Wildlife Surveys Tom French Ecologist Derbyshire County Council tom.french@derbyshire.gov.uk Call Derbyshire: 08456 058058 So what is a wildlife survey? Identifying something? Identifying everything? Looking for specific things? Or just seeing what is there? A Wildlife survey can mean many different things, but it could be described as 1
So what is a wildlife survey? An assessment of all or part of the range of plants and animals which occur in a particular area Why do wildlife surveys? You may want (or need) a wildlife survey for many different reasons: Before a development or project To help you write a management plan To monitor change To trigger management Or just to see what is there (or where things are) 2
What can you survey for? Anything and everything! A survey might cover: Every habitat in your survey area, or examine one kind of habitat in great detail Every species in your survey area, just one or two species groups, or even focus on just one species What can you survey for? Habitats a habitat survey might: Look for specific habitats in a given area Measure the extent and nature of habitats in a site Examine species composition and diversity within habitats Assess habitat structure Assess habitat condition Observe changes in habitats over an area Look for changes in habitats over time and more 3
What can you survey for? Species a species surveys might: Aim to identify every species in your survey area, or Aim to identify every species from a single species group within the survey area, or Focus on a single species or group of species, and examine Presence/absence Abundance/population structure Distribution/location/territories etc What can you survey for? With so much that you could survey for, where do you start? 4
Surveys: Back to basics Most surveys are undertaken for one of three purposes: 1. To find out what is there Either a one off survey at one site to examine what is there, or Identical surveys of many sites, either to compare similar sites or to assess the extent of a habitat or species Surveys: Back to basics 2. To record change over a period of time Either recording changes in habitats on one site, or Recording changes (for example in habitat extent or abundance) over a large area 5
Surveys: Back to basics 3. To monitor populations Monitoring the size, health (or occasionally distribution) of population(s) over a period of time to identify population growth, decline, expansion or contraction Surveying, monitoring or recording The purpose will determine whether you need to survey, monitor, or record 6
Surveys Surveys are a snapshot of what is happening on a site or in an area at one point in time. Surveys may follow standard methodologies, or be bespoke, but must be fit for purpose Monitoring Monitoring is all about detecting change Monitoring must be carried out over a period of time to be meaningful surveys must be repeated The methodology used must be repeatable, and should therefore either be a standard methodology, or be clearly recorded 7
Other records Other records may be generated casually, either outside of or incidental to surveys and monitoring (or by adding together lots of surveys or records) These records can add to the picture of a site Or can build up a picture of species or habitat distribution but there can be problems Choosing your survey methodology This may all seem a little daunting, but You are now just three steps away from your perfect survey 8
The 3 crucial questions 1. What do you want to achieve? (e.g. change your site, evaluate management, examine species distribution, or just find out what's there?) 2. What information do you need to achieve it? (identification of all habitats on site? an assessment of habitat t quality? a record of habitat change? species presence/absence? population size? assessment of population change?) 3. How are you going to get this data? Surveys, monitoring or recording? Habitats or species? Which ones? -> > METHODOLOGY The Phase-1 1 Habitat Survey (PLEASE NOTE a typed copy of the 2003 edition of the A4 Phase 1 Handbook can now be downloaded from www.jncc.gov.uk/page-2468 ) Originated in the 1970s Still the most commonly used form of professional habitat assessment Aims to provide a rapid assessment of habitats over large areas Used to assess likely ecological interest and to identify potentially interesting sites for more detailed surveys 9
Phase-1 1 Methodology Assessment of discrete habitat areas to assign them into habitat types Habitats are marked on maps using colour coding Can include target notes to highlight areas of interest Assessment can be made from roads or rights of way Surveys can be targeted based on aerial photographs Phase-1 1 Methodology Taken from JNCC (2003), Handbook for Phase 1 habitat survey a technique for environmental audit 10
Phase-1 1 Habitat maps Taken from JNCC (2003), Handbook for Phase 1 habitat survey a technique for environmental audit Phase-1 1 Habitat maps Taken from Derbyshire County Phase 1 (c1982-83) 11
A fictional local site A fictional Phase-1 12
Phase-1 advantages and disadvantages Advantages Gives a rapid assessment of large areas Provides quite a lot of detail Repeatable Disadvantages Best suited to large areas? Lacks detail at local level scale Habitat types do not fully measure quality Requires additional time and effort to thoroughly assess habitats Phase-1 Suitably scaled maps and extra effort can add detail at local level Target notes and species lists can put flesh on the bones Can be modified into an Extended Phase-1 Assessing the potential for habitats to support protected or notable species, and recording species encountered during the survey 13
Extended Phase-1 Habitat surveys another way? The General Purpose What s There Survey There are many ways to survey habitats, but a general purpose habitat survey is often required 14
General Purpose Survey Before you start: Check that you have landowner s permission Think Health and Safety Be clear of your objectives can your survey achieve them, and can you do your survey if in doubt, seek help! Check what information already exists Our site 15
Existing records Doing the survey 1. Map get the largest scale map of the site you can, showing paths, rides, streams, ponds, boundary features etc 2. Walk the site 3. Identify and examine all habitats within the site and look for different areas in each habitat. Mark the habitats on your map 4. Try to identify differences between them. Identify differences or features of interest with target notes 16
Doing the survey 5. Habitat descriptions for each different area identified try to provide a description. Think about: Common/typical species Rarities Habitat structure Other features of interest Indicators of past management Faunal species Problems e.g. invasive species Habitat descriptions Woodlands Tree species conifer, broad-leaf or both? All the same species, or mixed? Does the wood seem young, old, or middle-aged? Are the trees all the same age, or mixed? Are the trees close together or spread apart? Plantation or semi-natural? Shady or light? Ground flora, shrub layer and canopy? Evidence of past management? Coppice? Other features rides, banks, streams, wet areas, dead wood, leaf-litter? litter? Evidence of animals? Squirrel, fox, badger, deer, other mammals, birds, old nests, potential for bats or great crested newts? 17
Habitat descriptions Grasslands Can you identify the wildflowers? (Don t forget the common ones daisy, dandelion and clover are all wildflowers!) How about the grass species? Fine or coarse? Thick or sparse? Wet or dry? Height? Variation in height? Evidence of past management? Evidence of animals? Rabbits, hares, moles, signs of badger foraging etc. Don t forget anthills! Scrub coverage and invasion try to quantify and map extent Habitat descriptions Ponds Depth? Inlets/outlets? Water quality clear, covered in algae or stagnant? Shaded or open? Open to south? Open water, full of reed/reedmace, or scrubbing over? Deadwood or leaf-litter? litter? Plants marginal, emergent, floating and submerged. Can you identify them? Any invasive species? Evidence of animals amphibians, fish, invertebrates in the water, holes in the banks? 18
Habitat descriptions streams and rivers Depth? Flow? Bed material? Channel width, bank height and gradient? Course straight or meandering Vegetation Bankside, marginal, emergent, floating or submerged? Evidence of animals? Invasive species? Any other issues? Doing the survey 6. Species lists For each area of interest, provide a separate species list, and try and assess how numerous each species is For a ready-reckoner, reckoner, use the DAFOR scale: Dominant Abundant Frequent Occasional Rare 19
Doing the survey Add photographs (noting locations, date and photographer), record other species encountered during your survey and mark the locations of rare species on your map CONGRATULATIONS! You have completed your habitat survey! Species surveys The same principles apply to species surveys as to habitat surveys. Remember: What do you want to achieve? What information do you need to achieve it? How are you going to get this data? Don t forget: If you need specialist help, ask Some species are protected by law, get help if you are unsure 20
Species surveys Habitats: Monitoring change Monitoring changes in habitats on a site requires repeated surveys Repeating site surveys may reveal changes in extent or composition of habitats, but this isn t very subtle, and may need very precise habitat mapping and surveying Repeating site surveys risks a collect (data) first, think (of a use) later approach Monitoring is most useful when planned and done for a specific reason 21
Habitats: Monitoring change Example monitoring the effects of a change in grassland management. Change in management may affect species composition, grass length, scrub encroachment, habitat condition, bare earth habitats, or faunal species found there would repeated habitat surveys detect this? Instead, we could undertake specific monitoring in any of these areas monitoring could assess grass length, scrub encroachment, invertebrate assemblages or vegetative species composition, although complex surveys may require specialist assistance and techniques, including fixed quadrats Fixed point photography Requires photographs to be taken from the same point, in the same direction, using the same camera, repeatedly over time Provides a rapid and detailed comparison of the habitat and documents changes Advantages cheap, easy, can maintain a record which can be revisited later Disadvantages must be undertaken at the same time of year, cannot detect subtle changes or changes in species composition easily 22
Condition assessment Condition assessment can provide a rapid monitoring tool for ensuring habitats are being suitably managed Physical characteristics length of grazed grass, age structure of woodland, absence of poaching etc Indicator species Favourable condition targets e.g. <10% bracken and <1% scrub cover in a grassland, or >75% open water in a pond Population monitoring Again, requires repeated surveys following the same methodology Real changes may be hidden by natural fluctuations Monitoring surveys can be complicated and expensive may need specialist advice But can be as simple as counting flower spikes for orchids! 23
Once the survey/ monitoring is done Did it achieve the stated aims? Did it find anything of interest? Did it identify the need for further surveys? How about monitoring? Pass on your records! Records, particularly species records, are valuable. Many groups (bat groups, badger groups etc) hold records and use them for assessing species distribution or identify trends Please pass your records on to the relevant county recorder or local group this includes records for common species Details of who to send your records to can be found through your local records centre, through the LBAP coordinators, through the local wildlife trusts, or online 24
Sources of information General information and training Specialist books There are obviously many good books (too numerous to mention) out there providing guidance on all aspects of wildlife, wildlife surveying, recording and monitoring. Ask around a (particularly specialist groups) for their recommendations. Try Natural History Book Store online (http://www.nhbs.com/index.html)) or other good retailers. Local bookshops are definitely worth a look and may also have specialist natural history sections - Bookstore Brierlow Bar (http://www.bookstore-derbyshire.co.uk/ derbyshire.co.uk/) ) or The Bakewell Bookshop www.bakewellbooks.co.uk to name just two. Specialist training courses in species, surveying and monitoring Many professional training providers offer a variety of courses Field Studies Council (http://www.field( http://www.field-studies-council.org/ council.org/) ) and Institute for Ecology and Environmental Management (http://www.ieem.org.uk/ http://www.ieem.org.uk/) ) and others are well worth a look Sources of information Sources of local information LBAP coordinators/websites LBAP coordinators coordinate and monitor conservation action in their area, and can provide an invaluable local view, particularly on local conservation priorities and the Local Biodiversity Action Plan for your area. Can provide contact details for local groups and county recorders, and other sources of information. Please also report your contributions to the LBAP (habitat creation, enhancement, management and actions for species) your relevant LBAP coordinators. Contact: Lowland Derbyshire Biodiversity Partnership Contact Debbie Alston or visit www.derbyshirebiodiversity.org.uk for details. Front page of website includes a link to a very useful Sources of Nature Conservation in Derbyshire document. Nottinghamshire Biodiversity Action Group Contact Chris Jackson or visit http://www.nottsbag.org.uk/ for full information on nature conservation in Nottinghamshire and links to relevant projects and a organisations. Other LBAP partnerships in Derbyshire cover the National Forest and Peak District areas. See http://www.nationalforest.org/nature and http://www.peakdistrict.gov.uk/index/looking-after/bap.htm after/bap.htm for more information 25
Sources of information Species and habitats Local specialist groups and county recorders The definitive word on species (and sometimes habitats) in your local area! Contact (or better yet, join) for advice and guidance, and perhaps training and help with h surveys. Also for information on species distribution in your area, and most m importantly to pass your records on to the relevant person or group! Contact your LBAP coordinators for contact details, or visit their websites National bodies Most species/taxonomic groups have national bodies to represent their interests, and who can provide plentiful advice on species, distribution, surveys and recording. Examples include the well known k (RSPB (http://www.rspb.org/ http://www.rspb.org/) ) and BTO (http://www.bto.org/( http://www.bto.org/) ) for example) and many, many more, including: Bat Conservation Trust - http://www.bats.org.uk/ The Herpetological Conservation Trust - http://herpconstrust.org.uk/ Butterfly Conservation - http://www.butterfly-conservation.org/ Botanical Society of the British Isles - http://www.bsbi.org.uk/ Buglife -www.buglife.org.uk The Mammal Society - http://www.abdn.ac.uk/mammal/ And many others! Try searching the web for the species/species group g of interest, or look for links from other sites, including the LBAP partnership sites Sources of information Sources of Local Information Local Wildlife Trusts General and specific information on all aspects of wildlife and natural history in your area. May be able to help with w advice, surveys, contact details etc and much more. (http://www.derbyshirewildlifetrust.org.uk/ or www.wildlifetrust.org.uk/nottinghamshire/ ) In Derbyshire, DWT hosts the Derbyshire Local Wildlife Sites system. Local Authorities (and their websites) District, Borough and County Councils hold various information. May be able to advise on wildlife, life, sites, events (and possibly funding) in their area, and many have interactive mapping systems that include information on designated sites. Good od sources of local information and advice Local Records Centres The central hubs for providing records for your county, as well as receiving your records! For more information on the Derbyshire Biological Records Centre, see http://www.derbyshirebiodiversity.org.uk/recording/dbrc.php The Nottinghamshire Biological and Geological Records Centre also hosts the Nottinghamshire Local Wildlife Sites system.. See: http://www.nottinghamcity.gov.uk/sitemap/services/environment/nbgrc.htm grc.htm 26
Sources of information National bodies, designated sites and species information Natural England For information on conservation in England, including designated sites (SPAs,SACs,SSSIs, LNRs etc) and protected species, es, visit www.naturalengland.org.uk.. Natural England's interactive map site www.natureonthemap.org.uk/ provides interactive mapping for various habitats and designated sites MAGIC (Multi-Agency Geographic Information for the Countryside) www.magic.gov.uk/. A web-based based interactive map to bring together geographic information on key environmental schemes and designations ions in one place. Includes details for a vast number of designations, s, including those related to the natural environment. NBN (The National Biodiversity Network) www.nbn.org.uk. A valuable web-based based ecological resource. NBN gateway allows you to view distribution maps for almost any species in the UK, using either standard grid maps or interactive maps JNCC (Joint Nature Conservation Committee) www.jncc.gov.uk. The website of the statutory adviser to Government on UK and international nature conservation. Please note - a typed copy of the 2003 edition of the A4 Phase 1 Handbook can now be downloaded from www.jncc.gov.uk/page-2468 Thanks for listening! 27