e of the fog b e l t . Vegetation rather l i k e the c o a s t a l b e l t except f o r s l i g h t a l t i t u d ­i n a l v a r i a t i o n s .

(3) INNER COAST RANGES - much d r i e r than the outer ranges because of the absence of fog. Heavy coniferous cover i n the north gives way to r o l l i n g grassland with scattered oaks and f i n a l l y to semi desert scrub i n - the south. Between these two groups of low ranges are often f e r t i l e v a l l e y s which have many very l o c a l i z e d native species of shrubs and herbs. (4) CENTRAL VALLEY - extending from the north through c e n t r a l C a l i f ­o rnia, but replaced i n the south by deserts with scant vegetation ex­cept during the occasional (ten-yearly) r a i n y "seasons"when the whole desert f l o o r i s a carpet of f l o w e r i n g annuals f o r two or three weeks. The c e n t r a l v a l l e y i s t\ r i c h a g r i c u l t u r a l zone and i n i t s n a t u r a l state i s undulating grassland. (5) SIERRAN FOOTHILLS - gradually ascending from almost sea l e v e l to s e v e r a l thousand feet i n a progressive s e r i e s of rounded ranges.

Oaks give way to c o n i f e r s as the a l t i t u d e increases. (6) SIERRAN CREST - a very high range with peaks averaging over 10,000 feet and reaching almost to 15,000 once h i g h l y g l a c i a t e d but now almost snowless i n the l a t e summer. The vegetation i s pre­dominantly coniferous with a l p i n e herbs and grasses above the tree l i n e . (7) DESERT VALLEYS - behind the S i e r r a s , i n the r a i n shadow,the land i s l a r g e l y a r i d except i n the north where the mountains are lower,and

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the area is, l a r g e l y used f o r grazing stock. I r r i g a t i o n has made possible the use of some of t h i s land f o r farming. Vegetation l a r g e l y shrubs ana grass with many c h a r a c t e r i s t i c semi-desert p l a n t s . (3) DESERT MOUNTAINS - very dry rocky wastelands with a few succulents and short-seasoned annuals. These ranges extend eastward forming the great western p l a t e a u x and which culminates i n the southern part of the Rocky Mountain chain..both vegetation and population are sparsely d i s t r i ­buted over the whole area.

In s p i t e of i t s c o n t i n u i t y with the whole North American c o n t i ­nent , C a l i f o r n i a , w i t h i n the artificial boundaries of i t s p o l i t i c a l domain possesses a s u r p r i s i n g number of endemics(about 40% of the 4000 or so native species).Some of these are very narrow i n t h e i r range and confined to one or a few l o c a l i t i e s w i t h i n the s t a t e . This endemism i s a product not only of the topographical and c l i m a t i c features of the state but also of i t s g e o l o g i c a l h i s t o r y many endemics being " i s l a n d 1 1 remnants of early invasions of sea and i c e .

The most s t r i k i n g feature which d i s t i n g u i s h e s C a l i f o r n i a from New Zealand v e g e t a t i o n a l l y i s the predominance i n the former of spring annual.. and herbaceous perennials which often form acres of colour throughout the v a l l e y regions.

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PROBLEMS OF BIRD STUDY IN NEW ZEALAND,, -Mr. R.B. Sibson. 1 9 . 6 . 5 2 .

With Birdwatching as i t i s , a f i e l d study par excellence, i t i s not s u r p r i s i n g that so many i n F i e l d Club potter i n ornithology. But even the l e a s t " B i r d minded'" was both i n t e r e s t e d and entertained by Mr Sibson's l i v e l y d i s c u s s i o n of New Zealand b i r d problems. Of the purely d i s t r i b u t i o n a l type of problem he mentioned the question of the B e l l b i r d and the Pied T i t with t h e i r curious d i s c o n t i n u i t y . The i n t e r e s t ­ing features of general d i s t r i b u t i o n throughout N.Z. are many.Why,for instance,should the shade of l i g h t colours deepen toward the south i n so many species? B i r d migration,while not an indigenous problem,is one important to N.Z,.,and Mr Sibson's d i s c u s s i o n i l l u s t r a t e d t h i s w e l l . Population cycles - as evidenced by observed changes of density i s an i n t r i g u i n g study,with s i g n i f i c a n c e w e l l beyond the f i e l d of ornithology, and again here Mr Sibson gave us i n t e r e s t i n g m a t e r i a l to think about. M o r t a l i t y i n early l i f e i s another question that w i l l repay a t t e n t i o n .

Points that arose from Mr Sibson's t a l k that are pointers to F i e l d Study are (1) Further observation of species with i n t e r e s t i n g discontinuous d i s t r i b u t i o n (2) Accurate population estimations (3) Study of b i r d faunas of e.g. the Waitakere Lakes,and the Dune lakes of the West Coast.

It i s now over to i n t e r e s t e d club members to have these questions i n mind when out i n the f i e l d .

.. • C^Li^rMi^^XPJlDITION ? -.V-'. _ Mr. E.G. Turbott. 2 4 . 7 . 5 2 .

How does a Deep Sea Expedition work?Few of us had any c l e a r e r idea than of b i z a r r e d i v i n g s u i t s , f e r o c i o u s fish,and the l i k e . Mr Turbott's d e s c r i p t i o n s , b e f o r e he showed h i s f i l m s of l i f e on the Galathea q u i c k l y improved our knowledge. The Galathea 1630 tons(prev­i o u s l y the Leith)armed with three s a l u t i n g cannons,carries a crew of ninety,and twelve scientists,headed by Dr Anton Bruun of Copenhagen U n i v e r s i t y .

The ship was generally w a i t i n g - w a i t i n g t i l l the deeps were located,waiting while the 7 mile cable lowered the dredge to the seabed,waiting the four hours of i t s return journey to the ship. Then the scavenging b i o l o g i s t s went to work on the sample. The Galathea i s b u i l t round t h i s 7 mile caole,the thread on which most of our present knowledge of the ocean trenches ,dape>Kt8.

Shots of the s k i l l e d net r e p a i r e r , o f the macrurid f i s h e s from three miles down,and of sunny days at sea made a most enjoyable f i l m .

Remembering the success of Mr Turbott's 'Notornis' f i l m s and the b i g attendance at the 'Galathea' f i l m s , i t i s suggested that future committees prepare a 'House F u l l ' n otice when Mr Turbott next addresses the club.

MARINE BIOLOGICAL PROVINCES OF N.Z. Mr A.W.B. Powell. 2 6 . 6 . 5 2 .

Among the most valuable l e c t u r e s that F i e l d Club members have heard i n recent years was Mr A.W.B. Powell's d i s c u s s i o n of the Marine B i o l o g i c a l Provinces of N.Z. A f t e r a general d e s c r i p t i o n of the provinces,and the reasons f o r the p o s i t i o n s of the boundaries,Mr Powell discussed t h e i r r e l a t i o n to P a c i f i c t i d a l currents and other oceano-g r a p h i c a l data. Marine molluscs have provided the greater part of the evidence f o r these provinces, but i n the l i v e l y d i s c u s s i o n which followed Professor Chapman noted the extent to which the known d i s t r i b u t i o n of N.Z. algae accords with the molluscan provinces. Mr Powell agreed that with more d e t a i l e d knowledge of our marine fauna and f l o r a , p a r t i c u l a r l y with respect to d i s t r i b u t i o n , f u r t h e r m o d i f i c a t i o n s of the present bound­a r i e s may have to be made.

Such meetings,where open d i s c u s s i o n with the speaker by s t a f f and students follows the address,are c l e a r l y the best method of obtaining the maximum information i n the short time a v a i l a b l e .

8. FIELD CLUB NIGHT

When previous F i e l d Club Nights had been d i s c u s s e d , a l l were i n agreement that to cram four or f i v e speakers i n t o one evening was f a i r n e i t her to the speakers nor the l i s t e n e r s . With t h i s i n mind,the number of speakers f o r 1952 was reduced to two,who were given s u f f i c i e n t time fo r a f u l l address.

George Corban discussed problems i n astronomy,or rather f a c t s of astronomy that have long ceased to be problems to the astronomer,but which s t i l l perplex the "layman". He began with the Chaldeans' idea of the f i x e d Earth,and discussed the changes of view that l e d to the modern con­ception of the Solar System. Having placed the Earth as a s a t e l l i t e of the Sun,he discussed the determination of size,mass,paths and other f a c t o r s a f f e c t i n g seasonal v a r i a t i o n . He next reviewed our knowledge of the moon. Th i r d l y came a d i s c u s s i o n of the S i d e r i a l Universe i n which were mentioned the many p h y s i c a l q u a n t i t i e s that modern techniques .can now determine. It was u s e f u l to have such terms as nova,supernova,dwarfs and giants explained The whole gave a basis f o r i n t e l l i g e n t l y f o l l o w i n g h i s nocturnal discour­ses on astronomy that have become a feature of our camps.

Car r i c k Chambers' t a l k on Bryophyte Ecology was i n two main parts - the f i r s t d e a l i n g with general Ecology,the major h a b i t a t s from , sea l e v e l to a l p i n e regions,and from tundra to the t r o p i c s . He noted Rhacomitrium lanuginosum - a worldwide species i n tundra and alpine habitats.

In New Zealand alpine regions i t occupies niches i d e n t i c a l with some of those i n England(see P e a r s a l l "Mountains and Moorlands"1948, New N a t u r a l i s t ) .

He next discussed h i s work on Bryophyte communities at Swanson - - i l l u s t r a t e d by l i v i n g models of the communities and l a n t e r n s l i d e s . A f u l l account of t h i s work i s published i n t h i s number. C o l l e c t i n g methods, and uses of Bryophytes concluded the evening.

The success of these two speakers showed that when the speaker knows h i s subject,and has information worth discussing,two papers allow the best amount of time. Perhaps i n future years we s h a l l have i s e r i e s of evenings - each with one or two speakers.

PHO:OGPAPI>: \ COMPETITION Held i n conjunction with Tramping C l u b , t h i s proved a great

success. The e n t r i e s were many,and,in the enlarging classes,were of very high standard. While tramping Club appeared to scoop the pool i n the alpine s e c t i o n s , F i e l d Club proved to be stronger i n the Natural H i s t o r y and the Camping and Tramping s e c t i o n s .

We would l i k e to thank Dr L.H.Millener and Dr J.Ratten­bury f o r judging and also Dr M i l l e n e r f o r g i v i n g us a h i l a r i o u s h a l f hour i n showing a number of the old F i e l d Club l a n t e r n s l i d e s i n which many now prominent s c i e n t i f i c workers appear. The success of the evening suggests that i t could w e l l be revived as an annual event.

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Club. The and,even

This Was again held i n conjunction with Tramping evening was very successful,an above average supper was served more important,a good p r o f i t was made f o r each club.

EXPLORING- CAVES - H.G. Lambert

New Zealand probably o f f e r s a r i c h e r f i e l d to the venture­some cave e x p l o r e r than most other c o u n t r i e s .

Overseas there are caves which are deeper, caves which are more ex t e n s i v e , and caves which contain more ancient r e l i c s . But few c o u n t r i e s o f f e r a more v i r g i n t e r r i t o r y f o r e x p l o r a t i o n .

Our E n g l i s h counterparts have to work very hard indeed now­adays to make d i s c o v e r i e s i n caves which have been known f o r centuries and which have been worked over e s p e c i a l l y thoroughly during the l a s t 50 years or so. They work long hours to open up boulder chokes, or they swim underwater through submerged passages to d i s c o v e r new caverns.

Here i n New Zealand there are l i t e r a l l y hundreds of caves which are almost completely unexplored. Almost any person may , i f he wishes, discover the t h r i l l of being the ' f i r s t to penetrate seme underground cavern, the f i r s t to b r i n g l i g h t i n t o a darkness which has l a s t e d f o r perhaps a m i l l i o n years.

Most people, of course, are doubtful beforehand as te whether they would f i n d i t pleasurable or otherwise. They have vague fears cf becoming l o s t , of having the roof f a l l i n , or of developing a sudden c l a u s t r o p h o b i a . There are a few who de indeed f i n d i t a f r i g h t e n i n g experience. But most healthy people f i n d i t e x h i l a r a t i n g . There i s an atmosphere of j o l l i t y , a s p i r i t c f comradeship i n what i s e s s e n t i a l l y a group a c t i v i t y .

There i s e drama and romance i n the precession of b r i g h t lamps along through a dark passageway f a r underground, and there i s a cozy cheerfulness evident where a group h a l t s f o r r e s t or r e f r e s h ­ment. A l l the worries of the upper world are completely banished„

There are some occasions which do provoke emotional s t r e s s , as when w r i g g l i n g through a p a r t i c u l a r l y t i g h t squeeze, or swimming across a black pool cf unknown depth, or making a d i f f i c u l t climb back up a rope, c r going clone up some side-passage. At such times the human s p i r i t meets face to face w i t h secret f e a r s , and becomes the stronger through vanquishing them. In t h i s way cave e x p l o r i n g develops a more f e a r l e s s demeanor toward the l i t t l e problems of ord­i n a r y d a i l y l i f e . This c a t h a r s i s of f e a r i s perhaps common te a l l the " r i s k " sports such as mountaineering, meter cycle r a c i n g , s k i ­in g e t c .

The d i f f e r e n c e i s that i n cave e x p l o r i n g the r i s k s are more p s y c h o l o g i c a l than r e a l . The roof w i l l net a c t u a l l y f a l l i n , the darkness w i l l not a c t u a l l y de any harm, and even i f l o s t , one could s u b s i s t f o r many days u n t i l found. There i s no r i s k of dying from exposure w i t h i n a few hours, as i n the mountains. Even i f a man were to s l i p and break a l e g (which has rover happened but once i n a New Zealand cave) he could bo evacuate:! to the surface i n a matter of hours.

Cave e x p l o r i n g is arduous. I t e x e r c i s e s n e a r l y every muscle i n the body. I t i s often wet ana d i r t y , going through c l a y , water and mud. Sometimes there are b r u i s e s and minor abrasions. But even a f t e r the most strenuous caving t r i p , a hot bath and a good sleep leaves one f e e l i n g f i t t e r than at the outsat* One's body needs a l i t t l e hardship now and then to make i t r e a l i s e i t ' s a l i v e .

Apart from the e f f e c t s on one's own body and mind, caving i s an i n t e r e s t i n g study. Speleology, the science of caves, was founded by M a r t e l , who c a l l e d i t "a s p o r t i n g science. 1 1 S t r i c t l y speaking, i t i s not a science i n i t s own r i g h t but comprises specialised portions of other s c i e n c e s . The j u s t i f i c a t i o n f o r the separate name i s that the average g e o l o g i s t , p a l e o n t o l o g i s t , entomol­o g i s t , o r n i t h o l o g i s t , a n t h r o p o l o g i s t , p h y s i c i s t or chemist, does not go i n t o caves, and there i s a genuine need f o r the s p e l e o l o g i s t to serve as i n t e r m e d i a r y , e f f e c t i n g the l i n k between the underground world and the surface s c i e n t i s t .

The s c i e n t i f i c problems which are p e c u l i a r to the sub­terranean world are more numerous than one would think. Even the mode cf formation of caves i n limestone, though w e l l enough understood i n general o u t l i n e , has aspects which are s t i l l c o n t r o v e r s i a l , The

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s t a l a c t i t e s and ether c r y s t a l l i n e formations, o f t e n most p u z z l i n g i n shape, are f a r from being f u l l y understood.

Caves are i d e a l r e p o s i t o r i e s f o r the bones of p r e h i s t o r i c creatures. The constant temperature and humidity preserves them f o r thousands cf years. In one cave we found n e a t l y l a i d cut on the f l e e r a complete b i r d skeleton which proved to be a p r e v i o u s l y unknown genus. Moa bones are almost commonplace.

Caves are i n d i v i d u a l l a b o r a t o r i e s i n which evolution may sometimes develop i n d i f f e r e n t d i r e c t i o n s . Some i n s e c t s , developing i n t o cave d w e l l e r s , evolve i n t o quite d i s t i n c t species d i f f e r i n g as between one cave and another i n the same general l o c a l i t y . The sub­j e c t i s so extensive that many volumes have been w r i t t e n on "biospeleology". There i s even a r e g u l a r annual p u b l i c a t i o n i n P a r i s of "Les Notes Biospeleologiques."

Caves are r e p o s i t o r i e s of a n t h r o p o l o g i c a l r e l i c s . We may not have paintings i n our New Zealand caves dating back 2 0 , 0 0 0 years, as i n France, but there i s always the prospect of f i n d i n g Maori or M o r i o r i a r t i f a c t s .

Our New Zealand caves have been holding many secrets i n store f o r us. I t needs only the work cf a c t i v e , venturesome people to b r i n g them to l i g h t . Here i s a f i e l d cf e x p l o r a t i o n te challenge the imagination, a hobby to serve as antidote to c i v i l i s a t i o n , a sport to preserve p h y s i c a l f i t n e s s . These who wish to p a r t i c i p a t e w i l l be welcome.

Mr. Lambert i s a foundation member and P r e s i d e n t of the New Zealand S p e l e o l o g i c a l S o c i e t y , a young o r g a n i s a t i o n which i n the short time of i t s existence has i n v e s t i g a t e d and mapped many p r e v i o u s l y unexplored caves. The a t t r a c t i o n s of the fauna and f l o r a of caves should appeal to more b i o l o g i s t s whose a c t i v i t i e s the s o c i e t y encourages. Several F i e l d Club members have r e c e n t l y worked with the S o c i e t y . A p a r t i c u l a r l y i n t e r e s t i n g f i n d — a very l a r g e O p i l i o n e — w a s made i n the r e c e n t l y discovered and explored Tomac Tomo (near Karamu Cave), Besides t h i s O p i l i o n e , which has been sent away f o r i d e n t i f i c a t i o n , a number of Moa bones were al s o c a r e f u l l y c o l l e c t e d and have been found to belong to at l e a s t two genera. More r e c e n t l y another F i e l d Club member went with the S o c i e t y to a s s i s t e x p l o r a t i o n of parts of Waitomo and an i n t e r e s t i n g c o l l e c t i o n of Arthropods was made.

I t i s hoped that i t w i l l be p o s s i b l e to arrange t r i p s i n the f u t u r e i n which more F i e l d Club members can p a r t i c i p a t e .