ECN News 14.Pub

Who’s using ECN data? ext year marks the 10th anniversary of data collection at ECN sites. For a network operating 54 terrestrial and N freshwater sites, collecting data on over 250 different variables (some of which are gathered daily or even hourly), this is a remarkable achievement. All these data have been subject to rigorous quality control checks and ECNNews collated into a powerful integrated database. Winter 2001-02 250 Data collection has, and will continue to be, the principal The newsletter of the UK Environmental Change Network No. 14 activity of the network since the sites began operating in 200 2003. However, ECN data have not gathered virtual dust 150 The Environmental Change Network (ECN) is a UK multi-agency research programme co-ordinated by the Natural Environment Research Council in the dim recesses of the database. Instead, the data have 100 been made freely available. Data summaries can be viewed and downloaded from the ECN web site, and 50 Number of accesses complete validated datasets may be obtained for use, 0 under licence, in bona fide research. Figure 1 shows Climate change impacts increasing use of the Summary Database. Apr-98 Oct-98 Apr-99 Oct-99 Apr-00 Oct-00 Apr-01 Oct-01 The reality check Data from the network have value both for teaching and Quarter here is now an overwhelming scientific consensus that climate change is happening and will continue for the research, and as part of an on-going promotional activity, • Figure 1 The number of times the ECN Summary Database foreseeable future. But what do we really know about the impacts of these changes over the past 100 years and we have recently extended the number of contacts in key T (www.ecn.ac.uk/Database/index.html) has been accessed per how confident are we that we can detect, predict and adapt to these impacts over the next 100 years? The honest university and college departments in an effort to raise quarter since 1998. answers are “not a lot” and “not very”. awareness of ECN’s data resources. Figure 2 shows the Figure 2 Requests for raw data by user type ‚ The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has recently types of users requesting raw ECN data. IPCC concludes that globally Government produced a list1 of published studies that have demonstrated Some may say ten years of data is not very much. But already 69 School averaged surface temperature rose Other 6% 4% environmental responses to climate change over the past 100 years using journal papers, and over 200 publications in total, based on ECN data by 0.6°C during the 20th century 2% indicator species or systems. It listed only 44 animal and plant studies, have been published in ECN’s ten-year history. As more data are and may rise by between 1.4 and and 16 on glaciers, sea ice, snow or ice cover. Not much to go on. collected, and time-series patterns emerge, this figure is certain to rise Individual 5.8°C during the next 100 years. 1% further. In the meantime, we are continuing to explore the data, looking What about the next 100 years? There are an increasing number of for sensitive indicators of change and building on our understanding of Research predictions concerning the likely future impacts of climate change on global ecosystems. But no amount of the causes of environmental change. Furthermore, by sharing the data Institute modelling or analysis will replace the need for high quality, long-term data – which is why ECN and related as widely as possible, we are allowing others to do the same, each new 25% University initiatives in Europe and around the globe will have such an important part to play in the future processes of 56% piece of work adding, little -by-little, to our collective understanding of detection, management and adaptation to climate change impacts. how ecosystems work. NGO Simple observations of change such as those provided by the UK Phenology Network2 and the Department for the 3% To request ECN raw data, complete the form Andrew Sier Environment, Food and Rural Affairs3 on Climate Change Indicators for the UK show how changes in climate may at www.ecn.ac.uk/request.htm Commercial CEH Merlewood 3% be impacting on the UK's flora and fauna. ECN is beginning to contribute to the debate by identifying potential winners and losers in a changing UK climate. An ECN study4 showed that, following the 1995 drought, most common species of butterfly increased in numbers. Southern, highly mobile, species increased most, whilst numbers of some northern species declined. Numbers of most moth species also increased. Such responses to drought and ECN Contacts other extreme climate events give us clues to the possible biological impacts of climate change. But we are a long- Central Coordination Unit ECN Sponsors way from understanding the full implications of such changes in relation to the ecosystem services that ultimately Coordinator: Dr Terry Parr, [email protected] Biotechnology & Biological Sciences Research Council Cyngor Cefn Gwlad Cymru - Countryside Council for Wales matter to society. For this we need: Cynulliad Cenedlaethol Cymru – The National Assembly for Wales Scientific Liaison Officer: Dr Andrew Sier, [email protected] Defence Science and Technology Laboratory · a full range of indicators that reflect climate change impacts on ecosystem services (e.g. water quality, & Newsletter Editor Department of Agriculture and Rural Development biodiversity and carbon storage) Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs CEH Merlewood English Nature · data from fully integrated long-term programmes to separate climate effects from confounding factors

Windermere Road Tel: 015395 32264 Environment Agency · the capability to detect abrupt and non-linear changes in ecosystem structure and function

Grange-over-Sands Fax: 015395 34704 Environment and Heritage Service CEH Cumbria LA11 6JU Forestry Commission · the capability to detect changes in ecosystems on broad geographical scales using national, European and Global © Natural Environment Research Council networks of sites combined with the efficient use of data from remote sensing. Research organisations undertaking ECN monitoring Scottish Environment Protection Agency Scottish Executive Environment and Rural Affairs Department Agricultural Development Advisory Service, Drayton 1Climate Change 2001: Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability (IPCC) 2www.phenology.org.uk/ 3www.nbu.ac.uk/iccuk/ Chemical and Biological Defence, Porton Scottish Natural Heritage 4Morecroft, MD, et al. (2002). Effects of drought on contrasting insect and plant species in the UK in the mid-1990s. Global

Centre for Ecology and Hydrology Photo: Andrew Sier Forest Research, Alice Holt Ecology and Biogeography, 11 (1), 7 -22. Freshwater Fisheries Laboratory, Pitlochry Institute of Grassland and Environmental Research, North Wyke Institute of Arable Crops Research, Rothamsted Contents The Macaulay Institute Environmental Change Research Unit, University College London. Grazing in the Alice holt ECN site Application of GIS Sampling Using ECN data uplands macrophytes 3 4-5 6 7 8 ECN on the web: www.ecn.ac.uk www.ecn.ac.uk Designed & edited by Andrew Sier, CEH. This issue was printed Bordercolour, Carlisle Plus: 8 News – ECN protocols on web – Winning photo – Selected ECN publications 1 News Monitoring macrophytes ne of the aims of the Environmental Change 1The method is described in Scott, WA et al. (2002). Measurement protocols on the web O Network (ECN) is to refine and develop new ways Monitoring of aquatic macrophytes for detection of long- term change in river systems. Environmental Monitoring he UK Environmental Change Network Protocols for are amendments to the spittle bug (IS), soils (S) and water of detecting change. The development of a method for and Assessment, 73(2), 131-153 T Standard Measurements are now available on the ECN handling (WH) protocols, and the analytical guidelines for monitoring aquatic plants (macrophytes) at freshwater web site. They can be viewed as Word 6 documents. water samples protocol is now coded WAG (was AG). sites is an example of just such a method. The challenge Other recent freshwater-related papers from ECN include: Amendments to the 1996 (terrestrial sites) and 1999 was to find a rigorous scientific method whilst keeping (freshwater sites) publications are highlighted, and future Details of sample labelling and data specifications (contained costs to a minimum. This was particularly difficult in Gibson, CE, Wang, GX, Foy, RH and Lennox, SD (2001). The importance of catchment and lake processes in the updates will be shown. in a separate chapter in the original publications) have been streams and rivers where the distribution and abundance reproduced at the end of each protocol document, with links phosphorus budget of a large lake. Chemosphere, 42(2), 215- of species is highly variable and can change markedly in 220. Where a protocol has been changed since publication this is to the list of site and measurement codes. the space of days in response to events such as flood. indicated in the title header, with amendments to the text Heaney, SI, Foy, RH, Kennedy, GJA, Crozier, WW and underlined and the appropriate date in the footer. The main Future updates will still be notified to site managers, but the O'Connor, WCK (2001). Impacts of agriculture on aquatic changes are as follows: a new optional protocol for sulphur latest version of a protocol can now be checked online. The ECN method1 for the long-term monitoring of systems: lessons learnt and new unknowns in Northern dioxide measurement (AS) has been added, the code for the macrophytes in rivers and streams is based on Ireland. Marine and Freshwater Research, 52(1), 152-163. nitrogen dioxide protocol has changed from AC to AN, there Go to: www.ecn.ac.uk/protocols./index.asp techniques first proposed by the Standing Committee of Miller, JD, Adamson, JK and Hirst, D (2001). Trends in Analysts in 1987 and later adapted by the National stream water quality in Environmental Change Network upland Rivers Authority and its successor, the Environment catchments: the first 5 years. The Science of the Total Environment, 265, 27-38. Environmental change: the human dimension Agency. It differs in splitting the surveyed 100m stretch of water into sections. The approach was tested in a Morecroft, MD, Burt, TP, Taylor, ME and Rowland, AP CN is to explore ways in which it can start to address the A potential way forward for ECN is to collaborate with social (2000). Effects of the 1995-1997 drought on nitrate leaching in E human dimensions of environmental change. Humans are scientists at Lancaster University, when CEH Merlewood pilot study at five sites in 1997. In general the lowland England. Soil Use and Management, 16, 117-123. implementation of the ECN method was not found to be both a cause of some environmental changes, and can be (including the ECN Central Coordinating Unit) move to the Zhou, QX, Gibson, CE and Foy, RH (2000). Long-term impacted by change. University in 2003. ECN could also team up with groups in particularly onerous or difficult. However, changes have changes of nitrogen and phosphorus loadings to a large lake Europe. For example, France is establishing a monitoring been made to the original protocol to enable sites to be in North-west Ireland. Water Research, 34(3), 922-926. So far ECN has concentrated on physical, chemical and network which will measure socio-economic factors. The surveyed comfortably in a single day. biological components of the environment, rather than socio- ECN Cairngorms site is already involved in SCANNET Evans, MG, Burt, TP, Holden, J and Adamson, JK (1999). Runoff generation and water table fluctuations in blanket peat: economic factors. However, in order to better understand how (Scandinavian/North European Network of Terrestrial Field The use of river sections enables variation in the pattern Evidence from UK data spanning the dry summer of 1995. and why environmental changes occur we need to take into Bases). This network has conducted surveys of local people to Journal of Hydrology, 221, 141-160. account human activities and responses. For example, to find out their perception of what are the important of vegetation over surveyed stretches to be detected and accurately predict the impacts of nitrogen pollution on species environmental issues. Such surveys help in defining future related to watercourse characteristics. This means that Foy, RH and Baile y-Watts, AE (1998). Observations on the Andrew Sier and habitats requires some understanding of future vehicle monitoring and research activities. the precision with which change can be detected is spatial and temporal variation in the phosphorus status of © use, a major source of this pollutant. Furthermore, trends in lakes in the British Isles. Soil Use and Management, 14, 131- increased, and the possibility of determining causes of 138. Photo: agriculture need to be taken into account, since farming is change is enhanced. Moreover, the use of sections another source of nitrogen into the environment. allows within-site variation to be calculated and hence the accuracy of estimated changes to be quantified. “... the precision with which change can be John Miller retires We’re grateful to Anne for providing a new perspective on ECN, John Miller retired from The Macaulay Institute at the end and some good ideas of how we can communicate our work. We Results from the Eden in Fife (see graph) show how the detected is increased, and the possibility of of February 2002. John worked at Macaulay for almost 40 wish her well. Read Anne’s article about Alice Holt on pages 4 & 5. number of macrophyte species varies along the 100m determining causes of change is enhanced.” years, originally researching tree nutrition. He later stretch of river, but also varies significantly from year- studied acid deposition, and more recently, soil and water Prize-winning photo quality. John has long supported the Environmental to-year. Four years on from the initial pilot study and Congratulations to Doug McCutcheon (field assistant at ECN Moor data from sites are giving us an Change Network, and has made a substantial contribution House-Upper Teesdale) for winning the British Wildlife category of to our understanding of ecosystems at ECN Glensaugh the 2001 BG Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition. Doug’s improved understanding of the and ECN Sourhope (both sites managed by The Macaulay beautiful picture of a long-tailed tit in his garden was taken from a nature of spatial and year-to-year Institute). We wish John a happy and fulfilling retirement. bedroom windowsill. variation in river vegetation - John Miller and Margaret McKeen write about the essential information in relation to 12 application of GIS at the Cairngorms ECN site - page 6. the longer-term detection of trends. 10

1997 Science communicator helps CCU Data from the river macrophyte 8 In October 2001, Anne Leaney, who has recently 1998 surveys are already feeding into 6 completed an M.Sc in Science Communication at 1999 Imperial College, spent 5 weeks at the ECN Central European projects aimed at 4 Coordination Unit, gaining experience of working for a implementing the Water Framework 2000

NERC Research Centre. Directive. Species/Section 2

During her stay, Anne helped ECN’s Science Liaison 0 Officer develop ideas for how to promote the 10th 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

anniversary of ECN data collection in 2003. She also Doug McCutcheon

2 “The worst environmental pollution is probably between the ears” - Daan Djik, Rabobank 7 Mapping out the future Back to the future in the

omputers may be the bane of many people’s lives, datasets. Slope and watershed data, for instance, were he outbreak of Foot and Mouth disease in 2001 has Cbut few could deny they have revolutionised the derived from OS PROFILE contours by producing T prompted renewed debate in the UK about the uplands way we work. The application of computer technologies elevation data from the 10 metre contour data and then future of upland areas. Since the removal of forest cover in environmental science is no exception. by generating coverage in grid format from the thousands of years ago, most of our uplands have been elevation data. Land cover data were extracted from the managed for grazing. However, because of its enormous Among the computer armoury that can be used to tackle Land Cover of Scotland (LCS88) dataset. All these data impact on upland vegetation and associated species, environmental problems are geographic information were integrated within a commercially available GIS conservationists have called for a reduction in the systems (GIS for short). GIS programmes enable (ARC/INFO). intensity of grazing. dynamic maps to be produced, based on geographical data. A GIS map can be ‘queried’, for example, to show 500 Long-standing monitoring plots exist at the Moor how two or more different elements (vegetation and soil 400 House - Upper Teesdale ECN site, and are being used to type, for instance) are related. determine the impact of removing grazing on different Land cover Photo: John Adamson © CEH 300 upland vegetation communities. Between 1953 and Within ECN, we are exploring the potential of GIS to The Troutbeck Head exclosure, July 2001. The white ha 1972, 15 exclosures were established at Moor House. 200 flowers are cotton grass (Eriophorum spp.), which help us characterise ECN sites, and to understand Today the exclosure fences are maintained by English ecosystem processes and environmental change. Recent flowered in unprecedented abundance outside the 100 Nature, while the monitoring of one or two exclosures exclosure because of the removal of sheep due to Foot work at the Cairngorms ECN site has illustrated the each year is undertaken by ECN through the Centre for potential for integrating geographical data sets across a and Mouth disease. Inside the exclosure (established in 0 Ecology and Hydrology (CEH). Each exclosure has an 1966) cotton grass has been partly replaced by other freshwater catchment. blanket bog coniferous heather moor adjacent grazed plot, which is monitored in the same species, including heather (Calluna vulgaris). way and at the same time as the assessment plot within The catchment, near Aviemore on the west of the mixed woodland montane other the exclosure. This allows change over time, in the Moor House exclosures: the facts Cairngorms, occupies an area of 1,012 hectares (around absence of changing management, to be taken into 10 km2). The catchment stream, the Allt a'Mharcaidh, Figure 2 Extent of LCS88 land cover classes in the Allt a’Mharcaidh catchment, determined using account. Some exclosures also include a burning Altitude range: 490 - 815m Size range: 96m2 - several hectares which drains into the River Feshie (itself a tributary of GIS. treatment. Vegetation types include: the River Spey), is part of the ECN freshwater network. Nardus grassland A number of species have conspicuously increased in Agrostis - Festuca grassland Data from the catchment, including altitude, slope, land Having assembled the data, a variety of different maps abundance in the exclosures, including Carex biglowii, Festuca grassland cover, vegetation and soils were obtained from a range can be produced. Figure 1 shows two examples. Data Anemone nemorosa, Calluna vulgaris, Geum rivale, Calluna- Eriophorum blanket bog of sources. For example, the stream network was can also be derived from the maps, for example the Rubus chamaemorus and Narthecium ossifragum. As Eriophorum bog extracted from the Ordnance Survey (OS) LAND-LINE extent within the catchment for each class of altitude, Eroding bog yet, no tree species have become established in the Base-rich flush dataset. The distribution of major vegetation slope or land cover (see example in Figure 2). In this exclosures. Although there have been 16 scientific communities was mapped from Macaulay Land Use way it is possible to examine the relationships within papers relating to the Moor House exclosures, an Selected Moor House exclosure papers in the Research Institute (MLURI) surveys and from multi- and between variables. overview of the vegetation data for all of the exclosures scientific press spectral remote sensing by Centre for Ecology and has never been written. It is hoped to produce such a John Miller and Margaret McKeen Garnett, MH, Ineson, P and Stevenson, AC (2000). Effects Hydrology. Some data were derived from existing paper over the next 18 months, having entered the data The Macaulay Institute of burning and grazing on carbon sequestration in a Pennine into a database. blanket bog, UK. The Holocene, 10, 729-736. For more details see: Miller, JD et al. (2001). The soils of Cairngorms, Allt a'Mharcaidh. Macaulay Institute Report to ECN. Marrs, RH, Rizand, A and Harrison, AF (1989). The effects Undoubtedly the Moor House exclosure datasets have of removing sheep grazing on soil chemistry, above-ground Figure 1 an important contribution to make towards debates nutrient distribution, and selected aspects of soil fertility in Example maps about the future of our uplands. Some other ECN sites long-term experiments at Moor House National Nature of the Allt Reserve. Journal of Applied Ecology, 26, 647-661. a’Mharcaidh have long term data on the impact of changing land use, catchment, and in future it should be possible to undertake a Hobbs, RJ (1984) Length of burning rotation and community generated comparison across different UK upland areas of the composition in high-level Calluna-Eriophorum bog in N England. Vegetatio, 57, 129-136. using GIS. The impact of reducing or removing grazing. left-hand map Rawes, M (1983). Changes in two high altitude blanket bogs shows slope John Adamson after the cessation of sheep grazing. Journal of Ecology, 71, classes, whilst 219-235. CEH Merlewood on the right is Welch, D and Rawes, M (1964). The early effects of a soils map. excluding sheep from high-level grasslands in the North Pennines. Journal of Applied Ecology, 1, 281-300. CEH

“… the Moor House exclosure datasets have an important contribution to make towards debates about the future of our uplands ...” Maps: © The Macaulay Institute Photo: Ian Simpson

6 3

IfIf youyou gogo downdown toto thethe woodswoods todaytoday …… What does ECN look like from the outside? Visiting reporter, Anne Leaney, views the ECN work at the Forestry Commission’s Alice Holt site from another angle

iven that the opening scenes of Ridley Scott’s epic … you’ll find a forest managed for difficult to identify specific causes of change. Christine Alice Holt Fact file G film Gladiator were filmed here, you could be admits to being “challenged” by the thought of how to · The name Alice Holt is believed to originate from the forgiven for thinking that little has changed in Alice Holt timber, wildlife and recreation. You begin determining these effects and identifying specific name Aelfsiges Holt named after a 10th century Bishop Forest since Roman times. In truth the forest has will also find an active influences. of Winchester who resided at Farnham Castle. undergone many changes. Since 1994, Forest Research (FR) have operated an ECN site here, monitoring environmental monitoring and Sue and Christine agree that it is too early to identify · The forest’s history can be traced back over 2,000 years. environmental change in the forest. The site provides Sue research programme. trends or possible causes of environmental change and that It is believed to have originated during the Atlantic period Benham, Project Leader with FR, with a problem unique long-term monitoring projects such as ECN are essential. (6,000-3,000 BC) with Pedunculate oak emerging as the amongst ECN site managers, “This is a working forest, dominant tree. By the Iron Age native potters, attracted and so what we have to take into account here is the effect Working as a network by good clay and wood for fuel, had taken up residence. As our reporter discovered on a By the mid 5th century this activity had began to wane. of forestry work on the woodland,” says Sue. Of course, for ECN to be successful it has to ensure that recent visit, running the ECN site at During the reign of William the Conqueror the forest was the right information is being recorded, and this may mean created as a hunting preserve and it has belonged to the Multipurpose forest Alice Holt is certainly no teddy amending protocols from time to time. For instance, Crown ever since. Covering 851 hectares, with remnants of ancient semi- Christine is aware that ground predators are active in Alice bears’ picnic! natural woodland, Alice Holt is situated in the Weald on Holt forest before sampling commences in May. · The Napoleonic war saw the decimation of the forest to the Surrey-Hampshire border. Clearing work at Alice Holt Monitoring of ground predators earlier in the year could provide timber for shipbuilding. Between 1771 and 1788 is rarely as devastating as the destruction shown in provide more phenological evidence, along with the first the forest was again heavily harvested to provide timber Gladiator. In fact, the Forestry Commission’s National away from the main part of the Woodland Park, in an area bud burst and the first cuckoo, that climate change is for shipbuilding. In 1812 the forest was enclosed by the Policy is moving away from clear felling to sustainable known as Straits Inclosure, a sixty-year-old oak stand west happening now and that it is already having a significant crown and extensive replanting was undertaken. Oak forestry with more felling of small pockets followed by of the A325 Farnham to Petersfield road. Access to the site effect on our wildlife. “These sorts of recognisable events grows well on the heavy clay soil in the southern parts of the forest, but by 1881 it became clear that the oak natural regeneration to create mixed woodland areas. is along a series of rides used by FE as timber extraction are moving through the calendar and it is this information lanes, where deep, water-filled furrows in the surface gley planted on the lighter leached gravel soils was not Extensive harvesting of the Forest to provide timber for that the public can most easily relate to,” says Christine. growing well. This was cleared and replanted with fast shipbuilding took place in the 18th century with replanting soils create a muddy hazard. Extensive undergrowth, growing conifer species such as Corsican and Scots of Corsican pine (Pinus nigra var. maritma) but some mainly brambles and bracken also inhibits access and can Sue Benham and the Forest Research team at Alice Holt pine. areas of Ancient semi-natural oak woodland remain. Close make it difficult to locate vegetation plots. Sue plans to work on a number of projects which are specifically liaison with Forest Enterprise (FE) ensures that Sue is use the winter months, when the undergrowth is at a addressing the impacts of forest timber production. She · The Forestry Commission took over Alice Holt Forest in aware of planned thinning work and can tape off areas minimum, to accurately map the locations of the plots in will shortly begin a study of moth data from Alice Holt, 1924, and in 1946 the current research station at Alice used for research if necessary. time for the next vegetation survey. which has records going back to 1966. The study will look Holt Lodge was established. for any climatic effects on moth populations in oak Visitor numbers in the woodland exceed 150,000 per year, Insect indicators of climate change woodland. If a specific effect is identified at Alice Holt · Significant areas of Ancient Semi-Natural Woodland still many using the network of walking, cycling and sculpture Christine Tilbury, advisory entomologist at Alice Holt, is then she will use the ECN database to look for the same exist in the forest. Associated with these areas are over trails managed by Forest Enterprise. FE work also aims to responsible for the collection of invertebrate data. When effect at other ECN sites. It is this kind of cross-network 130 species of mosses and liverworts. Ponds provide encourage wildlife and to produce timber, an important she looks at changes in insect populations Christine knows activity which makes ECN a powerful means of detecting breeding ground for frogs, toads, newts, water birds and insects, while remnants of heath land favour the common source of funds for their work. For Sue and her colleagues there are many factors to take into account such as environmental change. lizard, adder and grass snake. The forest is of in FR, timber production is one more factor to take into location of the site, its altitude, latitude and longitude. The importance for butterflies including the Silver Washed account when interpreting monitoring data for trends or age of the plantation is another influence as increasing In the meantime, with the assistance of her team of sample Fritillary, White Admiral and Purple Emperor. possible causes of environmental change. canopy cover alters the light conditions within the forest. collectors and on-site analysts, Sue manages the smooth Also, many insect species have a natural cyclical increase running of the ECN site, and ensures that the varied · Alice Holt became an ECN site in 1994 under the Although the ECN site covers the whole of the Forest, the and decline in population occurring over a number of activities taking place at Alice Holt do not conflict. sponsorship of the Forestry Commission. Sampling Site and Target Sampling Site (TSS) are well years. The combination of these variables makes it very · Historical data sets at Alice Holt include meteorological Research at Alice Holt Forest Anne Leaney has an M.Sc in Science data dating back to the mid 1940s and official Communication, a B.Sc in Environmental meteorology station records from 1950 onward. Left Sue Benham, Site Manager at ECN Alice Sciences and a B.A. in Earth Sciences and Holt, taking a ‘diameter at breast height’ (DBH) Mathematics. She is interested in science · Alice Holt is one of three ECN sites taking part in a measurement. communication, and she has experience of Global Terrestrial Observing System (GTOS)

media relations, developed in the demonstration project. World-wide, one hundred sites Right Christine Tilbury, Advisory Entomologist commercial sector. Anne joined ECN as a are taking part in the first part of this project, aimed at at Alice Holt, checking a moth light trap. volunteer, helping to develop ideas for improving current estimates of global terrestrial

promoting ECN more widely. She wrote this photosynthesis using site measurements to validate

article during a visit to Alice Holt. imagery from a NASA satellite.

4 5 Mapping out the future Back to the future in the

“… the Moor House exclosure datasets have an important contribution to make towards debates about the future of our uplands ...” Maps: © The Macaulay Institute Photo: Ian Simpson

6 3 News Monitoring macrophytes ne of the aims of the Environmental Change 1The method is described in Scott, WA et al. (2002). Measurement protocols on the web O Network (ECN) is to refine and develop new ways Monitoring of aquatic macrophytes for detection of long- term change in river systems. Environmental Monitoring he UK Environmental Change Network Protocols for are amendments to the spittle bug (IS), soils (S) and water of detecting change. The development of a method for and Assessment, 73(2), 131-153 T Standard Measurements are now available on the ECN handling (WH) protocols, and the analytical guidelines for monitoring aquatic plants (macrophytes) at freshwater web site. They can be viewed as Word 6 documents. water samples protocol is now coded WAG (was AG). sites is an example of just such a method. The challenge Other recent freshwater-related papers from ECN include: Amendments to the 1996 (terrestrial sites) and 1999 was to find a rigorous scientific method whilst keeping (freshwater sites) publications are highlighted, and future Details of sample labelling and data specifications (contained costs to a minimum. This was particularly difficult in Gibson, CE, Wang, GX, Foy, RH and Lennox, SD (2001). The importance of catchment and lake processes in the updates will be shown. in a separate chapter in the original publications) have been streams and rivers where the distribution and abundance reproduced at the end of each protocol document, with links phosphorus budget of a large lake. Chemosphere, 42(2), 215- of species is highly variable and can change markedly in 220. Where a protocol has been changed since publication this is to the list of site and measurement codes. the space of days in response to events such as flood. indicated in the title header, with amendments to the text Heaney, SI, Foy, RH, Kennedy, GJA, Crozier, WW and underlined and the appropriate date in the footer. The main Future updates will still be notified to site managers, but the O'Connor, WCK (2001). Impacts of agriculture on aquatic changes are as follows: a new optional protocol for sulphur latest version of a protocol can now be checked online. The ECN method1 for the long-term monitoring of systems: lessons learnt and new unknowns in Northern dioxide measurement (AS) has been added, the code for the macrophytes in rivers and streams is based on Ireland. Marine and Freshwater Research, 52(1), 152-163. nitrogen dioxide protocol has changed from AC to AN, there Go to: www.ecn.ac.uk/protocols./index.asp techniques first proposed by the Standing Committee of Miller, JD, Adamson, JK and Hirst, D (2001). Trends in Analysts in 1987 and later adapted by the National stream water quality in Environmental Change Network upland Rivers Authority and its successor, the Environment catchments: the first 5 years. The Science of the Total Environment, 265, 27-38. Environmental change: the human dimension Agency. It differs in splitting the surveyed 100m stretch of water into sections. The approach was tested in a Morecroft, MD, Burt, TP, Taylor, ME and Rowland, AP CN is to explore ways in which it can start to address the A potential way forward for ECN is to collaborate with social (2000). Effects of the 1995-1997 drought on nitrate leaching in E human dimensions of environmental change. Humans are scientists at Lancaster University, when CEH Merlewood pilot study at five sites in 1997. In general the lowland England. Soil Use and Management, 16, 117-123. implementation of the ECN method was not found to be both a cause of some environmental changes, and can be (including the ECN Central Coordinating Unit) move to the Zhou, QX, Gibson, CE and Foy, RH (2000). Long-term impacted by change. University in 2003. ECN could also team up with groups in particularly onerous or difficult. However, changes have changes of nitrogen and phosphorus loadings to a large lake Europe. For example, France is establishing a monitoring been made to the original protocol to enable sites to be in North-west Ireland. Water Research, 34(3), 922-926. So far ECN has concentrated on physical, chemical and network which will measure socio-economic factors. The surveyed comfortably in a single day. biological components of the environment, rather than socio- ECN Cairngorms site is already involved in SCANNET Evans, MG, Burt, TP, Holden, J and Adamson, JK (1999). Runoff generation and water table fluctuations in blanket peat: economic factors. However, in order to better understand how (Scandinavian/North European Network of Terrestrial Field The use of river sections enables variation in the pattern Evidence from UK data spanning the dry summer of 1995. and why environmental changes occur we need to take into Bases). This network has conducted surveys of local people to Journal of Hydrology, 221, 141-160. account human activities and responses. For example, to find out their perception of what are the important of vegetation over surveyed stretches to be detected and accurately predict the impacts of nitrogen pollution on species environmental issues. Such surveys help in defining future related to watercourse characteristics. This means that Foy, RH and Baile y-Watts, AE (1998). Observations on the Andrew Sier and habitats requires some understanding of future vehicle monitoring and research activities. the precision with which change can be detected is spatial and temporal variation in the phosphorus status of © use, a major source of this pollutant. Furthermore, trends in lakes in the British Isles. Soil Use and Management, 14, 131- increased, and the possibility of determining causes of 138. Photo: agriculture need to be taken into account, since farming is change is enhanced. Moreover, the use of sections another source of nitrogen into the environment. allows within-site variation to be calculated and hence the accuracy of estimated changes to be quantified. “... the precision with which change can be John Miller retires We’re grateful to Anne for providing a new perspective on ECN, John Miller retired from The Macaulay Institute at the end and some good ideas of how we can communicate our work. We Results from the Eden in Fife (see graph) show how the detected is increased, and the possibility of of February 2002. John worked at Macaulay for almost 40 wish her well. Read Anne’s article about Alice Holt on pages 4 & 5. number of macrophyte species varies along the 100m determining causes of change is enhanced.” years, originally researching tree nutrition. He later stretch of river, but also varies significantly from year- studied acid deposition, and more recently, soil and water Prize-winning photo quality. John has long supported the Environmental to-year. Four years on from the initial pilot study and Congratulations to Doug McCutcheon (field assistant at ECN Moor data from sites are giving us an Change Network, and has made a substantial contribution House-Upper Teesdale) for winning the British Wildlife category of to our understanding of ecosystems at ECN Glensaugh the 2001 BG Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition. Doug’s improved understanding of the and ECN Sourhope (both sites managed by The Macaulay beautiful picture of a long-tailed tit in his garden was taken from a nature of spatial and year-to-year Institute). We wish John a happy and fulfilling retirement. bedroom windowsill. variation in river vegetation - John Miller and Margaret McKeen write about the essential information in relation to 12 application of GIS at the Cairngorms ECN site - page 6. the longer-term detection of trends. 10

NERC Research Centre. Directive. Species/Section 2

During her stay, Anne helped ECN’s Science Liaison 0 Officer develop ideas for how to promote the 10th 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

anniversary of ECN data collection in 2003. She also Doug McCutcheon

2 “The worst environmental pollution is probably between the ears” - Daan Djik, Rabobank 7 Who’s using ECN data? ext year marks the 10th anniversary of data collection at ECN sites. For a network operating 54 terrestrial and N freshwater sites, collecting data on over 250 different variables (some of which are gathered daily or even hourly), this is a remarkable achievement. All these data have been subject to rigorous quality control checks and ECNNews collated into a powerful integrated database. Winter 2001-02 250 Data collection has, and will continue to be, the principal The newsletter of the UK Environmental Change Network No. 14 activity of the network since the sites began operating in 200 2003. However, ECN data have not gathered virtual dust 150 The Environmental Change Network (ECN) is a UK multi-agency research programme co-ordinated by the Natural Environment Research Council in the dim recesses of the database. Instead, the data have 100 been made freely available. Data summaries can be viewed and downloaded from the ECN web site, and 50 Number of accesses complete validated datasets may be obtained for use, 0 under licence, in bona fide research. Figure 1 shows Climate change impacts increasing use of the Summary Database. Apr-98 Oct-98 Apr-99 Oct-99 Apr-00 Oct-00 Apr-01 Oct-01 The reality check Data from the network have value both for teaching and Quarter here is now an overwhelming scientific consensus that climate change is happening and will continue for the research, and as part of an on-going promotional activity, • Figure 1 The number of times the ECN Summary Database foreseeable future. But what do we really know about the impacts of these changes over the past 100 years and we have recently extended the number of contacts in key T (www.ecn.ac.uk/Database/index.html) has been accessed per how confident are we that we can detect, predict and adapt to these impacts over the next 100 years? The honest university and college departments in an effort to raise quarter since 1998. answers are “not a lot” and “not very”. awareness of ECN’s data resources. Figure 2 shows the Figure 2 Requests for raw data by user type ‚ The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has recently types of users requesting raw ECN data. IPCC concludes that globally Government produced a list1 of published studies that have demonstrated Some may say ten years of data is not very much. But already 69 School averaged surface temperature rose Other 6% 4% environmental responses to climate change over the past 100 years using journal papers, and over 200 publications in total, based on ECN data by 0.6°C during the 20th century 2% indicator species or systems. It listed only 44 animal and plant studies, have been published in ECN’s ten-year history. As more data are and may rise by between 1.4 and and 16 on glaciers, sea ice, snow or ice cover. Not much to go on. collected, and time-series patterns emerge, this figure is certain to rise Individual 5.8°C during the next 100 years. 1% further. In the meantime, we are continuing to explore the data, looking What about the next 100 years? There are an increasing number of for sensitive indicators of change and building on our understanding of Research predictions concerning the likely future impacts of climate change on global ecosystems. But no amount of the causes of environmental change. Furthermore, by sharing the data Institute modelling or analysis will replace the need for high quality, long-term data – which is why ECN and related as widely as possible, we are allowing others to do the same, each new 25% University initiatives in Europe and around the globe will have such an important part to play in the future processes of 56% piece of work adding, little -by-little, to our collective understanding of detection, management and adaptation to climate change impacts. how ecosystems work. NGO Simple observations of change such as those provided by the UK Phenology Network2 and the Department for the 3% To request ECN raw data, complete the form Andrew Sier Environment, Food and Rural Affairs3 on Climate Change Indicators for the UK show how changes in climate may at www.ecn.ac.uk/request.htm Commercial CEH Merlewood 3% be impacting on the UK's flora and fauna. ECN is beginning to contribute to the debate by identifying potential winners and losers in a changing UK climate. An ECN study4 showed that, following the 1995 drought, most common species of butterfly increased in numbers. Southern, highly mobile, species increased most, whilst numbers of some northern species declined. Numbers of most moth species also increased. Such responses to drought and ECN Contacts other extreme climate events give us clues to the possible biological impacts of climate change. But we are a long- Central Coordination Unit ECN Sponsors way from understanding the full implications of such changes in relation to the ecosystem services that ultimately Coordinator: Dr Terry Parr, [email protected] Biotechnology & Biological Sciences Research Council Cyngor Cefn Gwlad Cymru - Countryside Council for Wales matter to society. For this we need: Cynulliad Cenedlaethol Cymru – The National Assembly for Wales Scientific Liaison Officer: Dr Andrew Sier, [email protected] Defence Science and Technology Laboratory · a full range of indicators that reflect climate change impacts on ecosystem services (e.g. water quality, & Newsletter Editor Department of Agriculture and Rural Development biodiversity and carbon storage) Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs CEH Merlewood English Nature · data from fully integrated long-term programmes to separate climate effects from confounding factors

Windermere Road Tel: 015395 32264 Environment Agency · the capability to detect abrupt and non-linear changes in ecosystem structure and function