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A round up of the top countryside, conservation, wildlife and forestry stories as chosen by the CJS Team.
Fresh hope for rare and endangered plant
- Scottish Natural Heritage
Alpine
blue-sowthistle © RBGE Conservationists working to ensure the survival of the rare and
endangered alpine blue-sowthistle in Scotland are attempting to
establish a new population of the species. The beautiful but elusive flower has now been planted along a small
gorge at the Water of Clunie in the centre of the village of Braemar in
Aberdeenshire, where it is hoped it will thrive. The joint project between Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) and the
Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh (RBGE) also includes new signage to bring
the story of the rare plant alive for visitors and locals. Alpine blue-sowthistle (Cicerbita alpina) is an extremely rare plant
in the UK, with only four populations known to survive naturally in the
wild, on ledges and in gullies on remote mountains in the eastern
Cairngorms. It is thought that the plant’s distribution in Scotland may have been
wider in the past but has been reduced by grazing. The species is identified in the Scottish Government’s Biodiversity
Route Map to 2020 as a target for conservation action. RBGE and SNH have been working on a long-running project to better
understand the plant’s genetics and to establish new populations,
including at relatively low altitudes. SNH Operations Officer Mike Smedley said: “The planting site by the
Water of Clunie is one of several chosen to see whether it is possible
to establish this species at relatively low altitude. If successful,
flowers could be visible from the bridge as early as next year and at
such a popular tourist spot in the heart of Braemar, this is a great
opportunity to showcase nature conservation in action to thousands of
people each year.” Martine Borge, Scottish Rare Plants Conservation Horticulturist at
RBGE, said: "The future of this delicate and luminous plant is very
uncertain in Scotland. Like many of Scotland's rare plants it needs a
lot of support from horticulturists, scientists and members of the
public to ensure it can recover from such a vulnerable position and help
safeguard Scotland's biodiversity."
Pervasive pesticides: the cocktail effect
- Wildlife & Countryside Link A new report from
the Soil Association and Pesticide Action Network UK shows that the
‘cocktail effect’ – dangerous interactions between different pesticide
chemicals – is going untested and unchecked, with potentially dire
consequences for our wildlife and our health. Navigating the evidence and safety tests needed to show a single type
of pesticide active chemical is safe, is seriously tricky. Take
neonicotinoids, highly toxic insecticides now known to be harmful to
wildlife. These were banned two decades after they had already done
severe damage and following probably more research and debate than any
pesticide before them. But pesticides such as neonicotinoids are largely tested as if they
exist in isolation. The reality is there are around 300 pesticide active
chemicals approved for use in Europe and many for the UK. One arable
farmer that we asked used around 45 different pesticide actives on their
farm every year. Given that wildlife is continuing to plummet, and the policy
opportunities and of course threats of Brexit, we decided to explore
this issue. With Pesticide Action Network UK, we recently launched our
joint report, the ‘Cocktail Effect’. This refers to harmful interactions
between pesticides and other chemicals, both to our own health and that
of wildlife. Our review of this effect found that there is a serious lack of
evidence and monitoring of the impacts of pesticide cocktails, as well
as only a handful of studies testing for multiple pesticide residues in
the countryside. However, the evidence that does exist shows that flowers, soil, river
water, and even bee colonies, can contain 10 or more different
pesticides in a single sample. Other studies have found potential
harmful effects on birds, earthworms, fish and daphnia among others
Ambitious project launched to map genomes of all life in British Isles
- University of Cambridge An unprecedented insight into the diverse range of species on the
British Isles will be made possible by Wellcome funding to the Darwin
Tree of Life project.
The
£9.4m funding will support a collaboration of ten research institutes,
museums and associated organisations to launch the first phase of
sequencing all the species on the British Isles. This will see the teams
collect and ‘barcode’ around 8000 key British species of animal, plant
and fungi, and deliver high-quality genomes of 2000 species. Exploring the genomes – the entire DNA - of these species will give
an unprecedented insight into how life on Earth evolved. It will uncover
new genes, proteins and metabolic pathways to help develop drugs for
infectious and inherited diseases.
Liverwort (Pellia epiphylla) Credit: Jim Haseloff
“This project is the start of a transformation for biological
research. It will change our relationship to the natural world by
enabling us to understand life as never before,” said Professor Richard
Durbin in Cambridge University’s Department of Genetics, who will lead
the University’s involvement in the collaboration. “It will create a
knowledge resource for others to build on, just as we’ve seen with the
Human Genome Project for human health.” From the small fraction of the Earth’s species that have been
sequenced, enormous advances have been made in knowledge and
biomedicine. From plants, a number of lifesaving drugs have been
discovered and are now being created in the lab – such as artemisinin
for malaria and taxol for cancer. Assembling the full genetic barcode of each species from the millions
of genetic fragments generated in the sequencing process will rely on
the University of Cambridge’s expertise in computational analysis.
Scientists find no evidence for ‘Insect Armageddon’ – but there’s still
cause for concern – University of York
Researchers
who set out to test the widespread theory that the UK is experiencing an
alarming plunge in insect numbers have found no evidence for ‘Insect
Armageddon’. The Large Emerald (Geometra papilionaria). These moths feed on
birch trees, which are very sensitive to dry conditions and drought.
Credit: Dr Callum Macgregor Instead, the researchers from the University of York found peaks and
troughs in moth populations over a period of 50 years. They suggest
changing weather patterns and climate change could be an explanation. The study tracked the amount of moths – which the researchers
measured by estimating the combined weight, or “biomass” of all moths in
a given area - between 1967 and 2017. The findings reveal there is
around twice the combined weight of moths in the present day compared
with the 1960s. While there has been a gradual decline in the amount of moths at a
rate of around 10% per decade since the early 1980s, this came after a
steep increase between the late 1960s and 1982.
New research about pine martens gives hope for this endangered species
– Queen’s University Belfast Researchers from Queen’s have discovered that pine martens (Martes
martes) are more opportunistic and adaptable, in terms of their diet,
than previously thought. A pine marten. Credit Joshua Twinning The findings, published earlier this year in the European Journal of
Wildlife Research, present a hopeful outlook for this endangered
species, as its adaptability might be key to its future success
providing continued legal protection, and provision of suitable habitat. The results of this research, funded by wildlife charity People’s
Trust for Endangered Species (PTES), show that despite their diets
differing in each location, the eating habits of pine martens remained
the same: they focused on a few staple food items and supplemented these
throughout the year with seasonally available treats. The seasonal
fluctuations in their diet was already documented, but the fact that
every population across the range followed the same pattern, was not. Joshua Twining, PhD Student from the School of Biological Sciences at
Queen’s University Belfast, who led the project, explains: “The results
are quite fascinating; it’s clear that pine martens are not only true
opportunistic omnivores, but they’re also highly adaptable, and unlike
many other species, they can switch their diet depending on what’s
available around them at any given time.”
Hedge your bets and plant a natural screen, says
RHS Gardeners should consider swapping walls and fences for hedges, says
the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS), as new research shows how they
provide a range of frontline environmental services. The call forms part
of the charity’s Greening Great Britain campaign which urges the public
to turn urban concrete corners into thriving green spaces.
Wildlife Trusts call for urgent action for insects, as new report
reveals true impacts of unnoticed invertebrate apocalypse - Avon
Wildlife Trust A new report, Insect Declines and Why They Matter, commissioned by a
group of Wildlife Trusts in the south west has revealed conclusively
that drastic declines in insect numbers look set to have far-reaching
consequences for wildlife and people. The new report, authored by invertebrate expert Dave Goulson,
Professor of Biology at the University of Sussex, highlights the real
and lasting knock on effects of the declines on insect eating birds,
bats, and fish, and also the cost to society in terms of the millions in
lost revenue and broken ecosystems. In parallel to revealing the urgency of the problem, the report
however also highlights a clear path to reversing the worrying rate of
decline and suggests measures that could take the nation off the route
to what is an imminent ecological disaster. The Trusts believe that with
a coordinated and concerted action from government, local authorities,
food growers and the public, insect populations can recover and thrive
once more so they can fulfil their incredibly important roles in the
ecosystems that support all life. Prof Goulson, author of the report, says: “Insects make up the bulk
of known species on earth and are integral to the functioning of
terrestrial and freshwater ecosystems, performing vital roles such as
pollination, seed dispersal and nutrient cycling. They are also food for
numerous larger animals, including birds, bats, fish, amphibians and
lizards. If we don’t stop the decline of our insects there will be
profound consequences for all life on earth. And it’s not just our wild
bees and pollinators that are declining – these trends are mirrored
across a great many of other invertebrate species. Of serious concern is
the little we know about the fate of many of the more obscure
invertebrates that are also crucial to healthy ecosystems. What we do
know however is that the main causes of decline include habitat loss and
fragmentation, and the overuse of pesticides. Wild insects are routinely
exposed to complex cocktails of toxins which can cause either death or
disorientation and weakened immune and digestive systems.” Click here to
view the report.
Body language key to zoo animal welfare Watching the behaviour and body language of zoo animals could be the
key to understanding and improving their welfare, new
research suggests. Traditionally, zoos have focussed on more straightforward measures
such as whether animals are eating, sleeping and breeding. The new review, by the University of Exeter and the University of
Winchester, says zoos have made vast improvements in recent years, but
closer observation of animal behaviour – a method called Qualitative
Behavioural Assessment, developed in livestock farming – could reveal
even more about their psychological state.
An
animal’s posture, facial movements and activity levels are among the
things that might reveal whether it is excited, calm, interested,
nervous, relaxed, etc. “Zookeepers are dedicated and knowledgeable about their animals, and
they will often recognise the psychological state of an animal by its
behaviour and body language,” said Dr Paul Rose, of the University of
Exeter. A macaw looking curious/interested (credit Paul
Rose) “What we are suggesting is a more consistent version of this, carried
out over time. Certain behaviours will indicate certain moods in a
particular species, and we should build our knowledge of this for
different species that live in zoos. For example, lions have a wide
range of facial expressions, and research on these expressions could
help zoos understand the animals’ state of mind. This information could
then be used to improve welfare by adjusting enclosures, diets, feeding
times or any number of other aspects of the way animals are kept.” Dr Rose conducts much of his research at WWT Slimbridge Wetland
Centre, and is currently examining how the swans there might reveal
their psychological state via their behavioural expression. “We’re
looking at how much time they spend investigating and exploring their
habitat, which could show that they’re feeling emotions like being bold
or confident or interested,” he said. “When they’re apprehensive or
unsure, they appear to move less and be more vigilant, and keep their
feathers compressed close to their bodies.” The study evaluates existing research on Qualitative Behavioural
Assessment, much of it from farming, and suggests research opportunities
and practices that could be adopted by zoos.
New leader for The Wildlife Trusts - environmental campaigner Craig
Bennett Craig Bennett, has been appointed as the new CEO of The Wildlife
Trusts. One of the UK’s leading environmental campaigners, Craig Bennett, has
been appointed as the new CEO of The Wildlife Trusts. Craig brings with
him huge knowledge and experience of nature conservation issues,
campaigning and leadership within the sector. Early in his career, which spans over 20 years, Craig led a move to
bring peat cutting to an end on Thorne and Hatfield Moors and he helped
secure better wildlife legislation through The Countryside and Rights of
Way Act. More recently, Craig has led successful campaigns to highlight
climate change and to protect and restore bees. Craig will join The Wildlife Trusts – a UK-wide group of 46 nature
conservation charities – a year into their campaign for a
Wilder Future. Though
a time of great political uncertainty and ecological crisis, The
Wildlife Trusts are determined to reverse nature’s decline, restore
broken ecosystems and enable people to take action for nature. They are
uniquely placed to do so because the Trusts are a grassroots movement
with land and sea management expertise; they have the ability to
reconnect people with the natural world and to work with local
communities everywhere.
NBN Award winners 2019 - National Biodiversity Network
The
winners and runners up of the NBN Awards for Wildlife Recording 2019
were announced at the Albert Hall, Nottingham during an evening ceremony
on Wednesday 13 November 2019. Winners and runners-up of the 2019 NBN Awards for Wildlife Recording (image: NBN) These national Awards recognise and celebrate the
outstanding contributions adults and young people are making to wildlife
recording and data sharing, which is helping to improve our
understanding of the UK’s biodiversity. There are five Award categories:
NBN Young Person’s Award 2019 Michael Sinclair, (age 15, from Glasgow, Strathclyde) is the winner
of the NBN Young Person’s Award 2019. Michael records birds, moths and
bats and is an ambassador for the Cameron Bespolka Trust as well as
being a Young Rewildling Ambassador for Scotland the Big Picture. Michael Sinclair, winner of the NBN Young Person’s Award 2019, says:
“With our nature under ever-greater threat, I think it’s so important to
record and share information that will help us understand how different
species are affected by challenges like habitat loss, climate change and
environmental pollution.
Rising from the ashes - John Innes Centre For the past decade the outlook has been gloomy for European ash
trees devastated by Ash dieback and facing the threat of more invasive
pests.
Now
the latest scientific research brings better news. It reveals that
European ash has moderately good resistance to the Emerald Ash Borer
(EAB) a beetle which has severely affected ash species in the USA and
some parts of Russia. (image: John Innes Centre) Tests on a selection of ash species show that European ash – while
not immune to initial attack by the EAB – has the resources to restrict
the beetle’s development. The study finds that the frequency with which larvae of the EAB
developed to later stages in European ash was much lower than in the
highly-susceptible black ash. But European ash had similar resistance to
that of Manchurian ash which co-exists with the beetle in East Asia. Previously, researchers were concerned that if EAB arrived in
Britain, any native European ash trees that hadn’t succumbed to ash
dieback may be finished off by the beetle. But, explains Professor James Brown of the John Innes Centre, one of
the authors of the study, the picture is more positive. “In the long
term we predict that ash in the UK will gradually evolve greater
resistance to ash dieback as a result of natural selection. We expect
that healthy trees may suffer some harm from emerald ash borer but not
be severely damaged.”
Tree with a 'face' leads battle against Dutch elm disease in the
Scottish Highlands
- Woodland Trust
Scotland’s
newly named Tree of the Year has been adopted as symbolic leader of a
campaign to halt the spread of Dutch elm disease in the Highlands.
The 'Last Ent of Affric' is marshaling its forces for the battle of the
glens as the beetle behind the infection travels west. Credit: Niall Benvie / WTML Alasdair Firth of Woodland Trust Scotland said: “Dutch elm disease
has swept round the North-East of Scotland to Inverness and is now
making its way along the Great Glen towards the west coast. There are
healthy elm populations on the west coast now under threat. The ElmWatch
campaign launched today aims to stop the spread of the disease and carry
out research to secure the future of the species.” Dr Euan Bowditch of the Wooded Landscapes Research Group at Inverness
College UHI said: “The disease is directly spread by beetles, but
ultimately by people. We are seeing Dutch elm disease move through major
road arteries in the Highlands – along the Great Glen but also north
along the A9, and out towards Ullapool on the A835. The beetles are
hitch-hiking their way across the Highlands, most likely through the
transport of diseased wood that will infect and kill more trees. If we
can limit the movement of infected elm wood, we can give healthy elm
populations, such as those in the west, a shot at survival.” Government agency Scottish Forestry is urging the public to avoid
moving elm timber and firewood across the disease frontline – and has
produced a map.
Confor announces new forestry awards for 2020 Three new awards will be presented at Confor’s expanded Forestry
Dinner & Awards Evening in February 2020. Along with the well-established Dedicated Service to Forestry Award,
there are new awards for leadership, innovation and communication - to
be presented at The Sheraton Grand Hotel in Edinburgh on Tuesday, 25
February.. “The new awards build on the success of the 2019 dinner and the
positive growth of the industry,” said Confor CEO Stuart Goodall. “The
Dedicated Service to Forestry Award is the premier industry award, but
we wanted to reward excellence more widely across the sector. We are
delighted that we are able to award these new prizes, thanks to great
support from our sponsors James Jones & Sons, Scottish Woodlands,
Forestry & Land Scotland and Forestry Commission. “We now want the industry to come forward and make nominations for
the new awards, to ensure we find some truly worthy winners.” The three new awards are:
Nominations close on 28th January 2020
Stanford researchers explore how citizens can become agents of
environmental change - Stanford University Some programs work better than others when it comes to involving
citizens in preserving the environment. After reviewing those that
worked, Stanford researchers propose a blueprint for how others can
educate people to maximize their impact. If you like to walk in the woods, raft a river, dig in a garden or
look at butterflies, you could become an agent of change. Science and policy may not be enough to solve complex environmental
challenges ranging from species extinction to water pollution, but
actively engaged citizens could tip the balance, according to a new
Stanford-led study that provides a blueprint for empowering people to
turn the tide of environmental destruction. In Biological Conservation,
the researchers outline four key facets of programs that have been
successful in motivating and training people to have a meaningful
impact. “Effective environmental education moves people to persistent action
through engaging with issues in relevant ways,” said study lead author
Nicole Ardoin. “Without it, making sustained change on environmental and
sustainability issues simply is not possible.” Environmental education: Keys to success
Read the paper: Nicole M. Ardoin,
Alison W. Bowers, Estelle Gaillard,
Environmental education outcomes for conservation: A systematic review,
Biological Conservation, 2019, 108224, ISSN 0006-3207 doi:
10.1016/j.biocon.2019.108224. (open acess)
International attention for deer management approach
- Forestry and Land Scotland Forestry and Land Scotland’s successful approach to deer management
programme has attracted international attention. Three members of the Latvian Forestry Service recently spent three
days with FLS managers looking at data, population modelling and systems
associated with deer management and venison sales as well as the
practicalities of deer control on the ground. In addition to meetings in Silvan House, Edinburgh the group met with
wildlife rangers on the ground in Highland Perthshire. This included a
visit to the Tummel deer larder to learn about carcass preparation,
larder compliance, and to discuss population counts and working with
neighbouring land managers to manage deer pressures. The group also observed deer stalking in local Tayside forests and
also visited Cunningar Loop in Glasgow where the focus was urban deer
management and the difficulties of establishing and enhancing urban
woodlands. Doug Knox, Head of FLS Technical Services Group, said; “As in
Scotland, Latvian foresters acknowledge that deer are an important
element of the landscape. But they are as acutely aware as we are that
there is a balance to be struck in managing deer populations to
sustainable levels for the benefit of the deer themselves and the
natural environment which can suffer in places from over-browsing." Scientific Publication Sercu, B. K., Moeneclaey, I. , Bonte, D. and Baeten, L. (2019),
Induced phenological avoidance: A neglected defense mechanism against
seed predation in plants. J Ecol. Accepted Author Manuscript.
doi:10.1111/1365-2745.13325
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