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A round up of the top countryside, conservation, wildlife and forestry stories as chosen by the CJS Team.
Street light switch-off benefits night-time pollinators
– University of York Switching off street lights in the middle of the night to save money
and energy could have a positive knock-on effect on nocturnal
pollinators, according to new research.
Light
pollution significantly alters moth activity and this in turn is
disrupting their role as pollinators (University of York) The study, led by experts from the universities of York and
Newcastle, has shown that turning off street lights even for just part
of the night is effective at restoring the natural behaviour of moths. The important role moths play in the pollination of plants –
potentially even including key food crops such as peas, soybean and
oilseed rape - is often overlooked. But recent studies show that
moths supplement the day-time work of bees and other pollinating
insects. Night-lighting disrupts nocturnal pollination by attracting moths
upwards, away from the fields and hedgerows so they spend less time
feeding and therefore pollinating. However, the research team behind the study found there was no
difference in pollination success between part-night lighting and full
darkness. Read the paper: Macgregor, C. J.,
Pocock, M. J. O., Fox, R. & Evans., D. M. (2019)
Effects of street lighting technologies on the success and quality of
pollination in a nocturnally pollinated plant. Ecosphere DOI:
10.1002/ecs2.2550 (open access)
Record-breaking year seals 30 years of breeding success at Blakeney
Point – National Trust
Rangers
at the National Trust’s Blakeney National Nature Reserve in Norfolk have
confirmed that this year’s grey seal pups have surpassed 3,000 for the
first time.
With 3,012 pups born this winter, it’s the highest number since
records began 30 years ago. It’s believed that the remoteness of the reserve and limited
disturbance is creating the perfect habitat for what has become the
largest grey seal colony in England. National Trust rangers monitor the colony by counting and recording
seal pups throughout the winter. Ranger Leighton Newman, says: “The
count, which began on 25 October started slowly with fewer numbers born
in the early days compared to previous years; but by the last week of
November, births were in full swing with an average of 150 pups being
born every day. We’d like to say a really big thank you to all of our
amazing and dedicated volunteers who have spent their time helping us to
monitor the colony and speak to visitors this winter, in often cold and
windy conditions. We are also fortunate to have a really supportive
local community and visitors to the reserve. They have helped keep
disturbance of the seals to a minimum, sticking to waymarked routes,
staying clear of fenced off areas and ensuring that the seals have the
space they need. This all helps ensure the colony can thrive.”
Antarctic krill population contracts southward as polar oceans warm
– British Antarctic Survey
The
population of Antarctic krill, the favourite food of many whales,
penguins, fish and seals, shifted southward during a recent period of
warming in their key habitat, new research shows. Antarctic krill are shrimp-like crustaceans which occur in enormous
numbers in the cold Southern Ocean surrounding Antarctica. They have a
major role in the food web and play a significant role in the transport
of atmospheric carbon to the deep ocean. Image: British Antarctic Survey Important krill habitats are under threat from climate change, and
this latest research – published today (21st January 2019) in Nature
Climate Change – has found that their distribution has contracted
towards the Antarctic continent. This has major implications for the
ecosystems that depend on krill. An international team of scientists, led jointly by Dr Simeon Hill at
the British Antarctic Survey and Dr Angus Atkinson at Plymouth Marine
Laboratory, analysed data on the amount of krill caught in nets during
scientific surveys. The data covered the Scotia Sea and Antarctic
Peninsula – the region where krill are most abundant. The team found
that the centre of the krill distribution has shifted towards the
Antarctic continent by about 440 km (4° latitude) over the last four
decades.
Shoots urged to pay more attention to release pen locations, says new
GWCT study – Game & Wildlife Conservation
Trust Advisors from GWCT are urging shoots to pay more attention to release
pen locations and limit pheasant releasing density to reduce negative
impacts on woodland flora.
The advice follows a new study carried out by GWCT scientists that
looked at the long-term effects of pheasants on the plant community. Andrew Hoodless, Rufus Sage and Lucy Capstick studied sites which had
previously been used as release pens for between 10 and 20 years but had
not been used in the past three years. Sixty-five of these sites were identified in woodland across
Berkshire, Dorset, Hampshire, Sussex and Wiltshire. For each of the disused pens, a reference, or “control” site, was
identified in the same piece of woodland but away from the pen itself
and from areas where pheasants tend to gather. At each pen and its control pair, the plants were surveyed at points
within the site. These vegetation surveys were carried out between April
and July of 2006, 2008 and 2011, where they recorded the amount of bare
ground, percentage of ground covered by each plant species and the
vegetation cover between ground level and up to 2m in height. Soil
samples were also taken at each site visited. All these measurements were examined to identify any differences
between the disused pens and their control sites, considering how long
it had been since the pen was used, as well as the typical stocking
density when birds were in the pens. Interestingly, results showed that the changes in soil chemistry and
plant species that are known to occur in pheasant release pens, such as
an increase in ruderal plants and a decline in woodland specialist
plants, continue to affect the area after pheasant release is no longer
carried out. Read the paper: Capstick, L. A., Sage,
R. B. & Hoodless, A. (2019)
Ground flora recovery in disused pheasant pens is limited and affected
by pheasant release density. Biological Conservation. DOI:
10.1016/j.biocon.2018.12.020
North Sea rocks could act as energy stores –
University of Edinburgh Rocks in the seabed off the UK coast could provide long-term storage
locations for renewable energy production, new research suggests. An advanced technique could be used to trap compressed air in porous
rock formations found in the North Sea using electricity from renewable
technologies. The pressurised air could later be released to drive a turbine to
generate large amounts of electricity. Meeting demand Using the technique on a large scale could store enough compressed
air to meet the UK’s electricity needs during winter, when demand is
highest, the study found. The approach could help deliver steady and reliable supplies of
energy from renewable sources – such as wind and tidal turbines – and
aid efforts to limit global temperature rise as a result of climate
change. New processes However, the amount of energy produced by many renewable technologies
varies depending on weather conditions. There is a need for new processes that can store energy cheaply and
reliably for months at a time, researchers say. Energy potential Engineers and geoscientists from the Universities of Edinburgh and
Strathclyde used mathematical models to assess the potential of the
process, called compressed air energy storage (CAES). The team then predicted the UK’s storage capacity by combining these
estimates with a database of geological formations in the North Sea. Porous rocks beneath UK waters could store about one and a half times
the UK’s typical electricity demand for January and February, they
found.
Strengthened protection for Poole Harbour's unique range of wildlife
– Natural England The extension of the Poole Harbour Site of Special Scientific
Interest (SSSI) will see a further 1,800 hectares (ha) of land and sea
brought within the site to help protect the entire harbour - an increase
of 40 per cent.
Poole
Harbour from Arne (Credit: Sue Macpherson ARPS) One of the country’s best-loved coasts will be better protected
following the expansion of a major wildlife protection area in Dorset. Natural England has confirmed the extension of the Poole Harbour Site
of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). The move will see a further 1,800
hectares (ha) of land and sea brought within the site to help protect
the entire harbour - an increase of 40 per cent. It is the first SSSI
specifically to include subtidal areas, which will protect the feeding
areas of internationally important tern populations. The beautiful Poole Harbour is a magnet for both people and wildlife. Environment Secretary, Michael Gove said: “Part of Thomas Hardy’s
Wessex landscape, this protection of a large part of Poole Harbour will
continue to ensure that generations to come can enjoy the Dorset coast.
Through this action, Natural England is making a vital contribution to
our nation’s cultural and environmental heritage. Our 25 Year
Environment Plan includes a commitment to develop a Nature Recovery
Network to protect and restore wildlife. Improving our protected areas
will play an important role as we develop this network and work to
realise our ambition to become the first generation to leave the
environment in a better state than we found it.” This SSSI extension connects to a wide network of important habitats.
The Dorset Heaths are one of the best examples of lowland heath in the
world and Poole Harbour opens out onto outstanding marine habitat
protected under the Bluebelt programme, including Poole Rocks Marine
Conservation Zone (MCZ), and Studland Bay proposed MCZ.
Hen harrier ‘River’ disappears in suspicious circumstances
- RSPB This is the ninth bird tagged last summer to vanish in similar circumstances. Last transmission showed the bird on a driven grouse moor in North
Yorkshire The police and the RSPB are investigating the sudden disappearance of
yet another satellite tagged hen harrier in North Yorkshire, the county
with the worst reputation for bird of prey persecution. The bird, named River, was one of several hen harrier chicks in
England fitted with a satellite tag as part of the RSPB’s Hen Harrier
LIFE project last summer (2018). These lightweight tags allow the RSPB
to monitor the birds after they fledge. Her tag’s last known transmission came from a driven grouse moor
between Colsterdale and Nidderdale – an area with a history of bird of
prey persecution – on 14 November. She was known to have been hunting
and roosting in the area for several weeks. RSPB Investigations staff
and North Yorkshire Police searched the area, but there was no sign of
the bird or the tag. She has not been heard from since.
New study demonstrates benefits of undervalued saltmarsh
- University of Exeter
A
new tool which helps land managers assess the costs and benefits of
re-introducing valuable saltmarsh, has been developed by economists and
environmental scientists from the South West Partnership for
Environmental and Economic Prosperity (SWEEP) at the University of
Exeter. Credit Dr Katrina Davis
Yet the habitat is in decline with around half being lost around the
world because of sea level rise, changes to water nutrient levels from
agricultural run-off, and land development – saltmarsh competes with the
high-value of coastal land for grazing or property development. The SWEEP study, which was produced alongside partners from the North
Devon Biosphere, promotes a new way for land managers and planners to
appraise coastal land to fully capture the benefits saltmarsh brings to
the environment and local economy.
WWF Welcomes Call by Sir David Attenborough for Global Environmental
Action - WWF WWF ambassador calls on global leaders to take action to protect the
natural world in conversation with HRH Duke of Cambridge on-stage at the
2019 World Economic Forum WWF welcomes today’s call from Sir David Attenborough, made in
conversation with the Duke of Cambridge, in which he urged political and
business leaders to protect the natural world. His call reinforces the
urgent need expressed by WWF and other organizations for a new deal for
nature and people in 2020 – an agreement which would aim to halt and
reverse the loss of nature, and protect our planet.
National Whale and Dolphin Watch 2018: the results are in!
- Sea Watch Foundation Last year’s event, which took place 28th July – 5th August, revealed striking biodiversity with an impressive thirteen species of cetaceans seen around the British Isles in just those few days, a number which was only been recorded once before. The total number of sightings collected was larger than last year, and the highest reported so far.
The
2018 event totalled 1,328 hours of watches conducted, over 100 hours
more than in 2016. Over 43% of the total amount of hours spent
collecting effort-related data came from land-based locations. Bottlenose dolphins photographed off Berwick-upon-Tweed,
Northumberland, on July 31st. Photo credit: Amber Thomas 2018 marked the seventeenth year of Sea Watch Foundation’s National
Whale and Dolphin Watch event, a citizen science project which has
gained tremendous popularity over the years. “I am very proud of what we
achieved with the help of wildlife enthusiasts and conservation and
recording organisations around the country, who have contributed data
collected from boats (inshore and offshore) and from land stations in
different parts of the UK”, says Dr Chiara Giulia Bertulli, Sightings
Officer for Sea Watch and organiser of last year’s national event. Access the full 2018 National Whale and Dolphin Watch report here
New contract extends fisheries partnership with the Angling Trust
- Environment Agency The Angling Trust has been awarded a new contract to undertake
essential angling services including tackling illegal angling and
encouraging more people to go fishing across the country. Following a competitive procurement process, the Environment Agency
awarded the contract as part of a continued drive to work with partners
to ensure freshwater fisheries thrive and encourage more people to go
angling throughout England. The contract will run for up to 4 years and is worth £1.15 million a
year. It is funded by income from fishing licence sales. The priorities for the contract include:
£5,000 donation makes it even easier to get on your way in Ullswater
- Lake District National Park The Lake District National Park is thrilled to receive a generous
donation of almost £5,000 for essential path restoration work on the
popular Ullswater Way. With New Year’s resolutions still forefront of many people’s minds,
this is a great route to do as one 20 mile walk or as a series of
shorter walks over a few days or weeks. This fantastic donation from the Lake District Foundation charity and
Ullswater Steamers will fund surfacing and drainage projects between
Pooley Bridge and Gowbarrow Fell to improve ground conditions. Lake District National Park rangers will carry out this work over the
coming months. Dylan Jackman, Project Ranger said: “We have identified a
number of sections of the Ullswater Way which are in need of improvement
and are continually seeking funding for works to make the route an even
greater success. The generous support of Ullswater Steamers and Lake
District Foundation allows us to continue to improve areas, meaning that
this special area remains accessible and enjoyable for visitors.” The £5,000 donation is the result of visitors to the area and local
residents digging deep and donating to the Lake District Foundation. The
money has been raised mainly through visitor giving on Ullswater
Steamers coupled with wider donations from the local community since
Storm Desmond in 2015.
Collaborative research led by the University of East Anglia has
identified one of the causes of recent deaths in UK European brown hare
populations. - University of East Anglia Working together with diagnostic laboratories in England, Scotland
and Germany, the first UK cases of rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus
type 2 (RHDV2) have been detected in dead hares found in two locations –
Essex and Dorset. Researchers from UEA joined forces with Suffolk, Norfolk and Essex
Wildlife Trusts, the Department for Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) and
the APHA Surveillance Intelligence Unit to investigate the cause of hare
deaths following reports of sick and dead hares from members of the
public.
Wild
European Hare (image: Vlad Sokolovsky, Shutterstock via UEA) Lead researcher Dr Diana Bell, from UEA’s School of Biological
Sciences, said: “RHDV2 normally affects rabbits, but the disease is
known to have jumped to European brown hares in Italy, Spain, France and
Australia. This is the first time that RHDV2 has been found in hares in
the UK." The research team are continuing to collect dead hares for post
mortem. If you find a freshly dead hare please report it to Dr Bell by
emailing d.bell@uea.ac.uk. ‘First cases of rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus type 2 (RHDV2)
confirmed in European brown hares (Lepus europaeus) in the
UK’ is published today in
Vet Record
SGA calls for satellite tag accountability -
Scottish Gamekeepers Association Scotland’s gamekeepers are calling for accountability regarding
satellite tags fitted to wildlife. The call comes after The Scottish Gamekeepers Association learned
that a tagged Hen Harrier, reported as disappearing ‘suspiciously’ in
Angus last May, was re-sighted in Perthshire afterwards, according to
investigators.
An
eagle in Angus photographed with a tag dangling below its head. Image:
Mike Groves. Anti-grouse moor campaigners who owned the tag’s data publicly blamed
the grouse industry, urging Scottish Government to license the sector. However, no media statements were issued to correct the accusations,
leaving local estate employees living with the burden of criminal
suspicion. The SGA has also learned of a sea eagle currently flying around
Grampian with a tag dangling from its body, potentially endangering its
welfare. The female sea eagle, pegged with yellow wing markings
and the letter ‘E’, has been spotted by concerned land managers.
In recent times, four golden eagles have also been independently
photographed in the Angus glens with displaced tags; one clearly hanging
from a bird’s neck. Another eagle was observed in Perthshire last
week with the bird’s feathers completely obscuring the tag; something
manufacturers acknowledge will distort readings. Gamekeepers believe tags are now being deployed by campaigners as
political weapons, aware there is no independent scrutiny. Whilst
the SGA is not advocating a ban, they believe Scottish Government must
act to make fitting and monitoring of the devices accountable. Scientific Publications Isabel Afán, Joan Navarro, David Grémillet, Marta Coll and Manuela G.
Forero.
Maiden voyage into death: are fisheries affecting seabird juvenile
survival during the first days at sea? Royal Society Open
Science Volume 6, Issue 1 doi: 10.1098/rsos.181151
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