Carrington Bonsor Williams
Encyclopedia
Carrington Bonsor Williams F.R.S. (7 October 1889-12 July 1981) better known as C. B. Williams or just "C.B." to friends was an English
entomologist
and ecologist
. His name is particularly associated with insect migration and with statistical ecology and biogeography
and was not influenced into scientific interests by his parents. He however had access to books on natural history and kept an aquarium. He studied at a preparatory school in Cheshire and later at Birkenhead School from 1903 to 1908.
Around 1897 the family moved to the Cheshire coast where there were open fields. At the age of twelve, during a summer in Beddgelert he and his sister were introduced to the world of caterpillars by a local doctor. They were later taken to a meeting of the Lancashire and Cheshire Entomological Society. His name was put for membership and he was duly elected although he learnt later that the members thought they were voting for his father.
who was then studying caterpillars. He obtained his B.A.
in 1911 and, as Bateson at the same time had been appointed director of the John Innes Horticultural Institution
, Williams got a research studentship in applied entomology. He worked there for the next five years. He also visited the U.S.A. during this period, looking at agricultural entomology and meeting people such as T. H. Morgan who was a close associate of Bateson. Williams worked during this period on the Thysanoptera, their biology and systematics and along with J. D. Hood of the United States, described some new species.
During World War I he trained in the London School of Tropical Medicine, to assist the R.A.M.C. in identifying pathogenic bacteria and spent most of his time in that unheroic branch of warfare, examining the stools of dysentery patients. He was then called to study a pest of sugar cane in the West Indies, Tomaspis saccharina which was threatening sugar supplies to Britain. Williams worked in Trinidad 1916-1921 where he was to implement a plan made by J. C. Kershaw in 1913 to introduce a parasite.
While in the West Indies he saw his first migration of butterflies in British Guiana. There were thousands of yellow Pierids
and they flew everyday for a fortnight. He became very interested in the phenomenon.
In 1920 he married Ellen Margaret Bain, the daughter of a British West Indian planter, John Purdie Bain and his wife
Mary Rebecca Olton. Williams dedicated his book on Patterns in the balance of nature to his wife in gratitude for her wisdom in the art of living. They had three sons.
In 1921 Williams returned to England and here he accepted a post in the Entomological Section of Egypt
’s Ministry of Agriculture
. His work in Egypt was mostly administrative but he was able to study some further aspects of insect migration as they applied to economic entomology. In 1927 he moved to Amani, Tanganyika
as government entomologist. His first job was to oversee the laying of a road and two bridges, about which he said I then felt how valuable a good training in entomology can be.
In Amani he again had occasion to study butterfly migration and in the second year he was able to study a locust invasion which managed to bring trains to a standstill. In 1929 he went home on leave with the intention of returning to East Africa but he accepted the offer of the Steven lectureship in Agricultural and Forest Entomology in the University of Edinburgh
. In 1930 he obtained his Sc.D. in 1930 from Cambridge University with a thesis on "Migration of Butterflies"
and he had colleagues all over the world making new observations. He analysed and published the results in a long series of publications and became a world-leading authority on the subject. Through his research, he was able to shed light on many of the problems, which he had first formulated in his 1930 thesis. He published a much enhanced account on the subject in 1958.
. When he joined the staff in 1932, Sir John Russell was the director. Russell had earlier invited R. A. Fisher and Williams was able to study quantitative aspects of insect populations. Williams became one of the pioneers of the statistical study of biodiversity
patterns. For example, he showed that Charles Elton’s
observation that the species-to-genus ratio was lower on islands than on mainlands could be expected from chance alone and hence that Elton’s interpretation (competitive exclusion) was redundant (which had already been shown three decades earlier by Alvar Palmgren
and Arthur Maillefer
). In his 1964 book, “Patterns in the Balance of Nature”, Williams gave a still valuable overview of this discipline.
With Fisher, Williams was able to establish patterns in the diversity and numbers of insects caught in light traps. He noticed that logarithmic patterns appeared universal, which was later developed by other ecologist like Frank W. Preston
.
Williams used this pattern to predict the number of head lice on people using data on counts of lice from prisoners in a South Indian jail. Williams calculated that the number of persons with only one louse must be 107 and the actual was 106 and he wrote so Nature was only one wrong.
He continued to work after his retirement on a many aspects of insect ecology.
and of the Royal Entomological Society of London
. In 1954, C. B. Williams was made a fellow of the Royal Society
.
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
entomologist
Entomology
Entomology is the scientific study of insects, a branch of arthropodology...
and ecologist
Ecology
Ecology is the scientific study of the relations that living organisms have with respect to each other and their natural environment. Variables of interest to ecologists include the composition, distribution, amount , number, and changing states of organisms within and among ecosystems...
. His name is particularly associated with insect migration and with statistical ecology and biogeography
Early life
Williams' father was Alfred Williams, a banker and his mother was Lillian Bonsor Williams (née Kirkland). He grew up in LiverpoolLiverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
and was not influenced into scientific interests by his parents. He however had access to books on natural history and kept an aquarium. He studied at a preparatory school in Cheshire and later at Birkenhead School from 1903 to 1908.
Around 1897 the family moved to the Cheshire coast where there were open fields. At the age of twelve, during a summer in Beddgelert he and his sister were introduced to the world of caterpillars by a local doctor. They were later taken to a meeting of the Lancashire and Cheshire Entomological Society. His name was put for membership and he was duly elected although he learnt later that the members thought they were voting for his father.
Career
After school he got a scholarship and went to Clare College, Cambridge University. Here his interests moved towards biology and he obtained a Diploma of Agriculture. He came in contact with William BatesonWilliam Bateson
William Bateson was an English geneticist and a Fellow of St. John's College, Cambridge...
who was then studying caterpillars. He obtained his B.A.
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in 1911 and, as Bateson at the same time had been appointed director of the John Innes Horticultural Institution
John Innes Centre
The John Innes Centre located in Norwich, Norfolk, England is an independent centre for research and training in plant and microbial science...
, Williams got a research studentship in applied entomology. He worked there for the next five years. He also visited the U.S.A. during this period, looking at agricultural entomology and meeting people such as T. H. Morgan who was a close associate of Bateson. Williams worked during this period on the Thysanoptera, their biology and systematics and along with J. D. Hood of the United States, described some new species.
During World War I he trained in the London School of Tropical Medicine, to assist the R.A.M.C. in identifying pathogenic bacteria and spent most of his time in that unheroic branch of warfare, examining the stools of dysentery patients. He was then called to study a pest of sugar cane in the West Indies, Tomaspis saccharina which was threatening sugar supplies to Britain. Williams worked in Trinidad 1916-1921 where he was to implement a plan made by J. C. Kershaw in 1913 to introduce a parasite.
While in the West Indies he saw his first migration of butterflies in British Guiana. There were thousands of yellow Pierids
Pieridae
The Pieridae are a large family of butterflies with about 76 genera containing approximately 1,100 species, mostly from tropical Africa and Asia. Most pierid butterflies are white, yellow or orange in coloration, often with black spots...
and they flew everyday for a fortnight. He became very interested in the phenomenon.
In 1920 he married Ellen Margaret Bain, the daughter of a British West Indian planter, John Purdie Bain and his wife
Mary Rebecca Olton. Williams dedicated his book on Patterns in the balance of nature to his wife in gratitude for her wisdom in the art of living. They had three sons.
In 1921 Williams returned to England and here he accepted a post in the Entomological Section of Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
’s Ministry of Agriculture
Ministry of Agriculture
An agriculture ministry or department of agriculture is a ministry or other government agency charged with agriculture. The ministry is often headed by a minister for agriculture....
. His work in Egypt was mostly administrative but he was able to study some further aspects of insect migration as they applied to economic entomology. In 1927 he moved to Amani, Tanganyika
Tanganyika Territory
Tanganyika Territory was a British colony between 1919 and 1961. Prior to the end of the First World War was part of the German colony of German East Africa. After the war had broke out, the British invaded the German East Africa, but were unable to defeat the German Army...
as government entomologist. His first job was to oversee the laying of a road and two bridges, about which he said I then felt how valuable a good training in entomology can be.
In Amani he again had occasion to study butterfly migration and in the second year he was able to study a locust invasion which managed to bring trains to a standstill. In 1929 he went home on leave with the intention of returning to East Africa but he accepted the offer of the Steven lectureship in Agricultural and Forest Entomology in the University of Edinburgh
University of Edinburgh
The University of Edinburgh, founded in 1583, is a public research university located in Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The university is deeply embedded in the fabric of the city, with many of the buildings in the historic Old Town belonging to the university...
. In 1930 he obtained his Sc.D. in 1930 from Cambridge University with a thesis on "Migration of Butterflies"
Insect migration
The study of butterfly migration was a passion for C. B. Williams. He made uncountable observations himself during his years in the TropicsTropics
The tropics is a region of the Earth surrounding the Equator. It is limited in latitude by the Tropic of Cancer in the northern hemisphere at approximately N and the Tropic of Capricorn in the southern hemisphere at S; these latitudes correspond to the axial tilt of the Earth...
and he had colleagues all over the world making new observations. He analysed and published the results in a long series of publications and became a world-leading authority on the subject. Through his research, he was able to shed light on many of the problems, which he had first formulated in his 1930 thesis. He published a much enhanced account on the subject in 1958.
Statistical ecology
From 1932 to 1955, he headed the entomology department at the Rothamsted Experimental StationRothamsted Experimental Station
The Rothamsted Experimental Station, one of the oldest agricultural research institutions in the world, is located at Harpenden in Hertfordshire, England. It is now known as Rothamsted Research...
. When he joined the staff in 1932, Sir John Russell was the director. Russell had earlier invited R. A. Fisher and Williams was able to study quantitative aspects of insect populations. Williams became one of the pioneers of the statistical study of biodiversity
Biodiversity
Biodiversity is the degree of variation of life forms within a given ecosystem, biome, or an entire planet. Biodiversity is a measure of the health of ecosystems. Biodiversity is in part a function of climate. In terrestrial habitats, tropical regions are typically rich whereas polar regions...
patterns. For example, he showed that Charles Elton’s
Charles Sutherland Elton
Charles Sutherland Elton FRS was an English zoologist and animal ecologist. His name is associated with the establishment of modern population and community ecology, including studies of invasive organisms.-Personal life:...
observation that the species-to-genus ratio was lower on islands than on mainlands could be expected from chance alone and hence that Elton’s interpretation (competitive exclusion) was redundant (which had already been shown three decades earlier by Alvar Palmgren
Alvar Palmgren
Alvar Palmgren was a Finnish botanist and plant ecologist.Palmgren studied botany at the University of Helsinki under professor J.P. Norrlin. He graduated in 1906 and obtained his Ph.D. in 1914...
and Arthur Maillefer
Arthur Maillefer
Arthur Maillefer was a Swiss botanist and plant geographer.He studied numerous classic botanical disciplines, including plant systematics and floristics. He also was very modern in his use of numerical analysis and mathematics...
). In his 1964 book, “Patterns in the Balance of Nature”, Williams gave a still valuable overview of this discipline.
With Fisher, Williams was able to establish patterns in the diversity and numbers of insects caught in light traps. He noticed that logarithmic patterns appeared universal, which was later developed by other ecologist like Frank W. Preston
Frank W. Preston
Frank W. Preston was an English-American engineer, ecologist, and conservationist. He helped found the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy and worked to reclaim the land that is now Moraine State Park in Butler County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. Preston was a leading expert in glass technology...
.
Williams used this pattern to predict the number of head lice on people using data on counts of lice from prisoners in a South Indian jail. Williams calculated that the number of persons with only one louse must be 107 and the actual was 106 and he wrote so Nature was only one wrong.
He continued to work after his retirement on a many aspects of insect ecology.
Miscellaneous
C. B. Williams served as president of several learned societies, e.g. the Association of Applied Biologists, the British Ecological SocietyBritish Ecological Society
The British Ecological Society is a learned society in the field of ecology that was founded in 1913. It was the first ecological society in the world. The society's original objective was "to promote and foster the study of Ecology in its widest sense" and this remains the central theme guiding...
and of the Royal Entomological Society of London
Royal Entomological Society of London
The Royal Entomological Society of London is devoted to insect study. It has a major national and international role in disseminating information about insects and improving communication between entomologists....
. In 1954, C. B. Williams was made a fellow of the Royal Society
Royal Society
The Royal Society of London for Improving Natural Knowledge, known simply as the Royal Society, is a learned society for science, and is possibly the oldest such society in existence. Founded in November 1660, it was granted a Royal Charter by King Charles II as the "Royal Society of London"...
.