Institute of Urrestrial 7 Ecology
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1 4 I á \ Institute of Urrestrial 7 Ecology Natural Environment Research Council Biological recording of changes in British wildlife ITE symposium no. 26 Proceedings of a Conference held on 13 March 1990 to celebrate the 25th Anniversaries of the Biological Records Centre and the Natural Environment Research Council Edited by Paul T Harding ,132..70.0......11.94.1.1.4.71,117/41.0.3 •• ••51.0....”4.1.112.7.1.40.171114.5=ITASM=.7 INSTITUTE O TERFESTAL LuOLO"'y Lli39.A.RY f,.:3ER'1;CE LAT3OF:A70:»?; BUSH ESTATF, iDLOTH FH2(f.; ':.)Q 3 London: HMSO © Crown copyright 1992 Applications for reproduction should be made to HMSO First published 1992 ISBN 0 11 701560 1 ISSN 0263-8614 The INSTITUTE OF TERRESTRIAL ECOLOGY (ITE) is one of 15 component and grant-aided research organizations within the NATURAL ENVIRONMENT RESEARCH COUNCIL. The Institute is part of the Terrestrial and Freshwater Sciences Directorate, and was established in' 1973 by the merger of the research stations of the Nature Conservancy with the Institute of Tree Biology It has been at the forefront of ecological research ever since. The six research stations of the Institute provide a ready access to sites and to environmental and ecological problems in any part of Britain. In addition to the broad environmental knowledge and experience expected of the modern ecologist, each station has a range of special expertise and facili- ties. Thus, the Institute is able to provide unparallelled opportunities for long-term, multidisciplinary studies of complex environmental and ecologi- cal problems. VIE undertakes specialist ecological research on subjects ranging from micro-organisms to trees and mammals, from coastal habitats to uplands, from derelict land to air pollution. Understanding the ecology of different species of natural and man-made communities plays an increasigly impor- tant role in areas such as improving productivity in forestry, rehabilitating disturbed sites, monitoring the effects of pollution, managing and conserv- ing wildlife, and controlling pests. The Institute's research is financed by the UK Government through the sci- ence budget, and by private and public sector customers who commission or sponsor specific research programmes. ITE's expertise is also widely used by international organizations in overseas collaborative projects. The results of rrEresearch are available to those responsible for the protec- tion, management and wise use of our natural resources, being published in a wide range of scientific journals, and in an ITE series of publications. The Annual Report contains more general information. P T Harding Institute of Terrestrial Ecology Monks Wood Experimental Station Abbots Ripton INSTITUTE OF Huntingdon RRESTRIAL Cambs PE17 2LS ECOLOGY Tel: 048 73 381 LIBRARY SERVICE 2 9 APR 1992 Contents Page nos Foreword J Knill iv Preface P T Harding Introduction T M Roberts vi Biological recording - past, present and future BSBI distribution maps scheme - the F H Perring 1 first 40 years The Biological Records Centre - a P T Harding & J Sheail 5 pioneer in data gathering and retrieval Resources for documenting changes in B K Wyatt 20 species and habitats The effects of environmental changes on wildlife The effects of changes in land use on G N Foster 27 water beetles Evidence for the effects of atmospheric K J Adams & C D Preston 31 pollution on bryophytes from national and local recording Introductions and their place in British B C Eversham & H R Arnold 44 wildlife Monitoring populations of a butterfly E Pollard 60 during a period of range expansion Legislation and policies Managing the changes in British wildlife: D R Langslow 65 the effects of nature conservation Environmental politics and policies T Burke 71 Posters The work of the National Trust Biological K N A Alexander 73 Survey Team National rare plant surveys R Fitzgerald & L Farrell 73 Environmental and ecological M L Luff, S P Rushton, 74 applications of invertebrate distribution M D Eyre & G N Foster data from the Biological Records Centre BSBI monitoring scheme (1987-88) T C G Rich 75 Twenty-five years of lichen mapping in M R D Seaward 76 Britain and Ireland The Rothamsted Insect Survey light trap I P Woiwod & A M Riley 76 network The butterfly monitoring scheme T J Yates 77 Foreword One of the many events marking the 25th Anniver- range of taxonomic groups. Coupling this network of sary of the Natural Environment Research Council in observers with the expertise available to and within 1990 was an enjoyable and informative Conference BRC, we have, therefore, an enviable 'commun4 hosted by the Linnean Society at their splendid environment programme'. rooms in Burlington House in London. The Confer- The high-quality products of the BRC, be they the ence was organised by Paul Harding, Head of the database itself, the Atlas series, reports, or other Institute of Terrestrial Ecology's (ITE) Biological publications, all serve a dual purpose. They provide Records Centre, also in celebration of the 25th the foundation upon which research into Anniversary of the Centre. environmental change is being based and they act It was my particular pleasure to welcome partici- as a testimony to, and a reference for, the scientists pants to the lunch-time conversazione of that and lay naturalists whose contributions made their Conference, and it gives me equal pleasure to add a production possible. Foreword to this volume of proceedings. The papers and summaries of posters in this volume The Natural Environment Research Council (NERC), cover the origins and history of BRC and its present as our name implies, is in the business of research context in ITE's recently formed Environmental Infor- rather than data collection or monitoring for its own mation Centre. The theme of biological recording of sake. That being said, much of the original research changes in British wildlife is particularly appropriate we pursue focuses on changes in characteristics of in these times of rapid changes in the natural the natural environment, both physical and biologi- environment. However, more than one paper high- cal. Many of these changes are almost imperceptible lights the fact that the flora and fauna of Britain are, and their study relies on careful and accurate obser- and always have been, in a state of change. What is vation, measurement, or sample collection over long perhaps central to the dual Anniversary is that the periods of time. This is true for studies of climate last 25 years have seen unprecedented and rapid and pollution as for changes in landscape and its changes in land use and environmental management. effect on the indigenous plant and animal communi- The Biological Records Centre has a unique and ties that make up the diversity of British wildlife. continuing role in contributing to NERC's research on The Biological Records Centre (BRC) at Monks Wood these changes through the involvement of the takes its rightful place alongside the other time- thousands of volunteer specialists who contribute series databases and recording groups in NERC's to its database. extensive and varied armoury of environmental data, I anticipate that the next 25 years of BRC's work will information and expertise. What makes BRC perhaps be recognised as being of increasing importance in unique is its foundation, based upon the efforts of a the study of terrestrial change and adaptation. veritable army of enthusiastic volunteers and natural history societies around the country who observe Professor John Knill and record their natural environment and sustain the Chairman 60 or so national recording schemes that cover the Natural Environment Research Council iv Preface The Conference and conversazione, from which this It is my pleasure to be able to thank all those who publication originated, was a rewarding event to presented papers at the meeting and who have have conceived and organised, and in which to have contributed to this publication, those who have participated. It was held at the very end of the Bio- presented posters and have written up brief logical Records CentTe's 25th Anniversary year, but accounts, and those behind the scenes, particularly this timing allowed the event to embrace the 25th my colleagues in BRC and Mrs Joyce Rushton who Anniversary celebrations of the Centre's parent body, has typed these proceedings. the Natural Environment Research Council. At the end of the presentation, Frank Perring Despite being organised at comparatively short proposed that 'filial' greetings should be sent to the notice, all the first-choice speakers and chairmen three people who had such crucial roles in the foun- were able to participate, and a capacity audience dation of co-ordinated biological recording which is filled the lecture room of the Linnean Society at epitomised by BRC. The meeting was sorry that all Burlington House in London. The domestic arrange- three, for reasons of health, were unable to attend, ments at Burlington House were undertaken by John but I was able to contact Professor Roy Clapham, Marsden, Secretary of the Linnean Society, and his Max Nicholson and Dr Max Walters, following the staff: I am most grateful for the welcome and hospi- meeting, to convey our good wishes and thanks. tality shown to us and for their unobtrusive efficiency Sadly, Roy Clapham died at the end of 1990. throughout the day. Our chairmen of sessions were Professor Mike Roberts, Professor Sam Berry and Professor Mike P T Harding Claridge, and I am very grateful to them for ensuring Head that the speakers followed the timetable and that the Biological Records Centre discussions were not too discursive. It was particu- Environmental Information Centre larly pleasing that Mike Claridge, as President of the Institute of Terrestrial Ecology Linnean Society was able to invite Professor John Monks Wood Experimental Station Knill to give an opening address at the Abbots Ripton conversazione.