SUMMARY: Investigations of the ecology of Saprolegniaceae rely on satisfactory sampling methods. Existing procedures have been considered and new techniques, including a method for the estimation of propagule numbers, are presented. This paper shows the diversity of the communities which may exist in an area of less than 1 km.2; further evidence has been provided on the constancy of these communities. From previous work distribution patterns of a mosaic type were expected; the present results suggest that several orders of such patterns exist, ranging from those within a core of soil about 5 cm. in diameter, through those of quadrats of 1 m.2, to the production of a continuum several metres or even 100 m. in extent.
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