General Enquiries on This Form Should Be Made To: Defra, Procurements and Contracts Division (Science R&D Team) Telephone No
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General enquiries on this form should be made to: Defra, Procurements and Contracts Division (Science R&D Team) Telephone No. 0207 238 5734 E-mail: [email protected] SID 5 Research Project Final Report z Note In line with the Freedom of Information Act 2000, Defra aims to place the results Project identification of its completed research projects in the public domain wherever possible. The WC0786/CR0479 SID 5 (Research Project Final Report) is 1. Defra Project code designed to capture the information on the results and outputs of Defra-funded 2. Project title research in a format that is easily Understanding the status, taxonomy and ecology of UK publishable through the Defra website. A Biodiversity Action Plan Priority Species. SID 5 must be completed for all projects. • This form is in Word format and the boxes may be expanded or reduced, as 3. Contractor Hymettus Ltd appropriate. organisation(s) z ACCESS TO INFORMATION The information collected on this form will be stored electronically and may be sent to any part of Defra, or to individual researchers or organisations outside Defra for the purposes of reviewing the 4. Total Defra project costs £ 97 125 project. Defra may also disclose the (agreed fixed price) information to any outside organisation acting as an agent authorised by Defra to 15 April 2010 process final research reports on its 5. Project: start date ................ behalf. Defra intends to publish this form on its website, unless there are strong end date ................. 30 September 2012 reasons not to, which fully comply with exemptions under the Environmental Information Regulations or the Freedom of Information Act 2000. Defra may be required to release information, including personal data and commercial information, on request under the Environmental Information Regulations or the Freedom of Information Act 2000. However, Defra will not permit any unwarranted breach of confidentiality or act in contravention of its obligations under the Data Protection Act 1998. Defra or its appointed agents may use the name, address or other details on your form to contact you in connection with occasional customer research aimed at improving the processes through which Defra works with its contractors. SID 5 (Rev. 05/09) Page 1 of 34 6. It is Defra’s intention to publish this form. Please confirm your agreement to do so. ................................................................................... YES NO (a) When preparing SID 5s contractors should bear in mind that Defra intends that they be made public. They should be written in a clear and concise manner and represent a full account of the research project which someone not closely associated with the project can follow. Defra recognises that in a small minority of cases there may be information, such as intellectual property or commercially confidential data, used in or generated by the research project, which should not be disclosed. In these cases, such information should be detailed in a separate annex (not to be published) so that the SID 5 can be placed in the public domain. Where it is impossible to complete the Final Report without including references to any sensitive or confidential data, the information should be included and section (b) completed. NB: only in exceptional circumstances will Defra expect contractors to give a "No" answer. In all cases, reasons for withholding information must be fully in line with exemptions under the Environmental Information Regulations or the Freedom of Information Act 2000. (b) If you have answered NO, please explain why the Final report should not be released into public domain Executive Summary 7. The executive summary must not exceed 2 sides in total of A4 and should be understandable to the intelligent non-scientist. It should cover the main objectives, methods and findings of the research, together with any other significant events and options for new work. Objectives Hymettus Ltd, in discussion with members of several recording schemes and societies, identified 45 invertebrate species where there was potential for short studies of distribution and natural history to address gaps in knowledge that were hindering the implementation of conservation measures. The main objectives of the research included clarifying the distributions of the species, identifying their habitat preferences, investigating aspects of nesting and egg-laying and determining the type of pollen utilized by different types of bee and the type of prey collected by different solitary wasps to feed their young. Two studies aimed to clear up confusion regarding the precise identity of the species occurring in Britain. Four of the studies aimed to assess specific habitat management or improvement techniques that could be used in the conservation of individual species. Methods Species distributions were clarified by a combination of desk study, in which existing records were obtained from a variety of published and other sources, and field survey. The investigations of habitat preferences were more varied in their methods. For a few species, that were relatively easy to find at a number of different locations, attempts were made to systematically record presence / absence or abundance alongside one or more environmental variable. More often, simple field observation, combined with a literature search on occasion, were all that were realistic. Pollen utilization was investigated by removing pollen loads carried by individual bees and identifying the grains using standard microscopical techniques. Analysis of the prey collected by solitary wasps was attempted either by removing each prey item from the female wasps as they returned to the nest or by investigating the contents of nests for prey. Scanning electron microscopy images and comparison of DNA sequences were used to confirm the identity of one species of pill millipede. Adult insects were reared from a large sample of cigar galls on reed to determine the identity of the fly species capable of causing these galls. The success of different management techniques in providing suitable habitat for ground beetles on heaths was assessed by noting the number of the target species collected in plots where winter burning, cutting, grazing or turf- stripping followed by soil disturbance had been applied. The feasibility of implementing and assessing habitat improvement measures on specific sites for the two species of solitary bee was discussed and plans drawn up with the relevant conservation bodies. Results and conclusions Polyzonium germanicum (a millipede): The distribution was confirmed as being restricted to Kent but new records extended the range further east and west than previously recognised. A preference for habitat with relatively high soil moisture levels was demonstrated. Trachysphaera lobata (a pill millipede): The identity of the species was confirmed. In England, the millipede is known as a single population at one site on the Isle of Wight. SID 5 (Rev. 05/09) Page 2 of 34 Metaiulus pratensis (a millipede): The distribution was confirmed as being restricted to Kent. A population was rediscovered at a single location in flood meadow and carr woodland. Nothogeophilus turki (a centipede): The species was not located by field survey. This suggested that the centipede is locally extinct on the Isle of Wight. It may survive still on the Isles of Scilly. Cicindela sylvatica (Heath Tiger Beetle): The confirmed distribution was restricted to patches of lowland heath from Dorset to Surrey. A poor ability to disperse to patches of newly created habitat may be limiting its conservation. Poecilus kugelanni (a ground beetle): Controlled winter burning appeared to be the most generally applicable technique for maintaining suitable habitat for the species. Cutting vegetation to less than 10cm every 3-4 years (and removing the cut vegetation) or turf-stripping and ground disturbance every four years had been used successfully on specific sites. Amara fusca (a ground beetle): The main ecological factor controlling the distribution of the beetle appeared to be the presence of its main food plant, Field Wormwood Artemisia campestris. Pogonus luridipennis (a ground beetle): The current distribution appeared to be centred on the coasts of Lincolnshire and North Norfolk. It may be rediscovered yet in Dorset but appeared to have been lost from most of its previous range. Harpalus froelichii (Brush-thighed Seed-eater): Bare ground plots created by turf-stripping appeared to be an effective method for creating beetle habitat for as long as they contained stands of Fat Hen Chenopdium album. The beetle appears to be well adapted to using small patches of ephemeral habitat. Ophonus laticollis (a ground beetle): The confirmed distribution was centred on the Norfolk Brecks although existing records showed that the beetle occurred very locally across southern England. Ophonus melletii (a ground beetle): The beetle was not located during field survey. Existing records suggested that it is unpredictable in occurrence and has a very localised distribution with a relatively stable population at just one site in southern England. Anisodactylus nemorivagus (a ground beetle): The current distribution appeared to be in thinly scattered populations on suitable pockets of habitat over large areas of heath from Dorset to Sussex. The beetle appeared to prefer low growing heather with bare, sandy patches and often a thin layer of peaty soil on south-facing slopes. Philorhizus quadrisignatus (a ground