the bulletin Contents SEPTEMBER 2017
Officers and Council for the year 2016-17 Regulars President: Sue Hartley Welcome | Alan Crowden...... 4 President Elect: Richard Bardgett Vice-President: Rosie Hails Changes in your Society: Reviewing governance in the BES | Sue Hartley...... 5 Vice-President: Andrew Pullin We invite you to ‘Ecology Across Borders’ | Amy Everard...... 6 Honorary Treasurer: Tom Ezard Council Secretary: Adam Vanbergen Celebrating our third Summer School at FSC Dale Fort in Wales | Karen Devine...... 8 Honorary Chairpersons: Zoe Davies (Meetings) BES Fundraising goes digital | Paul Bower...... 12 Alan Gray (Publications) Will Gosling (Education, Training Ecology in the public spotlight | Sabrina Weiss...... 14 and Careers) Juliet Vickery (Public and Policy) Rosie Hails (Grants) Ordinary Members of Council Retiring Diana Gilbert, Jane Hill, 2017 Iain Stott Dawn Scott, Markus Eichhorn, 2018 Lindsay Turnbull Environmentally Sustainable Agriculture: Peter Brotherton, 2019 Opportunities and challenges for the UK in a post-Brexit world | Samuel Leigh...... 16 Yvonne Buckley, Nina Hautekeete Wills and Legacies – Celebrating Ecology | Paul Bower...... 18 Cristina Banks-Leite, 2020 Helen Roy, Peter Thomas Make your research long-term | Jessica Bays...... 20
Bulletin Editor: Alan Crowden Valuing long-term experiments in ecology | Raj Whitlock, 48 Thornton Close, Girton, Emma Sayer and Karl Evans...... 21 Cambridge CB3 0NG [email protected] Special Interest Group News...... 24 Associate Editor: Lauren Ratcliffe The Chartered Institute of Ecology [email protected] and Environmental Management | Sally Hayns...... 48 Book Reviews Editor: Books to be considered for review In the Journals | Chris Grieves...... 50 should be sent direct to the Bulletin Editor at the address above Aspiring authors – we will help you get published | Kate Harrison...... 52 Publishing in Book Reviews...... 54 the BES Bulletin The Bulletin is published four times a year in March, June, August and December. Contributions of all types are welcomed, but if you are planning to write we recommend you contact one of the editorial team in advance to discuss your plans (bulletin@ britishecologicalsociety.org).
Submissions can be sent to the editor by email and pictures should be either jpeg or tiff files suitable for printing at 300dpi. features Design: madenoise.com Donald Neil McVean 1926-2017 | Neil MacKenzie...... 28 InFocus Print Management: H2 Associates (Cambridge) Ltd. Reflections on long-term recording at Lady Park Wood | George Peterken...... 30 We like to include in the Bulletin subjects that appeal across the Focus on teaching only contracts | Zenobia Lewis...... 34 ages. In the summer of 2017 a Digging deep in the Mexican Caribbean reef | Lauren Ratcliffe...... 36 highlight for the group of lucky undergraduates attending the Why should we care about Ecosystem Services? | Mark Everard...... 40 BES Summer School was a day From Our Southern Correspondent | Richard Hobbs...... 46 on the island of Skomer meeting the puffins, as reported on p8 -11; a couple of months earlier the Bulletin editor was just as excited Council Report and Accounts...... 65 to visit the island for the first time in the year he reached state pension age. BES Bulletin british ecologicalsociety.org VOL 48:3 | September 2017
The British Ecological Society is the oldest ecological society WELCOME in the world, having been CHANGES IN YOUR SOCIETY established in 1913. Since 1980 it has been a Registered Charity limited by guarantee. Membership is open to all who are genuinely interested ECOLOGY FOR in ecology, whether in the Reviewing governance British Isles or abroad, and membership currently stands at about 6,000, about half THE LONG TERM of whom are based outside in the BES the UK.
The Society holds a variety of meetings each year. The Annual Meeting attracts a Sue Hartley | President of the British Ecological Society | [email protected] wide range of papers, often by research students, and includes a series of informal specialist group discussions; Good governance, the way that an Recommended changes The composition of Committees Alan Crowden | Editor | [email protected] whereas the Annual organisation operates and is held will be changed so there is more Symposium and many other accountable, is really important for BES Council considered the opportunity for BES members to get smaller meetings are usually Ecology as a discipline can be viewed sure it is fit for purpose into the future. And any charity to deliver its objectives recommendations in June this directly involved in the decisions and more specialised and include effectively. The BES has not had a activities of the Society by becoming as a mixture of dynamism and constant while you’re at it, read the annual report and invited speakers from around year and supported a wide range renewal combined with careful long-term accounts beginning on page 65. the world. major review of its governance in of proposed changes, the most a member of a Committee; over 20 years, but during that time significant of which include: assembly of evidence and the chance for Proceedings of some of these The Memorandum and Articles of calm reflection. Talk to any ecologist who Elsewhere in this issue Events Manager both staff and income have increased meetings are published by seven-fold whilst expenditure and Refocusing Council, which will Association will be updated to reflect has studied a field site or system over a long Amy Everard invites you (p6) to the annual the Society in its Ecological concentrate more on strategic the relevant changes, as well as to period of time and she or he will almost meeting in Ghent (Liverpool 2016 was Reviews book series. The assets have increased ten-fold. oversight in future, and delegate bring them up to date with current invariably tell you that their understanding worth the entrance money just to see Zoe Society distributes free to The size, portfolio of activities and all members, four times a greater authority to the Committees best practice as they have not been of the processes going on are different Davies wearing a tinsel halo); Karen Devine complexity of the organisation have year, the Bulletin which and staff to drive forward the activities thoroughly reviewed since 2006. from their ideas of five, ten, twenty years highlights another successful Summer changed greatly, so a review of our contains news and views, decision-making processes is timely. of the Society. In recognition of this ago. It is not because ecologists are prone School (p8) and Kate Harrison encourages meeting announcements, change in function, Council will be to sudden whims or are being swayed potential book authors to step forward (p52). a comprehensive diary and That is why the 2015-19 Strategic When will change happen? renamed the Board of Trustees; by ecological fashion, but when the facts Zenobia Lewis calls for a level playing field many other features. In Plan included an objective to ensure for those on teaching only contracts (p34), addition the Society produces that our governance is efficient and These are significant changes to the change, they change their mind. We have Introduction of online voting for the and to stretch the analogy Richard Hobbs five scientific journals. The fit for purpose, as well as robust in governance of the Society and would persuasive advocacy of long-term projects Journal of Ecology, Journal election of Board of Trustees which wishes university administrators would get the face of likely future challenges take time to implement, although we in the two pieces from the Ecological of Animal Ecology, Journal will enable all members, not just those off the pitch and let the players get on with and opportunities. hope that most of the work would be Continuity Trust (pp 20-23) and from of Applied Ecology and who are able to attend the AGM, to completed in the early spring of 2018. George Peterken on Lady Park Wood (p30). it (p46). Functional Ecology are sold at a discounted rate A working group of current and former select who represents them; No current Council members will be I do encourage you also to look at George’s to members. Methods in Council members, chaired by the asked to resign and there will be a Reducing the number of trustees from photographs on the back cover, taken 32 Time for a change Ecology and Evolution is free current BES President and supported transition period where the size of 22 to 13 and increasing the frequency years apart. A tribute to long-term research, to BES members. The Society by an expert in governance issues, the Board of Trustees will gradually This summer I completed 10 years as also supports research and meetings from 2 to 4 a year. The and durable partnerships, both professional was set up in late 2016 and developed reduce. The changes to the Articles Editor of the Bulletin, having enjoyed every ecological education with grant current Council is too large and meets and personal. a set of recommendations, taking will require the approval of BES minute. The support from contributors, aid. Further details about the too infrequently for decision-making to Society and membership account of the following issues: members at the AGM in December For all ecologists, the prospect of an entire production colleagues, the BES staff and the be effective, or sufficiently nimble to can be obtained from the which is being held, as usual, during career serenely pursuing your own aims Society membership has been tremendous. • The need to consider what was best deliver our future ambitions; Executive Director (address the Annual Meeting. and objectives is but a dream – many BES Which makes me think it is time to quit inside back cover). for the BES to deliver its strategic members will be more concerned about while I’m ahead, and allow someone with objectives effectively, both now and The Officers of the Society will remain getting the first foothold on a job in ecology, fresh ideas and a different outlook to take The Bulletin circulates in the future; unchanged at 10 and comprise the exclusively to members of President, President Elect or Past let alone being confident of building a life- our membership newsletter onward and the British Ecological Society. • How the governance of the BES President, two Vice Presidents, Any questions or comments? long career. We need to make sure ecology upward. Details of the role are advertised It carries information on compared to similar organisations Honorary Secretary, Honorary has a role and a voice in a fast-changing on p29. meetings and other activities, and standards of good governance We hope that we have explained comment and other topical Treasurer, and Chairs of the Education world. The BES seeks to support ecologists in the voluntary sector; the need for change clearly and items. Unsigned commentaries and Careers Committee, Meetings in as many ways as possible, and to ensure put forward a set of proposals are the responsibility of the • Speeding up decision-making and Committee, Policy Committee that this is done in the most efficient and Editor and do not necessarily that increases the operational the ability of the Society to respond and Publications Committee. The effective ways. Our President Sue Hartley represent the views of the effectiveness and accountability of quickly to new challenges and remaining 3 trustee posts will be and Executive Director Hazel Norman have Society. the Society. BES Council is keen to opportunities; for Ordinary Members of the Board led a review into Society governance, and hear your views on these important A limited company, registered representing early careers, ecologists now seek your feedback (p5). I urge every in England No. 1522897 and • Delegating authority beyond Council proposals before they are put to working in academic research and member to consider the proposals and a Registered Charity No. to Committees and to staff; the AGM in December. If you have ecologists working outside HEIs and express a view; it really is YOUR Society. 2812134. Registered Office: any comments or questions please Charles Darwin House • Reducing duplication of effort; and research institutes; The executive staff do a brilliant job of get in touch with Hazel Norman, putting your wishes into effect, but it is the 12 Roger Street • Increasing opportunities for London WC1N 2JU Terms of Office for Ordinary Members BES Executive Director, ideas, energy and enthusiasm of actively- members to be involved in the of the Board will be reduced from four [email protected] participating ecologists that have made activities and decision-making years to three years; by 6 October. the Society what it is today, and will make of the Society.
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Annual meeting At the core of the conference are four internationally renowned plenary speakers: WE INVITE YOU TO ‘ECOLOGY ACROSS BORDERS’
Amy Everard | Events Manager | [email protected] Iain Couzin Sue Hartley Carlos Herrera Louise Vet (Director of the Max Planck (BES President and Director, (Professor of Research, (Director of the Netherlands If you are reading this Bulletin as a member, there is a high Institute for Ornithology, York Environmental Consejo Superior de Institute of Ecology Department of Collective Sustainability Institute, Investigaciones Científicas) (NIOO) and professor of Behaviour, and the Chair of University of York, UK) Evolutionary Ecology at chance you have attended one of our renowned Annual Biodiversity and Collective Wageningen University) Behaviour at the University Meetings. If you haven’t, this year is a great year to start! of Konstanz, Germany)
From 11 – 14 December, over 1,200 Our Exhibitors are a vital part of the The final day of our Annual Meeting ecologists representing academia, meeting; this year we have almost has become known as Christmas Day. business, NGOs and professional sold out, with over 30 exhibitors from This is an opportunity to grab your bodies from all over the world will publishers, equipment companies, festive frocks and jingly jumpers and make their way to Ghent in Belgium training providers and academic get in the holiday spirit – there might for Europe’s largest and most institutions ready to engage with you. even be some Glühwein! influential ecological conference. This year is particularly special as we will be holding the meeting in partnership with the GfÖ (the ecological society of Germany, Switzerland and Austria), NecoV (the ecological society of the Netherlands and Flanders), and in association with There are 13 diverse Thematic Topic the European Ecological Federation. Sessions providing high profile forums for the discussion of timely, innovative This is the first time these societies and/or important questions, local have held a conference together and it ‘flavour’ within the programme, FIND OUT MORE provides us with a great opportunity and showcasing integration among to build closer ties with our vibrant The conference website disciplines. contains all information about ecological communities across In addition to the core scientific the event, including travel and Europe and worldwide. Workshops will take place throughout programme, we strive to ensure there accommodation advice and the lunchtime period, with 13 are opportunities for delegates to information for those travelling interactive sessions that encourage network, meet old friends and build with families. If you have any networking, skills development, and new relationships. This could be questions, please get in touch with creative thinking. We also have three through one of our two evening poster The fun doesn’t finish there: Ghent our Events Manager, Amy Everard. pre-conference full day workshops on sessions, over a game of fuzboll, or is a beautiful city, often referred to as Monday 11 December. at one of our Special Interest Group Belgium’s best kept secret, with other www.Ecology2017.info social events, which are free for all historical cities nearby. We have put We are proud that the majority of [email protected] to attend. We regularly have groups together a number of post conference We might be biased, but we think our talks and all poster presentations #EAB2017 organising other social events, such tours to enhance your stay in Belgium, Annual Meeting is a great event and for the meeting are selected from an as our LGBT mixer and Christian including tours of Ghent, Bruges we would love to see you all there. Follow the conversation on open call, giving all delegates the breakfast event. If you are involved and Antwerp. We also have a trip to Earlybird registration is open until Twitter with #EAB2017 opportunity to present their research. with other groups that you would like the Aalmoeseneie Forest Long Term Friday 20 October, so book now to We hope to see you there 500 talks and 600 posters will be to support, please do get in touch. Ecological Research Site. save up to £100. this December. presented by our delegates.
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ENCOURAGING THE NEXT GENERATION We could write about the programme Professor Jane Memmott answers but we thought instead it would be questions in a small group session better to acknowledge the enthusiasm with our In2Science students Celebrating our third of the lecturers, speakers, mentors and visitors who helped us deliver what was for most students one of their best experiences to date. And to prove Summer School at that, we’d like to share the written feedback students provided when we asked for their highlights of the week. FSC Dale Fort in Wales Some of the participants identified particular areas that truly stood out for them; others simply enjoyed the experience of being immersed Karen Devine | External Affairs Manager| [email protected] in ecology. On four days in July 2017 we took 50 students representing 39 universities from across the UK and Ireland to Dale Fort on the Pembrokeshire coast. We got them out of bed and ready for a 6.00am field start and most days we didn’t finish until near midnight.
Some struggled a little more to folks at uni who I could have a great identify any one highlight: scientific discussion with, and I made many friends here - and finally “The variety of the whole fully understood the importance and week was the highlight for usefulness of Twitter.” Demonstrating how UV tracking Our wonderful PhD students led on of invertebrates is used in crop me. Excellent lecturers many of the early and late activities protection research were invited who radiated including several workshops and A huge thank you to Professor enthusiasm, and the mentors breakout sessions. Throughout the Simon Leather and Francisca Sconce week, we worked hard to ensure for the entomology session and and BES Staff were just that the all aspects of a research Dr Dan Forman for his mammal amazing. It could be 6am or career were presented and integrated ecology sessions. into the science programme and 11pm, they were so lovely we packed in as much as we could: “My personal highlight was the moth Once more we were very pleased trapping and insect tracking - showing with all of us 24/7”. to have the support of CIEEM us how more traditional techniques “Everything was covered, CV, (Chartered Institute of Ecology are still effective and improved upon, research, careers, statistics. The policy and Environmental Management) as well as showing us some really session was incredibly useful as on and 6 of their members who came revolutionary new techniques that my programme we never touched along to guide students through the I hope to be able to use in my own it and finally I understand the way consultancy process, practitioner research in the future” it works and how I might even be perspective and the breadth of careers able to influence it in the future. It beyond academia. was all about absorbing everything “The whole ecology and careers for me, everyone gave us useful programme went way, way, above Our wonderful mentors hints, tips and insights. The mammal my expectations. I didn’t realise how Kim Simpson (Sheffield), ecology and bat ecology were just useful these will be, as they were Paula Tierney (Trinity superb, I never studied entomology not delivered as dry sub-units but College Dublin), Simon Tarr before and I loved how even complex everything was somehow integrated. (Nottingham), Catie Gutmann gadgets were introduced to us and I actually took on board the many Roberts (Bournemouth), the CIEEM sessions were full of different aspects of a possible Will Kay (Swansea) and great practical examples. The fellow scientific life being introduced to us Melanie Edgar (Manchester) students were a great surprise for from many different angles” me too, as I don’t often bump into
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The advantage of a trip to the “I loved the Summer School and I Pembrokeshire coast is the was sad when it finished. It opened opportunity to get a behind the a whole new set of doors for me and scenes look at the research being changed my future possibilities for the conducted on Skomer. Dr Mark better and also very hands-on in my Ward of the Field Studies Council goal of developing a wider skill set. I generously led this excursion and felt incredibly privileged and proud to students spent time with island be the part of it. staff in smaller groups. For all the students attending this was one of Thank you again for all your hard work the favourite days. making it an epic week for all!” And finally, on behalf of the UG The 2018 Summer School will be students attending this year to returning to Malham Tarn Field all our members who help deliver Studies Centre and will run and support the summer school 16-20th July 2018. Please do get in every year: touch with the office if you’d like to nominate your students, want to be a PhD mentor or would like to help in delivering workshops. “I got so much more help and information in just 5 days than I did 2 years at university which is no exaggeration.”
The 2017 Summer School
For our budding photographers, the islands residents provided plenty of opportunities.
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FUNDRAISING There are four ways you can support our work. BES FUNDRAISING Giving Online You can make a one-off or monthly donation to help us ‘generate, GOES DIGITAL communicate and promote ecological knowledge and solutions’ Donate at www.justgiving.com/ britishecologicalsociety Alternatively, you can tell us how you would prefer your money to be spent by allocating your donation to one of Paul Bower | Fundraising and Development Manager | [email protected] three campaigns. Just go to the donate tab on the top right hand of the BES home page Six months ago I said that for the first time in our 104 year history, we www.britishecologicalsociety.org/ membership-community/donate-now would be launching a fundraising campaign so that we can give even more There are separate donate buttons for ecologists the support that they deserve. Well it’s here. But don’t worry, we each of our three campaigns: Ecology in Africa This fund will provide additional Fundraising in the Future funding for our work with local will not be bombarding you with emails, phoning you or filling your recycling partners in Africa including our Later in 2017 we will be exploring successful Ecologists in Africa grant how we can use the functionality bin with endless mail shots. Instead we have set up BES on the JustGiving programme. Many thanks to Dr Derek available on the JustGiving Langlow for kicking us off with a platform to put you in control £100 donation. and run your own community platform which will allow anyone who is passionate about ecology to make a fundraising campaigns under Bridging the Gap the BES banner. As part of our Gift Aided donation online or by text. This fund will support PhD students membership of JustGiving, we and early career ecologists in the will have access to places at difficult period when funding has major sporting events such as ended and they are looking to secure the Great North Run. their first position in the profession. For now, we would just like Text Giving to Support members who feel that they can Support Our Mission afford it, to support ecology and Young Ecologists fellow ecologists. Every donation, You are now just one click away from Our first text giving campaign will raise additional funds for the however large or small, will make supporting ecologists in the UK and a difference. BES 2018 A’ level Summer School. Building on the success of across the developing world with a our 2017 Summer School, where we invited a small cohort of 6th one-off or recurring donation. Just Remember that you can also Support the next formers to join the under graduates, we are now planning to run make a donation to any of the generation of ecologists click on the brand new DONATE an additional residential Summer School in 2018 exclusively for button at the top of our home page above campaigns or for general Year 12 students. The focus will be on supporting 17-18 year olds www.britishecologicalscociety.org purposes in the old-fashioned way from low income backgrounds, black and ethnic minority groups by sending us a cheque to: and young women. They will be mentored by PhD students and Ecology – The Next Generation Text SCHL18 £5 professional ecologists who are giving their time for free We are Fundraising, British Ecological to 70070 appealing for donations of £5 to increase the budget to pay for This fund will support initiatives Society, Charles Darwin House, protective clothing and equipment for the students. designed to attract the best talent 12 Roger Street. London WC1N and increase the diversity of people 2JU. Please write which campaign If you would like to donate the cost of two cups of coffee to studying and working in ecology. you would like your donation support these young ecologists please: This year’s campaign will support to be allocated to on the back ecologists with limited funds of the cheque. to attend Annual Meetings and Text SCHL18 £5 to 70070 *We can only claim Gift Aid on You can only make donations from UK mobile phones when you are in the UK. symposia. We will also draw on You can donate up to a maximum of £10 in a text. Simply insert a space and this fund to support BES initiatives your behalf if you are a UK Tax then £6, £7, £8, £9 or £10 after the code if you wish to donate more than a fiver. designed to attract more women and Payer. Typically Gift Aid will If you donate by text we will always respect your privacy and never make a people from black and ethnic minority increase your donation by 25p follow up call. communities into ecology. in the £.
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MEDIA ENGAGEMENT Ecology in the public spotlight
Sabrina Weiss | Press Officer | [email protected] Our recent symposium on the ‘Macroecology of Alien Species’ brought together invasion ecologists and macroecologists, working on many different taxonomic groups, to gather the latest evidence on the geographical distribution and abundance of alien species worldwide.
To address some of the fundamental Engaging the media is one of the Having recently joined the BES as questions and ambiguities regarding most effective ways to reach an full-time Press Officer, I look forward this topic - a topic which is often audience of thousands or even to helping our members engage subject to controversial public debate millions. Many people trust and with the media and to creating more - we held a press background briefing get most of their information about opportunities for you to communicate in conjunction with the Science Media science from newspapers, TV and your work to a wider audience. Centre in London. Our panel of experts radio programmes, and online outlets. Whether you are about to have an consisted of symposium speakers Helen The media plays a central role in interesting paper published, you Roy from the NERC Centre for Ecology awareness-raising and shaping public are reaching a new milestone with & Hydrology, Mark van Kleunen from opinion, particularly when reporting a project, or are organising a topical the University of Konstanz (Germany), on complex and often misunderstood and timely event, the BES press office and Rob Colautti from Queen’s issues. In fact, many journalists can assist you in identifying the University (Canada). They explained specialise in and are genuinely right audience and channel for your to journalists how and why plant and passionate about science and the story. We also like to hear from your animal invaders spread, how they can environment. They want to hear about institution’s press office and are happy impact their new environment, and how the latest developments in research, to jointly work towards increasing science can inform policymakers and why it’s important and how it might exposure for your work. the public, and to try to prevent further affect their readers and viewers. introductions and establishment. Giving them access to experts and Helping our members share the the latest scientific evidence is key excitement of ecology and its When asked about the most concerning to ensuring factual, accurate and importance for society is one of our troublemakers, our experts pointed out balanced reporting. major goals. The public is fascinated a number of alien species that could by nature and curious about the world pose a serious threat to biodiversity Journalists often approach the BES we live in. Learning about it through and ecosystem functioning in the press office to find an ecological expert the media may even inspire the next UK and elsewhere. Journalists for a news story. Covering topics from generation of ecologists. representing major UK newspapers and conservation, particular species and broadcasters - including the Guardian, ecosystem services to agriculture, Daily Telegraph, Daily Mail and the sustainability and climate change, BBC - attended the briefing and, as a expert comments add credibility to a Above: The grey squirrel arrived The rose-ringed parakeet is the UK’s most result, published articles highlighting media report and can bring a story to in Britain in the 1870s and are abundant naturalised parrot, the population invasive species such as the Argentine life. Please do get in touch if you would now widely distributed across having become established after escapes or ant, Asian hornet and racoon, which like to join our expert database and act the UK. introductions in the 1970s. the public should be looking out for. as a spokesperson in your field. © Tim Blackburn © Tim Blackburn
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POLICY the POSTnote we ascribed potential farmer groups. Here it became clear Bill is a crucial piece of legislation measures to two broad categories how one obstacle to the delivery with far reaching consequences, – restoring natural capital and of environmental benefits was the and it is essential that it is Environmentally improving resource efficiency. fragmented and disjointed state of underpinned by the latest, highest farming advisory services. It was also quality scientific evidence. One thing I learnt during my interesting to learn about the potential fellowship was the importance of constraints from international The POSTnote on Environmentally Sustainable Agriculture: communicating in language familiar obligations and future trade deals Sustainable Agriculture is available to policy makers and relevant to on achieving more environmentally at: http://bit.ly/2ujggzl the policy context of the day. For sustainable agriculture. Although this Opportunities and challenges example, as a PhD student I often concerns a degree of speculation, it speak to other researchers about was interesting to attend a Lords’ References “ecosystem services”, whereas in Select Committee hearing on the 1 for the UK in a post-Brexit world this POSTnote the focus was on Queen’s Speech . 2017. https://www. implications of Brexit for agriculture. gov.uk/government/speeches/queens- “natural capital”. The reason, in This session talked in depth about speech-2017 Samuel Leigh | Policy Intern | [email protected] short, was due to the existence of how a trade deal with the US 2 Robinson, R.A. and Sutherland, W.J. 2002. Changes in arable farming and Natural Capital Committee, set up could reduce farmers’ willingness by the 2010 coalition government. biodiversity in Great Britain, Journal of to reduce environmental impacts Applied Ecology, 49, pp157-176. If it had been named the Ecosystem whereas a trade deal with Japan 3 Krebs, J.R., Wilson, J.D., Bradbury, R.B. Amidst the fog of uncertainty that surrounds Brexit, there are Service Committee then the choice may not. Discussions touched on and Siriwardena, G.M. 1999.The second of language may have been different. how a close trading relationship silent spring?, Nature, 400, pp611-612 some aspects of our future that have greater clarity than others. MPs and peers are more likely to have with the EU could limit the scope 4 House of Commons Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee. 2012. some familiarity with the term Natural for reductions in environmental Capital or be aware of the Committee. Greening the Common Agricultural Policy standards and how WTO membership 5 They have to deal with so many The Unfrozen Moment – Delivering A could limit payments to farmers for Green Brexit . 2017. https://www.gov. 6 Leaving the EU means that the UK Technology (POST), my advisor and different topics that being consistent environmental goods. uk/government/speeches/the-unfrozen- will no longer be required to fund I drew up a list of researchers that with the policy language du jour moment-delivering-a-green-brexit and comply with the EU Common I would approach to discuss some can help you to communicate more 6 POST Fellowships. 2017. http://www. Agricultural Policy (CAP) after 2020. of these questions. POST provides effectively to policymakers. An agriculture bill parliament.uk/mps-lords-and-offices/ We will get a greater insight into impartial, accessible overviews of offices/bicameral/post/fellowships/ Given this, the POSTnote laid out underpinned by evidence 7 the Government’s plan for agriculture public policy issues relating to science Millennium Ecosystem Assessment. some examples of approaches to (2005). Ecosystems & Human Well- in this parliament with the Agriculture and technology for parliamentarians. My POST fellowship allowed me to restoring natural capital. With a being: Synthesis Report. Island Press: Bill, mentioned in this year’s Fortunately, as a PhD student find out more about my research area Washington DC. focus on soil, biodiversity and water Queen’s Speech1. exploring the ability of novel crop as well as introducing me to subject 8 Costanza, R. (2016, p.17). Ecosystem quality we described how researchers rotations to enhance multiple areas I had never thought about. Services in Theory and Practice. In: felt that there needs to be a better Potschin, M., Haines-Young, R., Fish, For those concerned by the current ecosystem services, I was broadly Writing and then finally publishing idea of what the status and trends R. and Turner, R.K. (eds). Routledge state of our countryside, this presents familiar with this topic area. One of my POSTnote was one of the hardest of these assets are. Additionally, Handbook of Ecosystem Services. a crucial opportunity to design an the researchers on my list was my and most demanding things I have Routledge: London. pp.15-24. agricultural policy that promotes and we emphasised how management What is environmentally academic supervisor. done in my life. I have never had my 9 ibid. interventions intended to halt declines rewards an approach to agriculture sustainable agriculture? writing scrutinised so carefully, every 10 UK NEA. (2011). UK National Ecosystem that minimises its impact on the © Keith Edkins In order to find an answer to or restore assets required robust sentence pulled apart, dissected Assessment: Synthesis of the key natural environment and ensures what environmentally sustainable monitoring to ensure that they are and examined. Talking to my final findings. UNEP-WCMC, Cambridge. What is environmentally sustainable 11 farming continues to produce food agriculture is and which practices it effective. Practices to restore these stakeholder, the government, became Parliamentary Office of Science and agriculture and how can it be Technology. (2011). Ecosystem Service in the future. The CAP was never involves, I travelled from Southampton assets will in some cases require increasingly difficult as a snap achieved through a new agricultural famers and landowners to work Valuation. POSTnote 378, Parliamentary conceived to achieve these aims. to Sheffield where, more often election and an unforeseen minority Office of Science and Technology, policy? As we leave the EU, what Despite recent modifications through than not, as we sat over a coffee, together across a river catchment government meant that there was London. forces will encourage farmers to voluntary agri-environment schemes the researcher I was interviewing or a landscape, as uncoordinated little they could discuss due to the adopt better practices and what (AES) and the ‘greening’ of farm began their answer with “Well, it piecemeal action will rarely be uncertainty at the time. These events constraints may there be on any subsidies, overall the support of depends…” effective. The spatially targeted required several additional drafts and future agricultural policy? What next? intensive agriculture through the CAP deployment of agri-environment a fair amount of head scratching. has had a negative impact on the It quickly became apparent that schemes could be one mechanism to the most relevant practices and The BES Policy Team is environment.2,3,4 The Government’s Assembling the pieces achieve this, perhaps facilitated by It became clear as I listened to a developing a policy brief that focus on ‘public money for public approaches vary from farm to farm, river trusts, wildlife groups or National debate on the triggering article 50 of a POSTnote on the wider environmental context gives an overview of the evidence goods’, articulated in Environment Park Authorities. The researchers I bill in the House of Commons just base on the positive and negative and are dependent on the agricultural how important and useful the work Secretary Michael Gove’s recent ‘Green In a committee room in the Palace of spoke to emphasised how this will effects of agri-environment 5 system in place. For example, an of POST is. It is fair to say that the Brexit’ speech, suggests that in the Westminster, I sat listening excitedly need to be facilitated and incentivised schemes, and what new arable farmer in East Anglia will likely political motor car is going full throttle future farmers will be paid to deliver as it was decided by MPs and peers for farmers to engage. approaches could form part of a things that people value, which could need to do something very differently at these times and POSTnotes provide that I would help write a POSTnote In order to understand the challenges new agricultural policy. If you are include environmental goods such to a sheep farmer in Wales. In some an essential navigation tool for for Parliament that would attempt that farmers face in adopting these interested in hearing more about as clean water, beautiful landscapes cases, there may be no appropriate parliamentarians through the enormity to address these questions. In my measures, the next people on my this work please join our Brexit and skylarks. This new direction from practice that is environmentally of legislation that needs to be role as an academic fellow at the hit list included individuals working Working Engagement Group Government is promising, but also sustainable and an entirely new generated and scrutinised, especially Parliamentary Office of Science and in think tanks, NGOs, industry and mailing list. raises important questions. land-use may be the best option. In in this parliament. The Agriculture
16 17 BES Bulletin VOL 48:3 | September 2017
Wills and Legacies Leaving a legacy to Celebrating the British Ecological Ecology Society is a way for me to give something back to a discipline that has given me so Paul Bower | Fundraising and Development Manager | [email protected] much pleasure over the Last month Professor Sir John Lawton But Why Do I Need a Will? I will be hosting a very short and Professor Sue Hartley contacted me presentation and reception at our last 50 years. Making to let me know that they had answered I get asked this question quite a Joint Annual Meeting in Ghent in my appeal. They will be leaving a gift to lot even by highly organised and December for anyone who wants to a Will is an important the BES in their respective Wills. This successful people with assets. talk about the most effective way of is great news because I know from my Sometimes they will say ‘I do not have supporting ecology through a gift in experience in marketing that when any children, so why bother?’ The their Will. Details will follow as part event in all our lives. someone we respect takes an action we reason is simple: because the property of the joining instructions and in the are all more likely to follow suit. and assets of anyone dying without next e-Bulletin. Quite rightly, family So, I did. I decided that it was time for a Will are subject to the Rules of Alternatively, you can email me to me to put my money where my mouth Intestacy. This means that: set up a confidential conversation. and friends come first. is and follow their example. Using the • There is a strict order of who will Will codicil which you can find in the inherit your estate. However, even a small Membership & Community section of • Only direct family will inherit under Over the years BES has benefited the BES website under ‘Remember intestacy: not unmarried partners, Ecology in Your Will’, I made a small friends or good causes that you greatly from the generosity of gift could make a big cash gift to BES and asked my solicitor might want to support. to attach the new instruction to my Will. members who have remembered The whole process took less than half • Depending on the size of your estate ecology in their Will. Their legacies impact on the work of an hour including the call to my wife. there are even limits to how much your spouse or civil partner can have helped ecologists from ecologists in the future. ‘Hi Heather. Do you mind if inherit if you do not leave a Will. all over the world travel to BES I amend our Will to include • Making a legally valid Will is the I hope that you will a cash gift to BES?’ best way to protect your estate and meetings, as well as supported ‘How much?...... Oh that’s have a say on who inherits. a wide range of research join me in leaving a gift absolutely fine. Good idea’ • Having a valid Will cuts down projects. Every gift in every the time it will take a solicitor So, how much are two of the United to distribute your estate and Will, however large or small, to BES when you make Kingdom’s most distinguished consequently the fees that they will make a difference because ecologists and a man with one will charge. Chemistry O Level (my training is demand for all our programmes or change your Will. in Spanish, Modern History and So really we should be asking that always exceeds supply. Any help Professor Sir John Lawton Marketing) leaving to the BES? Well, question ‘Why wouldn’t you make that is our business. The Society will a Will?’ members can give will support always protect the privacy of anyone ecological science and ecologists leaving a gift in their Will. The same will BES does not recommend or offer apply to you if you decide to follow the advice on how to make your Will. in the coming decades, so please However, we do advise that you do it example of Professor Sir John Lawton consider supporting the Society and Professor Sue Hartley. Your privacy properly and employ the services of a is paramount and our Legacy Promise qualified solicitor. You can find links and its activities in this way. outlines how we will treat you in a to the Find a Solicitor services of the Professor Sue Hartley process that you will always control. three UK law societies: www.lawsociety.org.uk Director, York Environmental www.lawscot.org.uk Sustainability Institute www.lawsoc-ni.org
18 BES Bulletin british ecologicalsociety.org VOL 48:3 | September 2017
The Ecological Continuity Trust The Ecological Continuity Trust MAKE YOUR Valuing long-term RESEARCH experiments
Cors Fochno L to R: Karl Evans, Emma Sayer and Raj LONG-TERM in ecology Whitlock, who form the new steering committee for the Buxton site
Jessica Bays | [email protected] Raj Whitlock | Emma Sayer | Karl Evans The Ecological Continuity Trust champions long-term Long-term ecological studies are vital to ensure that ecological experiments throughout the UK. scientists can detect, understand, and predict the effects of environmental changes on ecosystems.
With 33 active experiments at 29 active simulation of realistic summer enclosure has affected subsequent Many such studies observe the Environmental-manipulation have arisen. Second, the defined different sites throughout the UK, drought on a bog community. The vegetation development. Every shrub accumulating effects of environmental experiments can side-step the starting point of the experimental the sheer diversity of LTE research ECT grant awarded to Dr Richard and tree that has established on each change over time in non-manipulated attribution effect and complement manipulations means that impacts being undertaken is vast. From Payne at the University of York of the plots have been catalogued, communities and ecosystems. These LTERs to link responses to their acting through different ecological grazing experiments at Glen Finglas, enabled researchers to travel to the with the age of 80% of all the trees longitudinal observations (including causes. Many experiments like this or evolutionary processes can be to floodplain meadow restoration site to undertake vital monitoring and known, all plots were re-sampled in LTER networks) play a pivotal role in have been carried out, but only a small mapped out through time. Long- at Somerford Mead and climate maintenance during a period where 2016 by Dr Tim King. The new fences our understanding of environmental handful have used long-term (> 5 year) term environmental manipulation manipulations at Clocaenog, UK LTE no other funds were available. This will ensure that animals and humans change at landscape scales. A catch experimental manipulations applied to experiments therefore provide a research covers a wide range of life site has subsequently been awarded a are kept out of the plots for the next with this approach, however, is that real ecosystems in the field. By their unique window on the ecological science disciplines. Leverhulme Trust grant securing the 25 years. it is not always possible to decisively nature, these long-term experiments and evolutionary effects of chronic experiment to 2020. identify the causes of change (the hold a twofold value for ecology. First, environmental change and the identity The ECT provides grants to facilitate Enabling new research at Moor so-called “attribution” effect). This the consequences of environmental of the underpinning processes. research on LTEs. We encourage House LTE. Dr Althea Davies, is because multiple environmental change may only be detectable over Society members and the wider University of St Andrews, was changes occur simultaneously and long periods of time, once impacts The Ecological Continuity Trust ecological community to explore awarded a grant to investigate the LTERs lack control and treatment plots on long-lived organisms, their (ECT) manages a register of long- LTEs as potential locations for their use of dung fungal spores as a proxy which differ only in their exposure to a biotic interactions and intraspecific term experiments in the UK, and research. for past grazing regimes at Moor single environmental variable. adaptation (including evolution) works to promote them within House. This project will use the the academic community. A major Eligible for discrete research grazing history at Moor House LTE to challenge for long-term environment- projects, site upgrades and travel quantitatively assess the relationship manipulation experiments is costs associated with presenting between experimental grazing levels to maintain the continuity of LTE research at conferences, we and two proxy indicators of herbivory: experimental manipulations through award grants of up to £1000. More in pollen and coprophilic fungal spores. different phases of experimentation cases where emergency repairs are and external support. The ECT required or bridging funds necessary Student project funding. PhD endeavours to provide support to to maintain the integrity of the student, Mounir Takriti, of Lancaster long-term ecology experiments during experiment. Recent awards have University was awarded funds to challenging times. In this article, included: undertake an investigation into we showcase one such experiment: seasonal variations in stable isotope the Buxton Climate Change Impacts Bridging funds for the Cors Fochno signatures of methane at Moor House. experiment. Recently listed on the Tim King clearing scrub at Aston Rowant Laboratory. The ECT have recently agreed to provide bridging funds LTE register, this experiment was Securing the future of the Aston We want to see current and future established on a Welsh lowland generations of ecologists utilising to meet the costs of climate change Rowant succession experiment. manipulations at BCCIL, facilitating bog in 2010 to investigate peatland The ECT funded the re-fencing of the UK’s valuable LTE resource. Go response to climate change. Focusing online to find out more about eligible the launch of a second phase of this LTE (the Lena Ward Plots), research and management at BCCIL. on the combined impacts of drought which was established in 1969. This sites and how we can support your and warming, Cors Fochno is a experiment investigates how burning research. globally unique experiment, as it or rotavating chalk grassland prior to www.EcologicalContinuityTrust.org Jason Fridley (left) and Phil Grime. Phil established the Buxton experiment includes both long-term warming and in 1993 and Jason has been a key collaborator for the last 10 years.
20 21 BES Bulletin british ecologicalsociety.org VOL 48:2 | August 2017
The seasonal warming A general view of the Buxton Climate microcosms at Buxton Change Impacts Laboratory site
at BCCIL have made a major responses of grassland communities further bolstering community-level be to integrate responses to climate at BCCIL, safeguarding Phil’s legacy. Buxton Climate Change contribution to our understanding of to longer growing seasons may be resistance. Moreover, we have change that occur aboveground The management of BCCIL has Impacts Laboratory (BCCIL) how grasslands respond to, and can predictable on the basis of functional also recently unearthed below- in plants and belowground in soil recently been passed on from Phil resist climate changes. trait measurements. Furthermore, a ground responses in bacterial microorganisms. We have recently to a new steering committee, which BCCIL is the longest running climate part of the community-level resistance and fungal communities to the received a research grant from the will use the funds to maintain the manipulation applied to a natural Community composition and to climate change observed at Buxton climate manipulations. Molecular Natural Environment Research Council climate treatments and co-ordinate ecosystem in the UK (and the second ecosystem process rates of many may be explained by species sorting fingerprinting applied to these that will fund the first step in this research activities. We thank Phil for oldest manipulation, globally). It plant communities have been shown over soil-depth microhabitats that communities indicates that the work; to investigate how climate- his colossal contribution in keeping was established in 1993 by Professor to respond rapidly to experimental exist within each plot, with the dominant microbial taxa may be driven evolution in soil microorganisms the site going for 24 years and for his Phil Grime, with assistance from climate manipulation. In contrast, heterogeneity in soil-depth providing climatic generalists, with only will influence plant-soil interactions trust in us to look after it. We look the Health and Safety Executive, at Buxton, there was little change refugia for plant species with a wide limited response to the climate. and ecosystem processes. forward to the challenge, and invite who now provide access to the in the first 13 years; the grassland variety of climatic tolerances. In contrast, subordinate taxa were the ecological community to join us in experimental site, and from Jason ecosystem resisted the effects of subject to pronounced changes in The new phase of investigations at shaping phase two at BCCIL! Fridley, whose research project has chronic climate manipulations. These species-level effects, observed relative abundance with simulated BCCIL is only possible because of the supported the site over the past 10 Subsequently, observations of plant in the plant community, are not the climate change. foresight of Professor Phil Grime, who If you are interested in conducting years. The treatments (including species abundance within 10 x whole story and perhaps represent established the site, and who has research at BCCIL please contact one summer drought, increased rainfall 10 cm permanent quadrats have only the tip of the ecological iceberg. These exciting results set the stage been responsible for the continuity of the new steering committee: and winter warming) were designed revealed evidence for “adaptive” Intraspecific (population-level) for a second phase of investigations of the climate treatments, and their Dr Raj Whitlock based on the best available climate changes in species abundance that responses to simulated climate at BCCIL. Many scientific questions monitoring, through almost a quarter [email protected] change projections at the time – but are associated with plant functional change have also been detected at at BCCIL remain open, and could of a century. As well as informing our remain highly relevant today. They traits. For instance, it was recently Buxton in plants, including both be addressed in “phase two”. For understanding of ecological responses Dr Emma Sayer have been applied continuously to shown that the warming treatment phenotypic and genetic changes. instance, we know almost nothing to climate change, this achievement [email protected] 3 x 3 m calcareous grassland plots at Buxton has favoured plant species These tantalising responses regarding invertebrate responses to has created scientific opportunities for 24 years in a fully randomised with taller canopies and faster suggest that individual species simulated climate change at the site, for a future generation of ecologists. Dr Karl Evans block design including control plots. resource assimilation rates. These may be able to resist change either above- or belowground. One The funds provided by the ECT enable [email protected] Regular surveys of the vegetation findings raise the possibility that the through evolutionary adaptation, likely component of “phase two” will the continuity of the manipulations
22 23 BES Bulletin british ecologicalsociety.org VOL 48:3 | September 2017
SPECIAL INTEREST GROUP NEWS If you have ideas for workshops on water quality issues, or consider FWW Activities with Citizen the day or would like to be involved, participant engagement dynamics. Science SIG: please contact hannah.grist@sams. For example, what training or techniques and the landscapes roe deer, muntjac and even red deer, ac.uk. We would encourage people experimental factors lead to more or Citizen science project to discover at all levels to get in touch to share less long-term engagement? they created right into the heart of the urban ‘Lost Woods’ & ‘Shadows’: catchment. your ideas and experience. Booking • David Harpley - A History of for the event will open shortly, and be Over the next one and a half days, With exciting discoveries now flowing Foulshaw Moss *The two major events this autumn available via the BES website. We are four teams took to the ambitious task from the community-based research pleased to say that we have funding of outlining a piece of research fit for • Chris Spencer – Peat bogs of the will be on Saturday 7th October, we are building towards two final Solway Moss with the National Trust at their to offer free or partially funded places future publication. Along the way, sharing and celebration events for this including travel and accommodation fuelled by a steady flow of coffee • Richard Lindsay - Land-use change Peak District ‘Moorland Discovery year. One, on Saturday 7th October, Recent events: Centre’ at Longshaw, and the other for a limited number of citizen science and biscuits, the teams refined their on Cumbria raised bogs from 1840 will be held with the National Trust volunteers, so please get in touch if approach and worked to overcome to the present and the changing at Sheffield Hallam University, will at their Peak District ‘Moorland Peatlands for Birds: The Peatlands you would be interested in applying the challenges inherent to data understanding of raised bogs and be in the evening of Monday 27th Discovery Centre’ at Longshaw, group ran a major 3-day conference in for one of these places. generated through citizen science. conservation November. Both events are free so and the other at Sheffield Hallam Sheffield in September on ‘Peatlands The addition of two collective sessions just turn up. More details will, be University, will be in the evening for Birds: Fens, Mires, & Bogs - • Bill Shannon – A history of peat that included all participants was announced as they are available and of Monday 27th November. Both Re-constructing Peat Landscapes exploitation at Angerton Moss Freshwater and citizen important to take the edge off the updates will be on: http://www. events are free so just turn up. More in Uplands & Lowlands’. This from the sixteenth-century dispute competitive element which is often ukeconet.org/events.html details will, be announced as they conference, one of the ‘Wilder Visions’ maps to the twentieth–century moss Science: A research questioned during such events. Key are available and updates will be on: series which is happening over the litter works As always, offers of support, challenges were identified - such as http://www.ukeconet.org/events.html hackathon next few years, addressed key issues assistance and displays etc are all handling missing values and the need of how Britain’s peatlands could or Check the website www.ukeconet. welcome, just email Ian Rotherham Ian Thornhill to screen for errors and omissions. org and the Peatlands SIG page on As always, offers of support, However, the Hackathon also threw should be managed and restored to in the first instance: After a blisteringly hot day, the BES website for booking and as assistance and displays etc are all up some opportunities such as provide future resilient, sustainable [email protected] on the eve of the 25th May, 18 more details are announced. Email welcome, just email Ian Rotherham learning about nutrient pollution, habitats at landscape levels. Bringing budding freshwater researchers [email protected] if you want Shadow Woods & Ghosts in the first instance: better understanding one’s ability to together landowners, managers, and practitioners met up for the to get involved. on peatlands landscapes: [email protected] thrive under pressure, and sharing practitioners and key academics, Freshwater and Citizen Science the event examined ecology and how other citizen science projects Our call for new blood to get An exciting project involving students Research Hackathon, at Oxford conservation in relation to the engage volunteers to generate data. involved in the Peatlands SIG has and the public is happening around Brookes University’s Harcourt Hill restoration of both upland and lowland borne fruit! our ‘Shadow Woods’ and peatlands Campus. The event, hosted by the Much of this agrees with anticipated peatlands specifically for birds. We are theme; an on-going programme of Earthwatch Institute with support outcomes from a well-scoped grateful to our partners such as the We now have five new and early– activities this year with the National from the BES Citizen Science SIG, hackathon event but there is still RSPB for their support career members volunteered for our Trust and Eastern Moors Partnership sought to interrogate the FreshWater much to learn about the intensive and sponsorship. committee and so look out for a lot to explore the palynological and Watch project in order to meet three workshop format. For example, more social media, on-line discussions palaeo-ecological evidence for objectives: feedback from participants identified and the rest. shadow woods and for landscape Learning with the citizens several areas for improvement • Highlight the opportunities and Upcoming activities: transformations from woodland to including a need to better balance Red Deer – the grazing mega-fauna Hannah Grist challenges to freshwater ecology heath and mire. the needs of practitioners vs. History & Heritage of the Bogs of peatlands: and citizen science We are inviting all contributions to researchers, and that the event may & Peatlands of Cumbria and The website www.ukeconet.org and This continuing regional project, a forthcoming BES Citizen Science be better served if combined with a the surrounding areas: With the the Peatlands SIG page on the BES • Carry out a preliminary analysis one of the longest running citizen Special Interest Group Meeting, training element such as R coding. Cumbria Boglife project including website will have more details as using citizen science data that could science studies of its kind anywhere, Learning with the Citizens. Held at Nevertheless, each of the four teams Natural England, Solway Wetlands information comes in, and all will be lead to a peer-reviewed publication is building to as series of community the Dove Marine Laboratory on the presented very credible studies that Partnership, Cumbria Wildlife Trust presented at the two events* and this workshops and field days and two beautiful Newcastle coastline, we • Provide a networking opportunity ranged from the influence of land-use and others, this event will be held on will include new developments in our indoor public events. These will are turning citizen science on its for early to mid-career freshwater upon turbidity, to evaluating training November 1st and 2nd 2017. There research linking peat bogs to human be showcasing deer-related work head, and asking “what would the ecologists and practitioners. and sampling protocols that lend will be a 1-day workshop / seminar history to uncover the forgotten use supported by our comprehensive on- volunteers do?” The one-day meeting themselves to long term engagement. and a 1-day field visit to explore the of sphagnum moss in wartime - the line ID guide and survey which can be on 19th November will bring together FreshWater Watch (FWW) is a global Crucially, the journey does not history and social or cultural heritage ‘Healing Harvest of the Peatlands’. viewed on: http://www.ukeconet.org/ citizen science participants and citizen science project with, as the end here and it is testimony to the of the peat bogs in and around This is again with volunteers at the deer-identification.html organisers for a fun day of activities, name suggests, a focus on freshwater participant’s enthusiasm that peer- Cumbria. The events will be based at National Trust. workshops and more to see where quality. Funded through the HSBC reviewed publications are anticipated. Burgh-By-Sands and we have a great In these studies of red deer in the exploring ideas together can lead. Water Programme, FWW projects line-up of speakers: Peak District moors and bogs, into The day aims to be relaxed, engaging were set up across some 25 different A huge thanks go to all of the • Keeley Spate – Setting the scene Sheffield and across South Yorkshire and open to everyone with an cities. Each project subscribed to Hackathon participants: Tom August, with the current restoring projects to Thorne Moors near Doncaster, we interest in citizen science and how it a common core methodology, to Amelia Fitch, Catherine Gutmann- are involving local citizen scientists in which locally specific parameters Roberts, Matthew Hill, Joe Huddart, • Ian Rotherham – History and develops in the future. There will also recording and monitoring work. This were added, depending on the local Sally Hyslop, Natalie Lamb, James heritage in the bog – examples from be an informal reception the night is supported by involvement of local research question. This presented Lyon, Eleonor Mackay, Kate Mathers, Cumbria and the surrounding areas before, including dinner and a pub newspapers, radio and other media quiz, which everyone is encouraged the Hackathon participants with the Chloe Orland, Hannah Robson, Phil • Andre Berry - An introduction to involve and engage local people. to attend. option of exploring an environmental Taylor, Sarah West and Fred Windsor. to hand peat cutting tools and Sheffielders for example, are reporting dataset in order to consider global
24 25 BES Bulletin british ecologicalsociety.org VOL 48:3 | September 2017
Connecting with who reminded us of the importance Presentations are available on Past event: of involving people in science, with SlideShare http://bit.ly/2v3UVNM and Get Involved the Crowd conference his presentation Power to the People: a summary of the Collaborative Wish- BESAG Temporary Rivers & Streams Nature and science benefit when list Wall is in a GoogleDoc http://bit. meeting (45 participants) BESAG would like to invite suggestions from the ecological community Lucy Robinson people are engaged. ly/2uaw10e. 6 April 2017 Nottingham for aquatic themed workshops, inter-SIG meetings and short conferences/ This cross-disciplinary conference courses, for inclusion in our next budget. For example, in the past we have In between the packed schedule of The Connecting with the Crowd Rachael Stubbington explored best practice and new provided financial support for keynote speakers, room hire and assisted with talks we had plenty of time for coffee, conference was organised by Kath perspectives on crowdsourcing Temporary rivers (including advertising. If you would like to suggest themes or topics for discussion for discussion, networking and two Castillo, Lucy Robinson, John Tweddle citizen science. intermittent rivers and ephemeral future meetings please contact Nessa O’Connor ([email protected]) or Lee interactive formats to build capacity and Evelyn Jones at The Natural streams) fluctuate between flowing, Brown ([email protected]). Crowdsourcing projects and for crowdsourcing. Demonstrations History Museum London, supported pool and dry states, making their platforms abound, involving over at the Project Showcase gave by Michael Pocock at the Centre for instream habitats more dynamic and The BESAG is an active network of aquatic ecologists whose interests tend one million citizen scientists in the delegates the chance to meet Ecology and Hydrology. We’d like to variable than those in equivalent rivers to overlap with several other SIGs and we are keen to develop cross-cutting analysis or interpretation of images platform developers and project thank the sponsors of this event for with year-round flow. These dynamic activities. BESAG is growing and so is our following on social networks - we and data online. This conference owners to discuss in detail how their support; the Arts and Humanities ecosystems have recently been now have more than 2000 followers on Twitter (@BES_AquaEco)! aimed to showcase the latest tools, projects are created and view Research Council through their recognized as common, biodiverse, and For the latest news, future meetings and job advertisements you can follow us technologies and approaches available demonstrations of how different Constructing Scientific Communities ecologically valuable. From a practical on Twitter: @BES_AquaEco (#Thursdayjobday, #BESaquatic), on Facebook: to engage and collaborate with platforms work. The Collaborative project and the British Ecological management point of view there is BES-Aquatic Ecology Group and you can join our mailing list by emailing diverse audiences online, and to invite Wish-list Wall allowed delegates Society through their Special Interest considerable uncertainty surrounding Ronni ([email protected]). You can also find us on the BES delegates to help shape the future to share their ideas, questions and Group for Citizen Science. our understanding of temporary website in “Membership & Community”, “Special Interest Group”. of crowdsourcing. wishes for future functionality on rivers. We held a workshop to allow crowdsourcing platforms. A huge thank you also goes to UK (and international) temporary Hosted by the Natural History the speakers and demonstrators river researchers and managers to Museum, the day opened with an who made this such a successful come together and share current excellent keynote from Professor Chris event, and we look forward to more research and practice, exchange Lintott from the University of Oxford’s collaborations in future! views, and identify opportunities for Zooniverse team, who set the scene collaboration. The meeting’s UK focus for the day by reflecting on Planets, was complemented by invited speakers Penguins and People: Lessons from a and participants from other European decade of citizen science. countries. Dr Thibault Datry (IRSTEA, Lyon, France) presented research focused on intermittent river ecology, with a particular emphasis on how flow British Ecological Society intermittence influences aquatic and terrestrial community and Aquatic Group (BESAG) Early metacommunity dynamics at multiple Career Researcher Award: spatial and temporal scales. Dr Petr Pařil (Masaryk University, We are pleased to announce the Brno, Czech Republic) presented Delegates shared their ideas on a collaborative Winner of the 2017 BESAG Early results from the BIODROUGHT wish-list wall. Career Researcher’s Award: Daniel project, an extensive Central European © Natural History Museum Wohlgemuth. Daniel’s research research initiative using taxonomic aims to improve the understanding We were pleased to welcome speakers and functional aspects of aquatic of the ecosystem consequences from the USA, France, Belgium and macroinvertebrate communities as of biodiversity and environmental the UK, who delivered a varied bioindicators of recent dry phases in change and he recently finished his programme of 17 presentations temporary rivers and streams. PhD at University of Southampton. and speed talks. They shared their Daniel was awarded the prize in We highlighted areas requiring further experiences of developing and September at the BESAG annual discussion and debate, reviewed running crowdsourcing projects, ©Natural History Museum meeting and delivered a keynote current scientific thinking, examined showcased the different platforms and lecture about his research. The current research and identified future looking for a job in AQUATIC ECOLOGY technologies available, and reflected Best practices and lessons learned award is made in recognition of research priorities. Round-table on the participant experience and gathered from the speakers, and excellent research, as demonstrated discussions explored the hydrological #Job, #Postdoc, #PHD, #Internship... Find the strategies to maximise the impacts from speakers at a symposium at by first-authored publications in and morphological parameters that of crowdsourcing. We learned a huge freshest job offers in marine & freshwater ecology the Citizen Science Association internationally relevant journals, to are important for understanding amount and took home many lessons conference in Minnesota just three a scientist who is no more than 8 temporary river ecology, which was a every Thursday on Twitter. learned from research, technological weeks before, will be collated into a years after the start of their PhD and very useful exercise and will provide and engagement perspectives. best practice guide for crowdsourcing working on a relevant area of marine valuable UK input to a European COST @BES_AquaECO #Thursdayjobday so please keep an eye out for that later and/or freshwater ecosystem science. Action: http://www.cost.eu/COST_ The conference closed with an this year! inspiring keynote from Professor Dan Do not forget to nominate new Actions/ca/CA15113 Tag us to share your job offers! Rubenstein from Princeton University candidates next year.
26 27 BES Bulletin VOL 48:3 | September 2017 Would you like to Donald Neil McVean be the next Editor 2 March 1926 – 14 May 2017 of the Bulletin?
Donald McVean was one of the great We are looking for a new The Editor is responsible for producing an pioneering Scottish ecologists who annual budget, controlling expenditure and began his career in 1952 with the newly ensuring the Bulletin is distributed to members formed Nature Conservancy. A brilliant editor for our membership field botanist, he specialised on upland on time. They will report to the Membership vegetation studies and during the 1950s magazine, the Bulletin. Services Committee and work with the undertook surveys throughout the Highlands Associate Editor, Book Reviews Editor and The Bulletin was created 45 years ago to provide and as far afield as St. Kilda, North Rona the Communications Manager in producing a channel for communication between the and Iceland. His early collaboration with each issue. Duncan Poore and subsequently with Society and its members and, despite the advent Derek Ratcliffe on a new classification of the internet and the panoply of social media, it The time commitment is approximately 5 days system of upland vegetation culminated in still serves that function and is greatly valued by per issue plus attendance at selected committee the 1962 book “Plant Communities of the the membership. The challenge facing the new Scottish Highlands” a benchmark in our meetings and attendance at our Annual understanding of vegetation communities editor will be to continue to exploit the strengths Meeting, held over 3 days in December. The and an early precursor to the NVC. of the printed word while integrating the salary is c. £6,000 per annum, plus out of pocket Bulletin into the broad range of communication expenses. The position is based at the post Donald graduated from Glasgow University methods available. with an agricultural degree in 1946 holder’s institution or home. followed by a first class honours in Botany The Bulletin is published quarterly and is in 1949. He continued his studies with a The successful candidate will demonstrate an PhD at Cambridge on the ecology of Alder distributed to all our members. It contains excellent understanding of and connection with supervised by Sir Harry Godwin and Dr. engaging news and information about the the ecological community, have solid editorial Alexander Watt, two of the most notable Society’s key activities of the Society, as well as experience and the ability to engagingly botanists of the time. His work on alder was news, feature articles, book reviews and opinion communicate with a diverse community. published in seven classic papers in the pieces that reflect what’s happening in our Journal of Ecology and in 1953 he started a detailed study on the ecology of Scots pine. ecological community. If you are interested in this position, please send But Donald was not just a field botanist. your CV and a letter, stating why you want to He had a questing scientific mind and The Editor is responsible for determining editorial be the next Bulletin Editor and how you would employed rigorous experimental techniques direction, soliciting articles, collaborating on its develop the Bulletin in the next 3 years, to in support of his work, for example on the development, assembling copy, editing to house Richard English – Communications Manager: establishment of native tree species on style and overseeing design and printing. A [email protected]. highly degraded soils. His other classic crucial part of the Editor’s role is to set the tone book is “Ecology and Land Use in Upland for the magazine; the current Editor has fostered Scotland”. Co-authored with Jim Lockie its If you would like an informal conversation chapters on erosion, muirburn, hill farming, an informal and relaxed style, where contributors about the role, feel free to contact Richard sport and forestry remain as relevant today have been encouraged to express their own English or the outgoing Editor, Alan Crowden as they were in 1969. opinions and disagree with one another (or the [email protected]. In the 1960s Donald became a Senior Society) provided it is done in a friendly and Fellow at the Australian National University constructive way. in Canberra where he studied alpine vegetation in the Snowy Mountains and on expeditions to Mt. Wilhelm in Papua New Guinea. He returned to Scotland in 1970 and undertook international consultancy work, specialising in land use advice in such diverse places as Chile, Pakistan, For more information, visit: Lesotho and the Andaman Islands. On his retirement to Argyll Donald continued his www.britishecologicalsociety.org/ experiments with ecological restoration and was always available to fellow ecologists about/vacancies for advice and inspiration.
Neil MacKenzie Donald McVean in the pinewood at Beinn Eighe National Nature Reserve, 1990 DEADLINE 17 NOVEMBER 2017
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tions c Refle Photograph byGeorgePeterken Old growthinLadyParkWood. on long-term
George Peteken recording at Lady Park Wood BES Bulletin british ecologicalsociety.org VOL 48:3 | September 2017
Woodland Development: a long-term study of A beautifully illustrated new book by George Peterken and Lady Park Wood by George Peterken and Edward Mountford is published by CABI (2017) and is Edward Mountford surveys the collective efforts of ecologists available in paperback and hardback. You can order the book with a 20% discount off the retail to record the changes in a mixed woodland in the Wye Valley that price by visiting www.cabi.org and searching in the “bookshop” section. Simply enter the code has been allowed to grow without human intervention since 1944. CCBES20 at checkout to claim your discount.
George offers his own view on the key and the Forestry Commission have wider public have increasingly been and Richard Bradshaw. The recorded sprinkling of journalists, broadcasters responses of people to and through features emerging from the study: generally been short-term and both involved, either through participatory impoverishment of ground flora in and a former Deputy Prime Minister science with long-term research sites is have been disrupted by repeated re- schemes, such as the butterfly Lady Park has lessons for nature round the wood, and to each I have becoming a well-worn track. In a report of their Nature Conservation organisations. Projects thus survive transects, or through artistic projects conservation, but the records have tried to convey my understanding and Nature Reserves committee, the more by the interest and enthusiasm (e.g., Brodie et al 2016) and science- also contributed to Continent-wide of the wood as dynamic community With both artists and other visitors, I British Ecological Society recorded of individuals, who may, however, lose based publications for a general meta-analyses of floristic change in of individuals embodying both have made no apology for seeing and ‘with pleasure’ that the Forestry interest, gain promotion, retire and, audience (e.g., Foster 2014, Holmes temperate woodlands. predictable change and unforeseen explaining woods in human terms. Commission had ‘already set aside let’s face it, die. and Likens 2016). events by touching real life examples I still enjoy woods as benign and two areas of old woodland, one in the So, what is the value of Lady Park and waving around actual records pleasant places, but also recognise that High Meadow Woods by the banks of If a woodland project is to become Lady Park has occasionally revealed and other long-term permanent plot of past conditions. Many, perhaps they are war zones where thinning is the Wye, the other in the New Forest long-term it must outlast the originator. something that is genuinely new, studies? After 40 years, I think they most, leave with their view and a slow-motion struggle to the death; [which would] be left completely Responsibility must be handed to such as the tendency for wych elm may lie more in the opportunities they understanding of ‘natural’ woods individual trees ‘duck and weave’ in undisturbed as permanent forest successors like a baton in a relay, to split into fast- and slow-turnover afford for personal enlightenment changed in ways that would not have an attempt to resist the literal dying reserves’ (Journal of Ecology, 1944, 32, and at each pass the baton may be populations after the arrival of elm and what might broadly be called been possible with, say, a PowerPoint of the light; and some small trees get p.55). The Wye valley site was Lady dropped. Even when a project does disease, and it may yet provide an ‘outreach’. presentation of the -3/2 thinning rule lucky when space is unexpectedly Park Wood, which Oxford University’s endure for decades it must face the opportunity to understand ash disease and a disquisition on gap creation vacated near them. Tree species forest ecologist, Dr Eustace Jones, certainty that ecological ideas and against a background of over 70 years “…I realised that trees could be have characters. Thus, for example, individuals with a known past; dead rates. The one visitor who vigorously had proposed in 1938 when the preoccupations will change and records of individual trees. Generally, challenged what I was saying was beech acts like the investment Forestry Commission first offered to the risk that the original objectives repeated tree measurements have stumps had an identity; that 35 years banking fraternity in national life. ago a particular tree stood just there. Michael Heseltine, and we debated set aside reserves for the long-term will become irrelevant. Recording confirmed the findings from quicker the issue by pointing at real trees. It dominates in the sense that it study of ecological processes. Dr Jones methodologies that looked thorough methods: that change in natural stands Suddenly I could appreciate a wood expands relentlessly and controls the as a community.” [My only disappointment was that the established baseline transects in late and comprehensive at the outset will is a balance between predictable film crew switched off their camera, performance of most other species, but 1944, along which he mapped and look incomplete or worse later on. change resulting from competition and In personal terms, Lady Park was a because debate was not in the script.] is prone to unpredictable accidents, measured all trees and shrubs until And, much of what might eventually unpredictable change brought about by revelation. After years of superficial Another visitor was Jaboury Ghazoul, without which it would take over the 1960. After a hiatus lasting a decade, be revealed can be, and usually has disturbances; and that trends towards contact with woods all over Britain, who later explained natural woodland wood and push other species to the responsibility for recording was passed been, discovered by chronosequence dominance by long-lived, shade- I had a clear and detailed picture of dynamics in his Forestry, A Very Short margins. It is such perceptions that to the Nature Conservancy and its or other quicker, indirect approaches. bearing species are thereby restrained the geography of British woods and Introduction by using Lady Park as bring a smile of understanding successors. Now, after seven decades Long-term projects are also ill- by the diversifying impacts of their many forms; and I had routinely an example. to visitors who do not want to be of recording, and with the material adapted to official practices, which disturbances. We have refined, and will interpreted the woods I visited in familiar with the technicalities of help of the Forestry Commission, we limit opportunities for financial continue to refine, our understanding terms of their past and based my “…beech acts like the investment ecological research. have summarised how the wood has support: the typical ‘short, fat’ of these processes. Thus, disease (elm management recommendations on banking fraternity in national life.” developed and the lessons we think we funding arrangements are totally disease from 1971) and drought (1976), such interpretations. Even so, I still We will be reaching out further. As I have learned for nature conservation, inappropriate to the ‘long, thin’ needs not wind, have so far been the main understood woods as collectives of near-to-nature forestry and re-wilding. of long-term studies, and the open- disturbing factors and, in any given write, a group of professional artists trees, and I only realised this on the known as The Arborealists are starting Our account offers a welter of detail ended, unpredictable character of period, large trees tend to live and day when, standing in Lady Park References leavened by frequent illustrations long-term studies sits uneasily with small trees tend to die; but it will be a a project in Lady Park which will, I holding the charts and measurements Brodie, N., Goodrich, C. and Swanson, F.J. (Peterken and Mountford, 2017). the bureaucratic need for predictable long time before we can say whether hope, enable us to stage exhibitions made by earlier recorders, I realised where their artistic response to (2016). Forest Under Story. University of outcomes by a fixed date. Small the disturbances of the last 70 years that trees could be individuals with Washington Press, Seattle and London. “If a woodland project is to wonder, then, that such studies often have been representative, or assess ‘natural’ woodland will be set beside a known past; dead stumps had an Foster, D.R. (editor) (2014). Hemlock, a become long-term it must outlast die prematurely, or merely smoulder the long-term significance of, say, small our scientific understanding. To the originator” identity; that 35 years ago a particular my ecologist’s eye, most artistic forest giant on the edge. Yale University indefinitely in the undergrowth of trees that ‘get lucky’ tree stood just there. Suddenly I could Press, New Haven and London. research and nature conservation and survive. representations of trees and woodland Long-term, permanent-plot woodland appreciate a wood as a community. Ghazoul, J. (2015). Forestry, a very short endeavour. reveal the impacts of people or the studies such as this are fraught with Potentially, the main research value responses of woodland to past impacts, introduction. Oxford University Press, difficulties. Rothamsted and the Park This ‘lightbulb moment’ has been Oxford. Nevertheless, some permanent-plot will come when the long-term repeated many times down the years so it will be interesting to see what the Grass plots are the exception to prove Holmes, R.T. and Likens, G.E. (2016). woodland studies have been pursued record is used as a basis for other with visitors. I have shown classes artists make of a wood from which the the rule that institutions are unreliable energetically for long enough to prove kinds of research. This has been influence of people has been largely Hubbard Brook, the story of a forest partners. At Lady Park, Oxford of ecology and forestry students, ecosystem. Yale University Press, New their value, e.g., the Park Grass plots in demonstrated at Lady Park through removed. Lady Park has also been used Haven and London. University no longer does forestry; the members of nature conservation and Britain and the Hubbard Brook studies the dendrochronological studies of forestry organisations, professional as a source of ideas and inspiration for British Ecological Society has shown in the USA; and long-term studies in beech and oak by Liam Cavin and the actors and artists who will enliven Peterken, G. and Mountford, E. (2017). no interest since 1945; the research meetings, foreign visitors and members Woodland development, a long-term study general have come into their own in Alistair Jump, and the assessment of of the general public, as well as a the trees and woodland theme of the of Lady Park Wood. CABI, Wallingford. priorities of the Nature Conservancy the face of environmental change. The carbon sequestration by Karen Hale Wye Valley River Festival of 2018. The
32 33 BES Bulletin british ecologicalsociety.org VOL 48:3 | September 2017
DIVERSITY Particularly during term time, stress is commonplace for The role of TF can be an attractive alternative for academics TFs, although stress is a problem across the HE sector; who do not want the pressures of heading a research the University and College Union 2008 report on stress in group, and having to meet grant and publication targets. FOCUS ON academia makes for some frightening reading (Court and Additionally, for those who enjoy teaching, it can be a Kinman 2008). There can be a temptation for line managers fulfilling and rewarding career route. However, universities to overburden TF staff with administrative tasks that need that employ TFs have a responsibility to ensure that it is not necessarily be completed by an academic; one colleague just that – a fully supported career route – and not just an TEACHING-ONLY noted that they sometimes feel like “one of the highest paid opportunity to employ a dogsbody to do the tasks that no producers of spreadsheets in the university”. This can be one else wants to do. The Professional Societies, too, have a particularly problematic where universities do have clear role to play in ensuring that TFs remain a part of the wider CONTRACTS TF promotion criteria, which require evidence of some form academic community. Otherwise we risk marginalising of scholarship. When queried, colleagues estimated that what is an increasingly significant and valuable proportion they are only able to spend approximately 10% of their of the sector, at a time when the ‘student experience’ is time working on scholarship activities, because of their more important than ever before. administrative burdens. Zenobia Lewis | University of Liverpool | @Zen_of_Science There has been improvement. Increasingly institutions are recognising teaching excellence through the introduction In recent years, UK Higher Education has seen a substantial And herein lies one of the main problems of TF contracts. of teaching awards, and there are similarly national increase in the numbers of Teaching Fellow (TF) or When I think of my TF colleagues across the country who awards and fellowships, for example those provided by the University Teacher contracts. According to the Higher are on TF contracts, overwhelmingly they tend to be female. Higher Education Academy. Teaching conferences at both Education Statistics Agency (HESA), in the academic year Anecdotally, particularly for the duel-academic couples I institution and national levels are now more commonplace, 2006-07, 9% of academics in the UK were on a teaching-only know, it is almost always the female working in a TF-role, allowing TFs to network and share good practice. Even at contract. In 2015-16, the year for which the most recent data rather than the male. Is there a risk that we are moving research conferences, dedicated teaching symposia are are available, this figure had risen to 26%. I would suggest towards a culture of female teachers in the UK, and male starting to make an appearance. The Professional Societies, that part of the reason for the development of TF contracts researchers? In addition, at some institutions TF contracts too, are beginning to recognise the importance of teaching; in the first place was the rising prominence of the UK are more likely to be fixed-term rather than permanent, a the main journal of the Federation of European Biochemical Research Excellence Framework (REF) in the last decade, key factor in the ‘leaky pipeline’ whereby women are more Societies, FEBS Open Bio, now has an education section, which assesses the research impact of UK universities. likely to leave academia as their career progresses and a and our own British Ecological Society has a Learning As a result, research arguably became prioritised over possible contributor to the gender pay gap. and Teaching Special Interest Group, and an Education teaching for academics, and thus universities began to Committee. employ more ‘teaching-only’ staff to relieve the perceived Related to this, some universities are lagging behind in burden on those in research-focussed roles. Potentially providing the recognition and support their TFs deserve, What about the elephant in the room? This year the UK the rise of the TF was further increased with the tripling compared to those on more traditional Teaching and government launched the Teaching Excellence Framework of university tuition fees to £9000 in 2012; changes in Research (TR) contracts. A 2009 survey of the institutional (TEF), a teaching-oriented counterpart to the REF which student expectations as a result of the fee increase forced policies of 104 UK institutions found that a third did not assesses universities based on a number of teaching universities to recognise that if they wanted research include teaching and learning criteria in their promotion metrics. The results of the first TEF assessment were ‘superstars’ to bring in REF success, they needed dedicated policies, and almost half did not have a route for promotion released in June; Universities self-reported against a teaching staff to make up the shortfall. to professor level, on the basis of teaching and learning number of metrics, and were awarded Gold, Silver, or (Cashmore 2009). The lack of recognition may explain why Bronze. One of the key aims of the TEF is to recognise and The role of a TF can be extremely variable. In most cases in some places, there can be a sense of isolationist ‘us and reward excellence in teaching, and academics hope that the it is an academic position, with a bias towards teaching- them’ for TR versus TF staff. Worse, in some institutions the exercise will help to elevate teaching in prestige, as REF related activities and administration, potentially with some George Bernard Shaw adage persists: ‘he who can, does; has done for research. aspect of management and a limited amount of scientific he who cannot, teaches’. A qualitative study suggested and/or pedagogical research. For some, the rise of the that a lack of understanding of the TF role can result in TR In my humble opinion, although TEF does have the TF pathway is a definite plus. If you enjoy teaching, it academics viewing the work of their TF counterparts as potential to revolutionise the way HE teaching is viewed provides the opportunity to focus on what you love, in an less important or prestigious (Tierney 2016). Such views in the UK, in its first iteration it has been a blunt and HE setting. All colleagues that I discussed this article with are foolhardy indeed given the continuing rise in student flawed instrument. The core metrics used are somewhat stated that one of the main advantages of a TF role was expectations, and the increasing importance of teaching sweeping, not helped by the fact that awards are the lack of stress associated with the pressure to obtain income to institutions. made at university level and therefore do not account research funding and produce publications. For some, there for departmental differences. Some metrics are highly is potentially increased flexibility on TF contracts, with There are some practical day-to-day disadvantages to subjective, based, for example, on inappropriate measures regards to parental leave and school holidays. TF pathways a TF contract. There tends to be less funding available of quality such as student evaluations of teaching. The can also go some way to solving the ‘two-body’ problem. If for Continuing Professional Development, particularly assessment also does not take into account variation References if external to the institution, and particularly to attend in the type and/or location of the institution. Can we one member of a couple focuses on a teaching role, while Cashmore A. 2009. Reward and Recognition of Teaching in Higher the other aims for a research-focused role, it can potentially research conferences. The latter has the potential to be really compare a post-92 university with a Russell Group Education: Institutional Policies and their Implementation (No. 2). problematic for teaching – if you are not up to date on the Institution (I would guess the latter would do worse The Higher Education Academy and GENIE Centre for Excellence in be easier for both to obtain jobs in the same place. Indeed, Teaching and Learning, University of Leicester. as one TF colleague put it, “we are both early career latest in your scientific discipline, can you reasonably be than the former)? Can we compare a London-based scientists, and ultimately I want to live with my partner in expected to be delivering up to date teaching? In a similar university with a Northern one in terms of their student Court S & Kinman G. 2008. Tackling stress in Higher Education. the same location, something I feel would be harder if we’d vein, for those who wish to maintain their research interests employability data? In its current format, far University and College Union, UK. to a small extent, the lack of time to apply for research from recognising and rewarding teaching quality, TEF both opted for research contracts. I feel without one of us Tierney AM. 2016. “More than just a Teaching Fellow”: The impact compromising a bit, it would be harder for us to be together funding can be an obstacle. It can be harder to deliver has largely met with only disparagement from the of REF and implications of TEF on life sciences teaching-focused - he loves research, I love teaching”. Honours and Masters research projects without funding and academic community. academics in UK HEIs. PhD Thesis, Durham University. research group support.
34 35 Left: The elkhorn coral Acropora palmata showing reduced coral cover and signs of degredation Digging Below: Healthy Acropora palmata deep in the Mexican Caribbean reef BES Bulletin british ecologicalsociety.org VOL 48:3 | September 2017
Interview with a scientist Lauren Ratcliffe | Associate Editor of the Bulletin Ameris Contreras is treading new ground with her research on the Mexican coral reefs. With very little information currently available on this ecosystem, Ameris hopes to change this, and make this information accessible to all.
Ameris’ interest in the Mexican Ameris is continuing this research important for knowing the health of taking care of the natural resources contact with people in UNAM, Puerto Carribean first started during her thread for her PhD at the University the reef. Once I know this, I can begin of the reefs are using scientific Joining forces Morelos, who were working in the Bachelor degree studies, where of Bremen, where she is now working to understand the main drivers and information to inform their decisions.” One of the most surprising finds of same research field, and even asking she studied the wetlands in the with the aim to conserve, manage and how to manage them”. says Ameris. “There are different Ameris’ research so far was the lack of the same questions. Ameris tells me: Mexican part of the Mesoamerican generate science based information on organisations and institutions working comprehensive information on the reef “I feel very lucky to have met these There is also the big question: ‘Why biological corridor. It was here that the Mexican coral reef system. on coral reef monitoring, but there is system. Some reefs have been heavily people, and that they have such nice are some reefs healthier than others?’ she uncovered the true extent of the not a coral reef monitoring strategy in researched with lots of information datasets and are willing to share them deficit in environmental information place. So, the aim of my study would and work together.” Drivers of change Some reefs within the Mexican known about their community on this ecosystem and others. Not be to set the basis for a conceptually Caribbean are super well conserved structure and ecology, but many only is there very little information Knowing the key factors influencing designed coral reef monitoring system. I really enjoyed speaking to and resilient with high coral cover. others have never been studied. available, but also no strategy in place the state of the reefs, and whether And I would like to use geomatics to Ameris about her research, and am Whereas, there are other reefs that are to gather new information. these are acting regionally or locally, inform people about the reefs, not just Ameris elucidates: ‘There is encouraged to hear about her work seemingly not resilient at all. is a key focus of Ameris’ research. scientists or politicians.” information out there, but the actual digging deep to provide scientific “In Mexico, we don’t monitor the information and ensure safe Along with climate change, tourism is “Resilience is a huge thing in data where this comes from is status of our natural ecosystems. By using geomatics and displaying management of the seas. causing some of the biggest changes coral reef ecosystems. It is a very inaccessible. This is a huge problem, This is really important in terms of in the Mexican Carribean. The area information through maps, images but what can you do? There is interesting question and one that If you would like to find out more conservation and management. We receives more and more tourists or videos in order to help people information, for example, that in the could help uncover ways to better about Ameris’ research please take really know very little. It is a big each year, attracted by the cheap understand what is going on, Ameris 70s the coral cover was 40%, but it is manage the reefs,” Ameris explains. a look at the following links to her problem.” Ameris explains. prices, white sands and sea activities. hopes her research will have a wider now 20%. However, what you really webpages: “There is much to offer, but too much “It’s important to do something, and impact. “Maybe people don’t see the want are the data that show that.” “Mexico is incredibly important in destruction of the coral reefs, but pressure. The coastal vegetation is to do it now.” https://www.marum.de/en/education- terms of biodiversity.” instead see the importance of tourism “It’s also important to know whether steadily being replaced by hotels and career/GLOMAR/Ameris-Ixchel- to their businesses and life. However, the monitoring efforts are working While working on this project, Ameris residential areas.” Getting a general Contreras-Silva.html Informing decision makers they need to be aware that if the out. There are different projects that also struggled to find information overview of the actual status of the coral reef dies as is predicted, then are working on their own, but this is about the coral reefs in Mexico. And coral reef is very important in order to and society https://www.researchgate.net/profile/ everything will be over – the beautiful a really complicated way to attack the despite there being some specific set the baseline and identify how this Ameris_Contreras2 It is not clear whether decisions beaches, the tourism. It may only be a problem. It needs a joint effort.” instances of monitoring, the data status has changed over time. taken to manage the coral reefs and matter of a few years”. http://www.uni-bremen.de/de/fb2/ from these monitoring efforts was Ameris explains: “Right now, I am natural protected areas in the Mexican Building a community of researchers, forschung/marine-ecology.html inaccessible. “For me, this indicated doing a multi-temporal analysis of Caribbean are based upon up-to-date working together towards a goal can a really specific area of research I was the benthic cover in the Mexican and accurate information. “I would be crucial to success. Fortunately interested in working on” Ameris Caribbean. Benthic cover is really like to know if the people who are for Ameris, she managed to get in elucidates.
38 39 The role of ecological functioning and restoration in water, food and livelihood security and spiritual meaning is most obvious in arid, developing world settings where daily lives are closely connected with ecosystems. Impoundment in Alwar District, Rajasthan
Why should we care about ecosystem services? BES Bulletin british ecologicalsociety.org VOL 48:3 | September 2017
Reintegration with framed outcomes, overlooking wider of downstream properties. However, Answers to this provocative title may be obvious to the readership but inevitable ramifications across the principle was demonstrated ecosystem processes the inherently integrated socio- semi-quantitatively that the values of ecological system. nature, with potential generation of a of the Bulletin of the British Ecological Society. However, it is an We are walking ecosystem processes, range of co-benefits, are germane to connecting constantly and indivisibly However, when the emerging need management solutions across all, often important question to address if the values of nature are to be with supporting ecosystems as we is instead viewed as an ‘anchor non-obvious, policy areas. breathe, drink, eat and excrete. But service’ around which consequences embedded into the diversity of world views and decisions of society so too are our economic activities, for other interlinked ecosystem Who cares about ecology, or at least be they founded on the productivity services are assessed and where who should do for their own self- as a whole, forming the basis for a sustainable future. of fertile soils, exploiting flows of possible optimised, innovation to avert benefit as much as for tackling longer energy whether current or stored for unintended conflicts and instead to term sustainability aspirations? Well, millennia in fossil reserves, making contribute to ecosystem integrity and ultimately all of us. Ecosystem services use of water for cooling or as a vital continued flows of multiple societal provide us with a tool to understand What does ‘ecosystem services’ then not about ‘putting a price on nature’ purpose of the Millennium Ecosystem ingredient, accessing mined, fished or benefits are favoured. Innovative why, and to enter debate with others mean and why should it matter in for trading in the market. Ecosystem Assessment3, and at national scale felled raw materials, or emitting wastes ‘systemic solutions’, generally working sharing common resources. the context of a corporate boardroom, services do not value nature at all, of the UK National Ecosystem for natural processes to dissipate or with natural processes to promote transport planning meeting or pretty but provide a means to recognise the Assessment4. Both studies were reintegrate. In all of these metabolic the driving need but explicitly aiming much any other setting that ecologists generally underappreciated diversity of influential in raising awareness about activities, the handshake with nature to optimise benefits across the full References rarely attend? Part of our mission is benefits that it provides for humanity. the multiple values of ecosystems spectrum of ecosystem services and can be engineered synergistically 1 Millennium Ecosystem Assessment. to make what we might accept as and the need to integrate them across with natural regenerative capacities. their beneficiaries, might result in Secondly, valuation means more (2005). Ecosystems & Human Well- obvious equally so for those to whom it policy areas. Alternatively, generally through rather different strategies than the being: Synthesis Report. Island Press: than simple accountancy. The is currently not. And for that we need a oversight rather than intent, they generally narrowly framed solutions Washington DC. plurality of values provided by Restoration of ecosystems and their 2 language that is transferrable beyond may degrade the resources upon with which society has worked to date. Costanza, R. (2016, p.17). Ecosystem ecosystems differ qualitatively, and functions underpin emerging strategies Services in Theory and Practice. In: our specific interests. which future wellbeing depends. Our are often incommensurable with such as Natural Flood Management NFM, managed realignment and green Potschin, M., Haines-Young, R., Fish, focus may be narrowly framed, or It is here that the paradigm and narrow monetary figures (even if (NFM), founded on alteration, infrastructure are pertinent examples, R. and Turner, R.K. (eds). Routledge else may take account of the multiple Handbook of Ecosystem Services. language of ecosystem services is normalisation in monetary terms may restoration or use of landscape features working with or emulating natural Routledge: London. pp.15-24. 5 ramifications of every decision and so useful. In basic terms, ecosystem sometimes be useful for weighting in as a novel way to reduce flood risk . processes to promote ‘anchor services’ 3 action for the integrated socio- ibid. services are defined by the decision-making). Coastal defence is also increasingly supporting driving needs, whilst 4 ecological system of which we are part. UK NEA. (2011). UK National Ecosystem Millennium Ecosystem Assessment being addressed by a managed contributing to a spectrum of linked Assessment: Synthesis of the key Thirdly, it is a fallacy that we do not as “…the benefits people obtain from realignment approach that, rather The mission of reframing all spheres beneficial ecosystem service outcomes. findings. UNEP-WCMC, Cambridge. 1 already value ecosystems in decision- 5 ecosystems” . Various redefinitions than fighting ecosystem processes, of societal policies and practices Parliamentary Office of Science and making. We do so routinely, but Much of my work is in water and other Technology. (2011). Ecosystem Service and reclassifications have been entails controlled re-flooding of land around the finite carrying capacities generally with a default value of zero aspects of natural resource security in Valuation. POSTnote 378, Parliamentary advanced, along with periodic critique formerly ‘reclaimed’ under former of ecosystems, one of the central Office of Science and Technology, London. when their benefits are overlooked. the developing world, where perhaps that ‘ecosystem services’ can mean agricultural intensification policies planks of sustainable development, Helping people understand that the linkage between ecological and different things to different people. (particularly following the Second is daunting and requires robust ecological systems confer real values human regeneration is clearest. However, this is as much a strength as World War) to allow the regeneration of frameworks to articulate the multiple upon them is central to embedding However, the challenges are no less a weakness, serving to engage formerly former intertidal habitat that naturally interdependencies between humanity ecological understandings into pertinent, if often less evident, across disconnected sectors of society in disperses and dissipates energy and ecosystems. Ecosystem services decision-making processes, and vital the developed world. As one example, I dialogue. As Bob Costanza summarises, from stormy, tidal waters. In contrast achieve this by providing a dialogic for progress towards a sustainable was part of a research team addressing the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment with engineered solutions geared to framework framed in intuitive terms pathway of development. persistent flooding of a railway cutting provides “…an appropriately broad and narrowly focused outcomes, commonly meaningful to those outside the and downstream properties, related an appropriately vague definition” of with multiple unintended negative community of ecosystems specialists: significantly to overspill from a small ecosystem services spanning Natural, restored and impacts, restoration of ecological production of fibre, climate regulation, river carried in a narrow metal channel “…both the benefits people perceive, processes tends to generate a wealth purification of water, nutrient cycling, 2 emulated ecosystems over the cutting. Our solution entailed and those they do not” . Ecosystem of ecosystem service co-benefits such soil formation, habitat for wildlife, working with upstream landowners to services thereby expand awareness of as habitat for wildlife including fishery erosion regulation, or harvesting of The diverse roles that ecosystems play create detention basins calculated to the multiplicity of values conferred by recruitment, carbon sequestration and medicinal plants. This forms a basis in supporting human wellbeing are too detain floodwater during heavy rainfall nature, averting the narrow approach of nutrient cycling, with substantially for cross-sectoral debate, recognition ABOUT THE AUTHOR frequently overlooked, often leading and release it slowly to buffer river conventional economics or perceptions reduced maintenance costs. of potential conflicts and innovation of to their incremental degradation. flows, reducing flood peaks for both Dr Mark Everard is Associate that this is all ‘environmental stuff’ Whether recognised or not, our natural win-win solutions. inconsequential to other walks of life. We also routinely emulate nature in the railway cutting and downstream Professor of Ecosystem Services or semi-natural landscapes work for established management solutions. properties. This systemic solution, based at the University of the West of us 24/7 through capture, storage For example, we exploit ecological Anchor services and on restoring depleted natural processes, England (UWE Bristol), active since Valuing the services and purification of water resources, processes and services in secondary systemic solutions retained the grazing value of the land, the 1980s in the development and buffering extremes of drought and sewage treatment systems (principally coincidentally diversifying habitat for application of ecosystem services of nature flood, sequestering carbon, cycling trickling filters and activated sludge), Virtually all decision-making is wildlife and local amenity. Regrettably, internationally, and author of 22 nutrients, and providing aesthetic and Let us at this point head off three sustainable drainage systems and driven by an emerging need, be it the rail operator instead took the ‘safe’ books including the recent state-of- recreational opportunities amongst a common misunderstandings about other urban ‘green infrastructure’ a commercial aspiration, regulatory established option of installing a bigger the-art text Ecosystems Services: host of wider benefits. Assessment ecosystem services and their valuation. such as street trees that are not only target or public policy. Historically, pump to supplement the one already Key Issues (Routlede, 2017). of the scope and indicative values aesthetically pleasing but also clean these needs have been treated as operating 24/7, entailing higher energy Firstly, recognition and valuation of the that major habitat types confer upon [email protected] the air and slow run-off. overriding drivers of resource use and costs and still suffering rail flooding and services provided by ecosystems are humanity globally was a primary M: +44-(0)-7747-120019 management to achieve narrowly- accusations of contributing to flooding
42 43 BES Bulletin british ecologicalsociety.org VOL 48:3 | September 2017
Ecosystem-based solutions can add value and produce diverse co-benefits in most policy settings, for example as a more sustainable option than this box channel carrying a river over a flood-prone railway cutting.
44 45 BES Bulletin british ecologicalsociety.org VOL 48:3 | September 2017
I got to thinking about what would happen if we tried to manage communities and ecosystems in the same way as we manage our From Our Southern institutions. So, let’s, for instance, look at that mixed conifer forest – obviously the current stand structure and process Correspondent flows are inefficient and could be made to work much better. Let’s rearrange things so that all the pines are situated together. And let’s amalgamate all the spruces with the hemlocks since they currently form groupings that are too small. The birches have always been a bit of the odd-one-out, so we either need to get rid of them entirely or shove them in with the understory shrubs. Come to think of it, do we Richard Hobbs | University of Western Australia really need all the trees? Seems like a lot of redundancy there and we’re sure we could get the job done with 10% fewer. Likewise, we don’t know what My life recently has been weirdly dissonant, and this piece has all those roots hiding in dark places are actually contributing, so we can turned out to consist of a prelude that sketches one side of the make cutbacks there too. Especially if we reorganise some of the key functions. Photosynthesis doesn’t need dissonance followed by a longer rant on the other side. to happen at every canopy level. We can centralize that at the top. Nutrient properly. OK, sure – our institutions different. And staff carry on as best capture should be left to the N fixers, have to adapt to the changing world they can, probably with an increased and the other groups can concentrate Many good things are happening. I’ve All that stuff is why I keep going to backs to make sure that they are in in which we find ourselves, with level of grumbling into their beer and on leaf production. And having stray had quite a few PhD students finish work every day. Good colleagues, the clear if anything goes wrong and declining government support and talking wistfully about the old days. herbivores roaming around the forest in the last year, and have been able exchange of ideas, learning about the need to micromanage everything harsher economic realities. But there is an incredibly inefficient way of to work with an array of wonderful species and ecosystems. Who’d be in the name of financial accountability. And the weird thing is that are different ways of adapting, and cycling nutrients. That can probably be colleagues in different parts of the anything else other than an ecologist?! And if all this gets in the way of universities (and other organisations) not all involve focusing on bean automated, and we’ll get a committee world. I’ve also had the good fortune So, here’s where the dissonance (and actually getting anything done, well keep doing it! Here in Perth we have counting above all else. on that straight away. So, to minimize recently to be involved in organizing the rant) comes in. It seems that these that’s just too bad. It also betrays one university that has recently disruption to forest dwellers, we’re a special session at the Ecological days, there is less space in one’s life a steady erosion of trust between The standard modus operandi in amalgamated lots of smaller units into going to enact these changes tomorrow Society of America meeting in Portland for all this nice stuff. The reasons administrative layers and “the coal this brave new world inevitably bigger units, and another that is in the and don’t see the need for further that celebrated the contributions to for going to work every day become face”. And all of this seems to fly in involves the dreaded restructure – process of splitting bigger units into discussion. (Oh, sorry – we’ve just ecology made by Harold (Hal) Mooney increasingly obscured by crashing the face of what we know about how changing structures and processes smaller units. As far as I can see, there been informed by representatives from over his long and remarkable career. waves of other stuff. A lot of my time to make organisations work well. to make things work “better” or has never been a systematic appraisal the Forest Union for Creatures and Hal has been a wonderful colleague, seems to be taken up with the endless “more efficiently”. I’ve had the of whether restructures end up with Our universities, in particular, Trees that we can’t do that. So, we’ll friend and mentor for many years, and flow of absurdities thrown at me or dubious pleasure of being involved net positive or negative outcomes, aspire to be places of learning, but initiate a protracted and time-wasting it’s a great pleasure to acknowledge my staff and students by the soulless in several restructures – CSIRO, and the belief that restructures are few seem to have cottoned on to process of consultation with everybody that. Part of what makes the job of an minions of orthodoxy that seem to where I worked for 16 years, effective is more faith- than evidence- the advantages of being learning for the next six months about whether ecologist so enjoyable is that there are lurk in the dark recesses of university latterly changed structures so often based. Has anyone ever actually had organisations, as described by and how we should change, and then many wonderful people involved, and administration these days. And I hear that even the headed notepaper a good restructure experience? Has Senge (1990). Such organizations we’ll proceed to do exactly what we I’ve been lucky to be associated with that SMOs are not unique to manufacturers couldn’t keep up. any restructured university run a have people working together were always going to do.) The new some of the nicest people you could my institution. The principal characteristics of the benefit cost analysis to see whether collectively to enhance their forest will be a happy and productive come across – including Hal Mooney standard restructure seem to be that any benefits that result outweigh the The SMOs have job descriptions capacities to create results they really forest. And our new logo and motto will and my PhD supervisor at Aberdeen, everything is thrown into chaos for dis-benefits in terms of disruption, that match the economic rationalist care about, and adhere to a series reflect this happiness and productivity. Charles Gimingham (who literally protracted periods of time, everyone transaction costs, loss of staff morale managerial way in which our of principles that include shared “Turn a New Leaf”, maybe.. wrote the book on heathland ecology - is focused on the restructure process and the like? Our university’s in the institutions are run these days. Their visions and team learning. Rather, two, actually). Learning how to be an so that key functions slow down or midst of one now – currently in the I’m off to find a beer and be thankful jobs are to make sure we are doing our the modern university seems to have ecologist from these and others - such stop, good staff leave, and not enough protracted post-shuffle chaos phase – for my good friends and colleagues jobs effectively, to make sure we are administrations that follow agendas as John Grace and Douglas Malcolm staff are left to run things effectively. and so I’ll watch with interest and add and try not to grumble too much about not embezzling the tea club money, that have the mantra of efficiency during my undergraduate degree at Frequently, the senior managers another data point to my (admittedly the SMOs. Structures come and go, to make sure that we have filled out and cost-cutting while losing sight Edinburgh – set me up in my career who inflicted the restructure on the limited) survey. My guess is that each but the good stuff carries on. the correct form (or ten) to go out of the core business of learning and in more than just one way. Having university move elsewhere before potential structure has good aspects in the field, or to make sure that we discovery. University staff become good mentors is so important, and I’ve the new structure is bedded down, and bad aspects, but that there is have completed a 4WD course (AND viewed less as valued assets central tried to emulate their generosity and leaving staff at lower levels to sort never one optimal structure. The have the certificate) before we can to the well-being and functioning willingness to share their wisdom now out the mess. The idea of a “smooth most I hope for is an administrative even get the car keys out of the locked of the institution and more as cost References that I too have students and postdocs transition” is entirely illusory, and structure that does not actively get in Senge, P. (1990) The Fifth Discipline: The Art cupboard. The SMOs betray a need burdens and trouble-makers who to mentor. once the dust settles (if it ever does), the way of teaching and research. and Practice of the Learning Organisation for our institutions to protect their get in the way of things working Century, London things aren’t really any better – only
46 47 BES Bulletin VOL 48:3 | September 2017 CHARTERED INSTITUTE OF ECOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
Sally Hayns CEcol MCIEEM | Chief Executive Officer, CIEEM T: 01962 868626 / Email: [email protected]
at additional costs, time delays and Maintaining and enhancing Thoughts on communication perceived prioritisation of the welfare protection – in the future Preparing for a recent presentation of wild animals over people. governments must commit to, as a minimum maintaining and preferably on the future of wildlife legislation Relying on the law to protect wildlife in the UK, I was somewhat taken by enhancing standards of protection for is the backstop. It is a risky strategy the natural environment. the quote from Adlai E. Stevenson, a ultimately doomed to fail. Before that former Vice-President of the United we should be getting much better at Science and evidence – future States: communicating the value of wildlife, environmental legislation and why it matters to society and why we powers must be informed by the ’Laws are never need to protect it. Clear, persuasive, best scientific evidence available. In powerful communication is surely addition, the UK must maintain its the most effective way to safeguard world-leading reputation for scientific as effective nature for the future. research and practice. Valuing nature as part of the natural Repatriation on powers – the as habits’. capital approach was the theme of our environment is a devolved competence What struck me was the distinction Summer conference in Southampton in the UK. Relevant powers must be between obeying the law because we last month. Not everyone feels repatriated to the appropriate level have to in order to avoid punishment comfortable with natural capital within the UK country governance and behaving in a lawful way because concepts but all the evidence points structure to facilitate cross-border we have developed the habit of doing towards this being a core part of UK collaboration and reporting on the ‘preventive principle’ and the ‘polluter Public sector resources – all levels of so, in many cases because we can governments’ policy in the future. UK’s international obligations. pays’ principle should frame how government, local and national and readily identify the benefits to us Researchers and practitioners alike Autumn Conference environmental policy is developed. statutory nature conservation bodies, individually or to society. I think most need to be at the heart of exploring Collaboration – almost all environmental issues are of must have the resources and capacity Our two-day Autumn people would agree that the carrot is its application. International conventions and international concern and importance to effectively address the substantial conference will be held this much better than the stick. obligations – the UK is a signatory and therefore require a continuing challenges we face. year in Manchester on the of several international conventions The problem is that, for many working Brexit collaborative response across the UK 21-22 November. The theme in the ecology sector, there has relating to the natural environment Finally, a new Environment Act or is Monitoring and Mitigation Thinking about the future of wildlife countries, with the border with Ireland, been a tendency to be over-reliant (e.g. RAMSAR, CITES, the Bern Acts across the UK and devolved Effectiveness. The conference legislation inevitably makes thoughts with the rest of Europe and beyond. on the ‘stick’ of wildlife legislation Convention and the UN Convention on administrations will be required is open for bookings and further turn to Brexit. I really try not to let this to protect biodiversity within the Accountability – future changes to Biological Diversity). After leaving the to guarantee the above in primary information is available on happen but inevitably the uncertainty planning system with unfortunate UK environmental legislation must be EU we must still meet the obligations legislation. our website. about the future dominates many subject to appropriate parliamentary set out within each convention. consequences for public attitudes Further information on our position conversations with members and with scrutiny. In addition, subsequent towards protected species. Telling Overseas Territories and Crown can be found on the CIEEM website colleagues in other organisations. enforcement of legislation must be homeowners that they must take Dependencies – environmental at www.cieem.net transparent and robust. account of bats, badgers, great crested Like many other organisations, legislation following Brexit must newts and various other wildlife including the BES, the Institute has Principles – there are some well- take full account of protecting and species during their development been thinking about what a post- established principles that are enhancing the natural environments project ‘because it’s the law’ may Brexit environmental framework might the foundations of environmental of the UK Overseas Territories and be true but it certainly isn’t very look like. From CIEEM’s perspective protection and we would wish to Crown Dependencies which are rich effective in garnering public support there are some key ‘asks’ that we will see this continued in the future: in biodiversity. for nature conservation. In fact, it can be pressing for. Put briefly they are: the ‘precautionary principle’, the achieve the opposite – resentment
48 49 BES Bulletin british ecologicalsociety.org VOL 48:3 | September 2017
PUBLICATIONS NEWS
To celebrate the role the maintenance of their in cooler areas, wild dogs Know your enemy – Her research occupies with former ‘professional In the Journals that Journal of Animal In the news telomeres in exchange for have literally nowhere to Exposing threatened the crossroads of the wrestler’ and current Methods in Ecology and Ecology has played in the Drones used to assess investing more of their go. Sadly, climate change species to predators “traditional” fields of Senior Editor Nate Sanders Evolution has published two development of the field of health of Antarctic energy reserves preparing may bring extinction a improves evasive quantitative paleobiology, and discusses his first new Virtual issues recently. macroecology we have a vegetation for salt-water life. Read step closer for this amazing behaviours macroevolution, community fieldwork experience, The first of these was new virtual issue by Senior the paper here: http://bit. species”. ecology and statistical ants, plants, a skunk and Editor Nate Sanders on A new method has been ly/2uZdN0W and the article population ecology (and why study biodiversity. In ‘Evolutionary Quantitative Although considered one Genetics’ – edited by the subject charting the developed for assessing the in New Scientist here: some others). the second episode Ravi history and development health of fragile Antarctic http://bit.ly/2uXDbod of the most successful interviews Executive Editor Michael Morrissey. It predators on Earth due We are pleased to welcome contains papers that draw of the field. Read the full vegetation using drones, Ken Wilson and discusses virtual issue at: http://bit.ly/ which could be used to Hot dogs – is climate to the high kill-rate their Ann Tate (Vanderbilt his work on armyworms, on a range of new ways of change impacting cooperative hunting University) and Marie characterising changes in JAEMacroecology. improve the efficiency of their devastating effects ecological monitoring in populations of African achieves, African wild dog Auger-Methe (Dalhousie on the crops in Africa, the distribution of traits In the latest issue of Journal wild dogs? populations are declining University) to the Journal of due to selection; address other environments as and his fieldwork research of Ecology we published well. Drones equipped with due to pressures including Animal Ecology Associate about biological control the issue of characterising a special feature titled New research by scientists habitat loss and human- Editor board. modularity; look at the sensors detected vegetation at Zoological Society of of the pests. Check them Plant Ecological Solutions health indicators more wildlife conflict. all out here: http://bit.ly/ ability of typical sample to Global Food Security. London and published In July, Jos Barlow stepped sizes used studies to accurately than satellite in the Journal of Animal How do pine trees guard up as the Executive Editor JAEFieldReports. Edited by David Gibson imagery. The study was characterise phenotypic and Richard Bardgett, the Ecology shows climate against drought? for Journal of Applied FunctionalEcologists.com measures of trait published in Methods in change may be harming Ecology while Marc special feature addresses Ecology and Evolution and Do young pines build is following four different covariation; and much more. a number of important the future of African wild Cadotte takes a 12-month researchers into the Our second Virtual Issue you can find out more about dogs (Lycaon pictus) by up food reserves at the sabbatical from the journal. ways in which ecological it (and watch the video expense of growth to field, in the new regular focuses on field methods. plant research can inform impacting the survival We are very pleased to column InSite/Out: https:// It highlights the wealth explaining the benefits of rates of pups. Tracking enable them to survive announce that Michael global food security. The the method) here: longer in the event of a functionalecologists.com/ of excellent articles on special feature comprises with high-tech collars Bode has joined the Senior category/insiteout/. In this methods that can be used in http://bit.ly/2umf0iu showed that wild dog packs drought? This controversial Burrowing bettong. Editor team for the next 12 of 10 mini-reviews and an hypothesis is refuted series, we follow three the field (for both terrestrial editorial, on topics such as Juvenile salmon with short spent less time hunting Photograph courtesy months. Mike has already ecologists from different and aquatic ecologists) on hot days. When packs by a new study carried of Thomas J. Hunt been an Associate Editor for plant community diversity telomeres more likely to out by the Swiss Federal fields in their daily work. published in the journal and structure, plant survive the trip to Atlantic tried to raise pups in hot the journal for 6 years and over the past two years. weather, more of the pups Institute for Forest, Snow A new study recently we are all looking forward Journal of Ecology has population dynamics, plant spawning grounds and Landscape Research published in Journal interactions, and plant–soil died, potentially because to working with him in this published a virtual issue Functional Ecology has a Biologists generally and published in Journal of of Applied Ecology on interactions. they received less food new capacity. on Forest Ecology in Asia new Virtual Issue: Future consider telomere length from individuals returning Ecology. In the experiment, burrowing bettongs in to showcase some of the challenges in plant- The new Special Feature to be a good indicator of from hunts. the trees swiftly adapted the Australian desert has Online extras recent forest ecology microbe-insect interactions, from Journal of Applied how healthy a cell is (as to an artificial drought and shown for the first time research from Asia edited by Alison Bennett Ecology “Toward prediction well as how healthy the were equipped to combat that exposing threatened There have been some published in the journal, to complement the in the restoration of individual is) and studies it the following year. Read native animals to small excellent new videos on and in particular, our International Symposium biodiversity” guest-edited across different species more about the study here: numbers of predators in the Methods in Ecology Biological Flora of the on Insect-Plant Interactions by Lars Brudvig contains have shown that telomere http://bit.ly/2uFYh89 the wild teaches them how and Evolution YouTube British Isles (BFBI) series (16th SIP, 2-6 July 2017 articles at the interface length can be used to to avoid their enemies. channel (http://bit. http://bit.ly/2uBBTyn. In in Tours, France). The of ecological theory and predict lifespan. Contrary The research could help to ly/2doyInk) over the addition to this, the journal goal of this virtual issue, restoration practice, to expectations, however, successfully reintroduce summer. Some of the most celebrates the launch of our the special session at the helping to highlight the juvenile salmon with the this species back onto the popular have been Hannah new Evolutionary Ecology International Symposium variation among restoration shortest telomeres at the Australian mainland. Read Specht and Henry Reich’s section with a special on Insect-Plant Interactions outcomes, and set a start of their migration the full article by Rebecca explanation of conditional virtual issue titled Ecology and the 2013 Special direction towards predictive were more likely to African wild dogs rest in the West et al online http://bit. occupancy design (http:// in an Evolving World – Feature is to highlight restoration science. The return from it. Darryl shade in Kenya. Photograph ly/2uIFhWB bit.ly/2tYAcHm), Pleuni The dawn of Evolutionary the importance of these Special Feature is available McLennan, lead author on copyright Helen O’Neill Pennings’ discussion of Ecology http://bit. interactions, and promote the paper, suggests that in issue 54:4, and you The study’s lead author, New Editors soft sweeps (http://bit. ly/2u1R00e. their study from molecular this surprising find may can also visit the Applied Professor Rosie Woodroffe ly/2h1FPUi) and Michael mechanisms through arise from a trade-off— At the beginning of the Read the latest Editor’s Ecologist’s blog for a series of ZSL’s Institute of Greenacre’s video on ecological and evolutionary juvenile salmon spend summer, Methods in Choice from Journal of of posts on the articles: Zoology, said: “Worryingly, multivariate proximity consequences. their early years in fresh Experimental area Ecology and Evolution Applied Ecology on the https://jappliedecologyblog. this new threat may be (http://bit.ly/2v7bnya). water and must go through (Valais, Switzerland) welcomed Lee Hsiang Liow identification of critical wordpress.com/tag/toward- affecting wild dogs deep many physiological and where Scots pines and black as a new Senior Editor. On the new Journal of catchments for freshwater prediction/ inside wildlife areas where biochemical changes in pines were subjected to Lee Hsiang is interested Animal Ecology Podcast conservation. Available on we would expect them to preparation for life at sea. different precipitation and in deep time evolutionary Series Field Reports the Applied Ecologist’s blog be protected from human CO conditions. Some of these salmon may 2 and ecological dynamics multimedia Editor Ravi http://bit.ly/2tQclgl impacts. With habitat be putting less energy into Photograph courtesy and conservation biology. Palavalli Nettimi interviews fragmented and destroyed of Christoph Bachofen.
50 51 BES Bulletin british ecologicalsociety.org VOL 48:3 | September 2017
PUBLICATIONS don’t interest me. Sadly, if things go wrong I can’t blame the weather or What benefits would there Rebecca my equipment. be in publishing with the Nesbit is an Aspiring authors – ecologist and Ken: Well, you can’t be a scientist help of the BES? author, writing fiction and non- without being a writer of sorts. But fiction on the theme of science Rebecca: As well as the practical I’m surprised how often they overlap, and the ethical questions it support, you get a vote of confidence. we will help you when a bit of pure science comes in raises. Her first novel, A Column Imposter syndrome is common handy for something I’m writing. of Smoke, is available on Amazon amongst new writers, and I think and her first popular science you’re much more likely to persevere if Dani: As a writer there is much more book Is that Fish in your Tomato? you have people backing you up. get published storytelling and humour. I wish there was released this year (Ockham was more of a chance for humour in Publishing, 2017). scientific writing, I think it would hold Ken: For a new author, the hardest peoples’ interest more. part is getting started; it’s difficult to get a publisher or agent to take Kate Harrison | Assistant Editor | [email protected] you seriously if you have no track Is it hard writing about record. The BES should be able to The BES is always looking for new To help inspire and encourage you, I Dani: I write for a science-interested science for a non-scientific help with that. ways to share the excitement of spoke to three published authors and general public, but also for the ecology. Last year we ran a focus BES members – Rebecca Nesbit, Ken scientific community on Twitter, audience? Dani: One thing I really lacked was group with some members to see Thompson and Dani Rabaiotti. If what who are fantastic. My book ‘Does It advice on non-academic publishing, Rebecca: It’s the variation in the level if there was anything more that they have to say rings true to you, get Fart?’ only happened thanks to that it would have been great to have a of understanding which I find hardest our publishing team could do to writing and send us your ideas! community. known body to reach out to and ask – how do I give enough information help us achieve this. One idea what I should expect. for a reader who doesn’t understand that arose from the group, and has Why do you to write? What is your writing process what DNA is, whilst not patronising a since been met with enthusiasm by reader with a genetics PhD? What one piece of advice Ken Thompson has written everyone I’ve spoken to, is popular Rebecca: Because I’ve got something like? Do you enjoy it? seven books, including Where Do nonfiction…so here we go! to say, because it allows me to would you give to an Camels Belong? and Do We Need Rebecca: I research and write Ken: Like most things, it’s hard if research fields which fascinate me, Pandas? His latest book is The simultaneously, so my process you don’t enjoy it. I do enjoy it, but aspiring author? We’re interested in books that are and because it’s addictive. Sceptical Gardener (Icon Books, involves too many papers, websites from editing the lay summaries at grounded in ecological research and Rebecca: Ignore the voice in your 2015) – a collection of articles and documents being open at once. Functional Ecology I would guess that written for a general audience. If Ken: There’s real satisfaction in head telling you that your writing is from his regular gardening Sometimes it’s exciting, sometimes many scientists don’t. you have an idea for a book that fits finishing a book, and even more no good. If you’re brave enough to column in The Telegraph. these broad criteria, please email in meeting someone who enjoyed each sentence is a struggle. I always Dani: I always attempt to write share your writing with friends and me (kate@britishecologicalsociety. reading it. There’s a small amount of enjoy seeing what I’ve produced my papers in a way that if a non- colleagues they will provide much org) with a synopsis of your book, money involved too, but I honestly though. scientist were to read them they more accurate feedback than your an example chapter (if you have can’t recommend writing as a way of ‘this is rubbish’ voice! Ken: When I had a full-time job, I would hopefully understand what one) and any details of past writing making a living. I was talking about. So in that experience. Nonfiction takes many wrote mostly in the evening and at Ken: Can I make that two pieces? weekends, so my first book took me respect it wasn’t that different. It forms – creative, literary, general Dani: I have always loved science can be tough though, you have to be First of all, practice makes perfect, audience, journalistic, biography communication and run a blog on ages. Now I just write when I feel so the more you write, the better you enthused, which isn’t all the time by careful to explain technical terms, – as long as your book is based PhD advice and a Twitter feed about some of which you may not think will get. And take any opportunity to on ecological science we want to environmental science and research. any means; no good ever comes of write, so there are examples out there sitting staring at a blank screen. of as technical because they are so hear from you. We’re keen to help I was approached by a publisher ingrained into your vocabulary! of what you can do. authors traditionally overlooked by through that and would have been Dani: My writing process is very the industry so if you’ve never seen mad to say no. I loved the whole Dani: Get on Twitter! straightforward – just get on and do yourself reflected on the nonfiction process. Hopefully there will be more Is there a big difference it! I think the most unique thing about shelves of bookshops, please get to come! writing ‘Does It Fart?’ was having a between writing fiction and in touch. co-author, Nick, who I have never met. non-fiction? We aren’t a scary agent or publisher Who do you write for? We did half each then swapped and Skyped a lot - all in all it worked Rebecca: To me there’s less of a – our aim is to help you develop Rebecca: I write for interested really well. difference than you might imagine. your idea and put you in touch with non-scientists, though I hope that A well-constructed sentence is very GET INVOLVED other authors, and make dealing scientists enjoy my work too. My similar in fiction and non-fiction, with agents and publishers a bit less mother is often my first reader, and What’s the difference Email Kate (kate@ and I aim for popular science to be daunting. This may be in the form of it’s pitched at people exactly like her britishecologicalsociety.org) between being a ‘writer’ as compelling as fiction. You’re not a writing workshop and networking – curious, knowledgeable but with no with a synopsis of your book, an bound by the facts when writing event at CDH, a buddy scheme, science background. and being a ‘scientist’? example chapter (if you have one) Dani Rabaiotti has co-authored fiction, but it still requires plenty of perhaps a social at the Annual and any details of past writing a science humour book Does It research to make sure your situations Meeting – it all depends on what Ken: Anyone and everyone. There’s Rebecca: As a writer I get to ignore experience if applicable. All Fart? (Quercus, 2017) – a book are plausible. I think having a go at response we get. too much interesting science that the boring bits. I rarely read materials nonfiction book ideas from all born from the viral success of writing fiction is a useful exercise for the general public never gets to and methods sections, and I’m not people welcome! #DoesItFart on Twitter. hear about. obliged to write about things which aspiring popular-science writers.
52 53 BES Bulletin british ecologicalsociety.org book reviews VOL 48:3 | September 2017
Book Reviews Reviews in this issue have been collected and edited by Alan Crowden.
Phylogenies in Ecology ecology. It will, I suspect, A preoccupation with Part of the motivation Bringing these disciplines to identify how well the is subtitled ‘A guide to be an excellent resource knowledge, rather than for this book is the together and showing how analytical approaches could concepts and methods’ and, for any postgraduate understanding, could be contemporary escalation of they interact is the aim of recover the generating in my view, fulfils that role or career ecologist a symptom of a discipline environmental problems. Quantitative Ecology and mechanisms. I also admirably. It starts with a who is contemplating that lacks the conceptual Whether this book will Evolutionary Biology. enjoyed the breadth of short introductory chapter, using phylogenies in underpinnings from which help ecologists now to material; there is much in taking a chronological their research. For to deduce explanations for deal with those problems In this book, the authors here that I need to learn! view of developments those scientists and for new phenomena. Theory- is unclear because, as the have, I think, set themselves Nonetheless, the authors leading up to the discipline anyone else interested Based Ecology is intended authors note, “There is no quite a demanding task. assume a reasonably of ‘ecophylogenetics’ – in demystifying these to address this problem in royal road to understanding In the first chapter they high level of quantitative the field that deals with techniques, I strongly ecology, by identifying and the dynamics of a introduce their philosophy of skill at the outset. Two the genetic diversity of recommend that you get explaining the theoretical complicated system: one modelling, and the fact that short appendices, on ecological communities hold of a copy. framework on which has to work it out case systems can be modelled mathematical and statistical and the factors shaping ecology is built. by case.” Nonetheless, mathematically, analysed theory respectively, are that diversity. To the Phil Stephens the book is very well statistically, or analysed and unlikely to bring many non-initiate, Chapter 2 The authors begin with an written, pleasingly laid modelled simultaneously. undergraduates up to the is a particularly exciting introductory section to set out, and clearly the They observe that it can required level. No code is contribution, describing out what they see as the outcome of extensive often be hard to know supplied, which might be seven principles of ecology. which modelling tools to Phylogenies in Ecology: phylogenetic trees and the thought about how to Quantitative Ecology a deterrent to those less (often very short) R-code They show that Darwin maximise accessibility bring to bear on a problem familiar with programming. a guide to concepts and and Evolutionary needed to work with considered all of these to an undergraduate (and that, all too often, The book is also rather methods them. That chapter also principles in ‘The Origin of audience. As the authors Biology: Integrating that choice is dictated technically written, without Marc W. Cadotte & T. guides the reader very Species’ and, consequently, note, the elements of their models with data only by the researcher’s many concessions to levity they refer to this backbone experience and expertise); Jonathan Davies (2016) gently through such occult Darwinian principles are Otso Ovaskainen, Henrik (readers looking for a more for ecology as the Darwinian however, they suggest practices as accessing all well-known but seldom Johan de Knegt & Maria del light-hearted approach to Princeton University Press, principles. The principles that applying different sequence data on GenBank connected, especially Mar Delgado (2016) modelling, together with Princeton, 264pp, £45.95 include that populations modelling approaches to the (hb) and aligning sequences to in ecology text books Oxford University Press, example code, might prefer derive phylogenies for a grow exponentially in (which, for example, tend same problem can, itself, Hannah Kokko’s Modelling ISBN 978-069115-768-9 Oxford, 304pp, £75.00 (hb), specific list of species. The the absence of negative to consider the dynamics be insightful. Subsequent for Field Biologists). Thus, feedbacks; that populations £34.99 (pb) chapters include examples Periodically, new next seven chapters cover of individual populations I suspect the main audience must be regulated by ISBN 978-019871486-6 (hb) of applying modelling and techniques arise in ecology applications of phylogenetic in isolation from the for this book will be density-related negative analytical techniques to that seem almost cultish, analyses, from inferring dynamics of coexistence). ISBN 978-019871487-3 (pb) researchers at postgraduate Theory-Based Ecology: feedbacks; that replication problems in movement accessible only to initiates. mechanisms of ecological Consequently, it is great level and above. For those, a Darwinian approach is imprecise, leading Teaching ecology to ecology, population ecology, To some ecologists, the assembly and patterns of to see a text book that like me, who have stumbled to heritable individual undergraduates, at least in community ecology and very idea of an individual- trait evolution, to informing Liz Pásztor, Zoltán Botta- treats all of the standard into modelling without any differences; that populations the UK, can be a thankless evolutionary ecology. In based model is utterly conservation decisions. Dukát, Gabriella Magyar, components of ecology formal training, it might are finite and so are subject task at times. Many seem the course of these, they mystifying; to others, Much of this deals with the Tamás Czárán & Géza courses in a way that is well be a gateway to to stochasticity; that where to be drawn to ecology in present some models likely Bayesian statistics are like concept of phylogenetic Meszéna (2016) accessible, coherent and what’s required. different varieties are limited the belief that it’s a science, to be familiar to many a conjuror’s trick. For me, diversity, a recurrent Oxford University Press, synthetic. Were it not by the same resource, the but not a very quantitative undergraduates, such as Phil Stephens phylogenetics long held a theme throughout these Oxford, 302pp, £75.00 (hb), for other elements of the one whose growth rate is one. Some express correlated random walks similar aura: something I chapters. The final chapter £37.50 (pb) struggle for existence, I highest at the resource limit horror – even a sense of and diffusion models of ought to understand and is prospective, identifying would begin re-writing my ISBN 978-019957785-9 (hb) will competitively exclude betrayal – on realising movement, or Levins’ make use of – but I felt that a range of outstanding ecology course immediately. ISBN 978-019957786-6 (pb) the others; that the greater that, increasingly, ecology metapopulation model. They I must have missed class questions in the field. As it is, I hope I will absorb the differences between is a highly quantitative also present some much the day it was introduced. elements of this into my It might be that good Richard Feynman, the varieties in the way their discipline, heavily reliant on more advanced material, Contemplating these teaching. I will certainly books on phylogenies are eminent theoretical growth is regulated, the theoretical, computational such as fitting Bayesian mysteries, I always feel that recommend it to students already available – but physicist, took a graduate more robust will be their and statistical modelling. state-space models to time it would be great if I could because, by starting I have yet to encounter biology class in Princeton coexistence; and that the However, as Otso series data, or modelling just get someone patient to with this more synthetic them, and the back cover in the early 1940s. He was different components of an Ovaskainen and colleagues trait evolution using explain not only the theory, approach, they will be assures me that this “is reportedly amazed by organism’s fitness cannot observe in their new book, adaptive dynamics. This but also the practical details able to focus more on the first book to critically how quickly he caught up be optimised independently, a basic knowledge of is a very broad remit for a of how to make use of these understanding and less on review the application of with the discipline-specific so must be traded-off. mathematics, statistics and reasonably compact book. techniques. In the context knowledge. In turn, I hope phylogenetic methods in knowledge of biologists Subsequent chapters programming is useful for of using phylogenies in that will equip them better ecology”. As a result, this with much longer training consider the consequences anyone pursuing research I enjoyed many aspects of ecology, the new book to deal with the pressing highly accessible book, – because, as he put it, of these principles for in ecology and evolutionary this book. In particular, I by Cadotte & Davies does environmental challenges written in an informative “They had wasted all their niches, populations, biology, not only for their liked the way the authors just that. that motivate this book. but conversational style, time memorizing stuff communities and evolution. own research, but also to used their own simulations will do much for the uptake … [that] could be looked Phil Stephens understand the research to supply data that could of phylogenetic methods in up in fifteen minutes.” conducted by others. subsequently be analysed
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by 1400 on the last edition. each deals with a difficult escaped into the wild enable the twenty-one common problems and any referenced, it must be Most genera contain group of plants including and happily crossed and nations with coasts on the successes would have been obvious that policymakers details of the commonest docks, willows, dandelions, introgressed with native Mediterranean Sea, and useful to bring these many like simple solutions and or most important species crucifers and northern species to add a little the six on the Black Sea, to strands together. The most clear expression. Perhaps it with notes on distribution hawkweeds. Plus, rather excitement to life. work together to preserve interesting contribution of is time to be more positive and economic uses enigmatically Handbook No their shared resource for all, it seemed to me, was about what seems to which are impressively 10 Sea Beans and Nickar Both handbooks are worthy the future. an article on offshore wind work and not wring hands comprehensive. Nuts, a guide to fruits and additions to the series. farms – but the relevance about what does not. Cut One interesting approach seeds washed up on our Peter Thomas of this chapter to the rest of the references to the very Inevitably, given how much beaches – probably the that can be identified the book escapes me. many other researchers is squeezed in, there are most thumbed of all the here calls for greater who are saying essentially lots of abbreviations (the handbooks I have. This emphasis to be given Unfortunately, the worthy the same thing (or proving list at the end covers more one aside, when faced to improving ‘ocean aims mentioned in the what seems to many to be than 70 pages). While this with an uncertain plant in literacy’, encouraging book’s introduction seldom blindingly obvious), remove can make it initially difficult one of these groups, these people to understand feature in its contents. the welter of acronyms to penetrate the entries, Handbooks are worth their and appreciate the value In fact, only about half of and develop a simple and that obstacle is soon weight in gold. They are of phenomena they are the articles actually deal user-friendly terminology. It overcome. This excellent renowned for clear line often only dimly aware of, with the Mediterranean might not work but it would book may not be readily Evening-primroses drawings and authoritative such as currents, oceanic or Black Sea or their make such a pleasant portable but it is a handy (Oenothera) of Britain text. So I was really pleased seasons and the three- specific problems (one as change and would probably book to have on the desk and Ireland to see these latest two. dimensional nature of the a literature review), and win more friends to the so when an unknown plant water column itself. This, many do not even mention R.J. Murphy (2016) cause (and would probably is encountered in reading, Hats off to Murphy for it is felt, could help those the concept of ‘networks’. be a lot cheaper to buy). it is there to help. So why BSBI Handbook No 16, tackling the evening- involved to accept some of Although undoubtedly a Mabberley’s Plant-Book not go straight to the Botanical Society of Britain primroses. The genus is the more abstract-seeming sincerely-meant work, this Ian Lancaster (4th edition) Internet for help instead of and Ireland, Bristol, 100pp, alien to the British Isles and aspects of conservation suffers from a common David J. Mabberley (2017) having another book? The £12.50 (pb) two somewhat diverging and so encourage a more problem with multi-author Introduction tells us (but classifications have ‘bottom-up’ approach reviews. There tends to be Cambridge University ISBN 978-0-90-115849-9 Management of Marine I’m sure you’ll know): the developed in Europe and to management (rather much repetition as each Press, Cambridge’ 1120pp, Protected Areas – a huge amount of information America that has caused a than the traditional ‘top- author sets the (supposedly £59.99 (hb) network perspective on the web on families, lot of confusion, not always down’ version of enforced common) scene, there is ISBN 978-1-107-11502-6 genera and species is often helped by genetics since Edited by Paul D. Goriup regulations, fines and much rambling as each (2017) The subtitle Portable uncritical, contradictory the group does not appear penalties). This could make author then tries to make dictionary of plants, their and just plain wrong. So to be monophyletic. Murphy Wiley Blackwell, 294pp, the logic of networks of their contribution different classification and uses is here is a companion that is has made sense of all this to £89.95 (hb) protected areas (as per within that theme, and possibly more helpful than comprehensive and you can produce 14 species and ISBN 978 1 119 07577 6 the title) more appealing there is a consequent lack the main title. The book trust. But Mabberley also 4 hybrids (12 more taxa than just isolated ones of focus resulting in a much- is shaped like an old CTW points out that using a book than in Stace 2010). Not all The Mediterranean and resembling the concept diluted message (reflecting Excursion Flora (if you’re like this is just an enjoyable these have line drawings Black Seas are the alleged of ‘wildlife corridors’ on a lack of editorial direction not old enough to remember experience in itself, and but they do mostly have subjects of this recent land to enable populations towards the book’s alleged that, think of a book c.1 A4 educational as other entries distribution maps which contribution to the ever- to move over much larger aims). Equally, however sheet in height and a third catch the eye. Just like should help identification, expanding literature on areas and encourage important the message that in width) so technically the Internet, this book can backed up by three keys. marine conservation and outbreeding. This is the one may be, a simple search for it is portable and should fit absorb a lot of time. management. Less than essential idea distilled from books on “Marine Protected Violas takes a new 1% of the Mediterranean the 14 articles contributed Areas” on a popular The Routledge in a pocket but with over Peter Thomas approach in being in 1100 pages and a hard and less than 2% of the here by 37 authors over internet shopping site Handbook of Philosophy full colour with many Black Sea currently have more than 250 pages. There reveals literally dozens of pointy-cornered cover that Violas of Britain photographs of plants, of Biodiversity may be a challenge. But it protected status, yet is an interesting review of similar titles on this topic. and Ireland flowers and distinctive these two areas probably the increase in alien species Whether there is the need Edited by Justin Garson, certainly is a dictionary. morphological features Anya Plutynski & Sahotra Michael Porter & Michael include some of the most in the Mediterranean, for yet another is, therefore, It contains information on alongside the usual Sarkar (2017) Foley (2017) BSBI Handbook polluted, developed and but there is little critical a moot point. The audience every family and genus of excellent line drawings. No 17, Botanical Society of commercially important analysis of their impact would appear to be just the Routledge, London, 350pp, seed-bearing plant, plus The book covers all 15 Britain and Ireland, Bristol, coastlines on earth, offering and no effective strategies many other people writing £175.00 (hb) ferns and clubmosses, and species and sub-species 156pp, £14.99 (pb) particularly daunting are suggested for dealing in the same field. Perhaps ISBN 13: 978-1-138-82773-8 economically important plus 11 hybrids. The mosses and algae. As if ISBN 978-0-90-115850-5 problems. Although several with the problem. As it is time for a single initial key has helpful This is a significant and that’s not enough there are important initiatives are with so many of these author to take control and photographs and there is valuable volume but sits plenty of common names The Botanical Society of already in place to protect conservation reviews, more distil the many arguments a very useful section on rather uneasily in a series for cross-reference. For Britain and Ireland (the fish stocks and encourage space seems allocated to undoubtedly in favour of differences between similar largely concerned with example, under ‘rubber’ Botanical Society of the the better management describing what has not greater marine protection pairs of species. Amongst religion and traditional there is a long list of all British Isles until 2013, but of water supplies to worked or is not being done into a coherent narrative. the species included is philosophy, which means the species that have the still the BSBI) has over the reduce pollution, the than on what has been Although academics like the garden pansy Viola x it could be easily missed word in their name. This years produced an excellent challenge is clearly to find a success. An editorial detailed arguments and wittrockiana which has by those who should know leads to 26,000 entries, up series of handbooks that successful strategies to summary indicating to see their publications
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about it. Yet its approach is Questions of how we should ISBN 978 3 319 41269 6 (pb) data. His arguments are realised as the IPBES and linking this to the emerging philosophical in examining measure biodiversity are ISBN 978-3-319-41270-2 well marshalled and well this history of its genesis ‘novel ecosystems’ debate. not only the meanings considered by comparing (ebook) delivered and while most and early development There are then short but attributed to terms we five internationally used of his remedies have been explains the problems in effective chapters on frequently use but also indicators – Red List Index, Probably everyone can suggested before there reaching a compromise urban ecosystems (as key the interactions between Living Planet Index, Nature come up with their own is every reason to repeat that over 100 governments areas for recombinant human values and the way Index, Natural Capital Index pet list of great challenges them. His persistent refrain would accept. There are communities and the we portray the natural and Wild Bird index – all and so why would this that citizens can change the 11 narrative chapters and processes that lead to world. Its 23 chapters cover of which have limitations. particular list be worth decisions of governments, a final set of conclusions them), globalisation a broad canvas from the And as the authors note looking at? First, the author that the accumulation of that provide some excellent and ‘cultural severance’ ontology of key terms like the use made of trends by is a well-known and prolific individual decisions on food for thought. The (changing patterns and biodiversity through to policymakers is often at popular science writer how to live and how to vote IPBES aims to use three attitudes to species examination of its putative odds with the constraints whose work is carefully will make a difference is approaches to biodiversity introduction), the values and the complexities that scientists place on the researched and very well of course true in general protection: scientific, implications of climate of measuring biodiversity data. There are even two written. Second, he has but difficult to implement utilitarian and cultural and change, and the longer- so that change can be chapters on aspects of social found a novel way of linking both in countries with there are problems with term consequences of determined. justice – how community his suggestions together repressive regimes and all of them. It is clear from recombination. so that the framework is values and local culture are those in which democracy The Intergovernmental the discussions in various Despite being a modern often disregarded and the unusual and intriguing and apparently flourishes but chapters that there is still Recombinant Ecology – The book is written in a term coined only in 1986 Platform on Biodiversity readable style and there need to measure multiple third everyone will have control does not rest with considerable difficulty with A Hybrid Future? defining biodiversity outcomes from conservation some common ground the politicians but with and Ecosystem Services contradictory interpretations is nice use of personal is obviously a tricky projects, not just the purely with several of his choices. multinational companies. (IPBES) of key concepts and this Ian D. Rotherham (2017) reflection by the author, question that has engaged as well as frequent scientific. His ten topics are mass However, the recent Meeting the challenges certainly hampers progress Springer, Switzerland, 85p, ecologists, lawyers and extinction, weapons of unexpected decisions on of the organisation as £37.99 (pb) £29.99 (ebook) case studies and useful politicians ever since. Here This is a thought provoking of biodiversity examples; as a result, the mass destruction, resource Brexit and the election a whole. Overall it is ISBN 978-3-319-49796-9 (pb) it takes two initial chapters volume with something for depletion, climate change, conservation and volume should appeal to of Donald Trump show rather dry material for ISBN 978-3-319-49797-6 to set the historical context everyone interested in the toxicity, food crises, governance academics, practitioners that major changes can the average ecologist and (ebook) and then another eight protection of biodiversity. population expansion, occur. He has good news Edited by Marie Hrabanski conservationist and for and students. The chapters chapters to examine the Quite why it has to be so pandemics, dangerous new scattered amongst the bad and Denis Pesche (2017) many people I am sure Ecosystems are nothing if are short and there are many conflicting uses of ridiculously expensive, and areas that could be explored technologies and finally and the way he interleaves Earthscan from Routledge, the need to know what not dynamic, and in this the term - without reaching so limited to libraries, is self-delusion. Starting from material is masterly. His happened and why is rather time of massive global in more detail, with greater any consensus. Not only unclear. 254pp, £90.00 (hb) £27.99 marshalling of the available the premise that Homo ten concerns do not stretch (ebook) less interesting than what is change it is no surprise that does this highlight the sapiens is an oxymoron to biodiversity loss or going to happen and what global ecology is in a state literature; but that is David Walton ISBN 13: 978-1-138-12125-6 way in which different given the way the human conservation crises but that might mean. Since the of rapid transformation. arguably beyond the scope (hb) disciplines are conceptually race acts he describes the perhaps these matter principal activity of IPBES is Recombinant communities of a Springer Brief (a series constrained by their ten elements under new rather less if you believe ISBN 13: 978-1-315-65109-5 assessment and it is meant and their ecology are an which produces concise objectives when searching species names such as that mass extinction is a (ebook) to serve several different important aspect of this, summaries of emerging for a definition, but also it Homo urbanus and Homo real possibility. It would conventions, including the research themes), and this The development and Ian Rotherham’s emphasises the apparent exterminans. Interestingly, be wonderful to think World Trade Organisation as is an admirable introduction of the IPCC as an excellent Springer Brief impossibility of agreeing each chapter concludes that politicians and policy well as the CBD, there are to the topic that should intergovernmental platform on the topic provides an on a single focus when the with a list of what society makers would heed any clearly considerable internal be essential reading. As providing advice that insightful and authoritative topic is inextricably linked should do followed by a of this but as he points political tensions. There is Rotherham notes, ‘Our carried global political overview. The book to values. In pursuing second list of what every out they largely exist in some interesting material future will be recombinant weight set a marker for has a distinctly British some of these values individual can do to arrest a self-contained bubble on how they used lessons and there is no doubt of those in other fields who flavour, reflecting both the the authors force the the decline. Much of this and are hearing only those learned from the IPCC to that.’ (p.75). felt there were other global expertise of the author reader to reconsider what is not directly ecological messages that suit the develop the new structure. problems besides climate and the relevance of the Rob Francis is a species, do micro- but his chapters on dogma of the times. Here For those interested in the change that could benefit UK as a region that has organisms have the same toxicity, climate change is material to make people science-policy interface or from this treatment. The experienced long standing intrinsic value as macro- and resource usage are think, with suggestions on in the problems in finding lengthy negotiations that land use change along organisms, is it ethical especially pertinent whilst how they could act to save agreement between proceeded the Convention with extensive ingress and to restore biodiversity by the one on self-delusion both themselves and future diverse stakeholders with on Biological Diversity egress of species. Much of assisted colonisation, can shows clearly why we generations. Remarkable conflicting expectations (CBD) in 1992 and the slow the material has universal biodiversity be adequately have gone so far down a value for the money! then there is much of Surviving the 21st progress at the Conferences applicability however, valued using today’s disastrous path. interest in this volume. century: humanity’s of the Parties suggested to and the discussion is not economic tools (like cost- David Walton For most ecologists IPBES parochial. He provides extensive many conservationists that benefit analysis) and is ten great challenges is likely to come into view references for his a new platform was needed species biodiversity on its and how we can only when its assessments The book begins with a statements and they cover to provide biodiversity own an adequate basis overcome them. make international news, rigorous and thoughtful a much wider reach than governance and scientific for conservation decision- and even there they are introduction to the Julian Cribb (2017) the usual science journals advice internationally in making? competing with several main ideas behind the Springer International linking newspapers, web a way that the scientific other players for attention. ‘recombinant’ concept, Publishing, 270pp, £19.50 sites and non-scientific committee of the CBD charting the history of (pb), £14.99 (ebook) documents to hard science could not. It took until David Walton their development and 2012 for this idea to be
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actions of the Bureau collection of authors, capable to leaven the mix with of Indian Affairs are of encouraging them to ALSO RECEIVED contributions from a terrifying tale of write contributions to meet Notes by Alan Crowden those who we all hope officialdom at its worst. a common aim rather than will be part of the next There are also examples to their own agenda, and Foundations of generation of restoration of related exploitation someone with the ability Restoration Ecology scientists. About 80% of from elsewhere in the to edit many contributions 2nd edition the contributors are based world but the American into a coherent whole. in academic institutions in catalogue of determined Persuading John Craig Edited by Margaret A. the United States; perfectly official destruction is to take on the role was a Palmer, Joy B. Zedler and reasonable, given that indeed a damning list but masterstroke; the long- Donald A. Falk (2017) the volume will be used in parts quite repetitive. serving editor of the Journal Island Press, 576pp, £67 mainly as a course text for The book has little science of Fish Biology has the (hb) £33.50 (pb) American students, but content and many of the perfect meld of research ISBN 978-1-61091-696-7 (hb) it means those in other experience, editorial ecological assertions ISBN 978-1-61091-697-4 (pb) parts of the world wanting such as American Indians expertise and familiarity geographically-relevant “managed ungulate Freshwater Fisheries with the writing skills of This 2017 publication is examples, or practitioner populations” are largely the population of fisheries the second edition of a input, will need to look Ecology The River of Life anecdotal. For the authors scientists. The result is 2006 book that set out elsewhere. Amphibian Survey and Data Management for this matters little as their Edited by John Craig (2016) a book drawing together theory, highlighted links Researchers SEP 2015 Sustainable Practices of Monitoring Handbook basic assertion is that the the expertise of over 100 between theory and Native Americans and Wiley Blackwell, 914pp, John W. Wilkinson (2015) Organize, maintain stories told by the elders £79.50 (hb) high-calibre contributors practice, and identified Indigenous peoples provide enough basis for that works as a coherent gaps in knowledge. The Pelagic Publishing, 138pp, and share your data for ISBN 978-1-118-39442-7 Edited by Michael E. assuming environmental whole, and as a resource new edition builds on the £59.99 (hb) £29.99 (pb) research success Marchand, Kristina A. concerns and management. As a former publisher, I likely to stand the test original and attempts to ISBN 978-1-78427-004-9 (hb) Kristin Briney (2015) I suspect that the emphasis of time. Contributions of provide a more structured Vogt, Asep S. Suntana et al. feel able to suggest that ISBN 978-1-78427-003-2 (pb) Pelagic Publishing, 200pp, on spirituality, rituals and varying length are grouped text at the same time (2014) those who write the blurbs £49.99 (hb) £24.99 (pb) tribal wisdom will also put together in eight sections, In my darker moments, I Michigan State University that appear on book covers as reflecting the major off some readers. Many may on topics such as the basics wonder if there is still a role ISBN 978-1-78427-011-7 (hb) Press, 294pp, US $29.95 are sometimes prone to developments in the have some sympathy with of freshwater ecosystems; for books in the modern ISBN 978-1-78427-012-4 (pb) (pbk) hyperbole when they claim field. Part 1 introduces the more holistic view of that the content therein freshwater resources of basic concepts of theory, screen-obsessed world. Apparently, NASA lost ISBN 978 1 61186 222 5 the world proposed here represents a ‘landmark fisheries by geographical ecological dynamics, Then one comes across a much of the early data from This book provides details but attempting to suggest publication’, worth every region; fishing operations; biodiversity and landscape; book like this, where an space exploration, including on the way various tribes that in a largely urban penny of the eighty quid fishery management; where necessary these expert with a lifetime’s high quality video footage lived with nature in world drastic changes such they want you to part with fisheries development; the ideas are developed experience provides a of the first moon landing. apparently sustainable as redefining land title and to own a printed copy. But effects of perturbations; further in later chapters. guide to everything that All the more reason to do ways and tries to use this to boundaries, adopting only as a thwarted fisheries and a final section on future Part 2 covers ecological someone aiming to carry as it says in the sub-title to suggest that modern urban community-based business ecologist, I’d happily agree developments. theory and the restoration Trophic Ecology out amphibian survey and the book. plans, experiencing nature with whoever made that of populations and monitoring needs to think dwellers can find lessons No volume of this type is Bottom-up and Top- on a daily basis. etc will be claim for this book, and communities, Part 3 covers about. Splendid. they can adopt for 21st ever going to be perfect and seen as simply impractical. not just because at 900 ecosystem processes, part down interactions century living. However, there are doubtless a few In a world with less than pages and 2.7kg it fits 4 the spatial and temporal across aquatic and the book is much more gaps and inconsistencies in a billion people many of both possible definitions dimensions of restoration terrestrial systems an indictment of the way the coverage. But the flaws these landscape level of the term landmark, and Part 5 is, appropriately, native people, especially are utterly trivial compared Edited by Torrance C. management decisions being simultaneously ‘an a synthesis and future American Indian tribes, to the strengths, and if I Hanley and Kimberly J. La were probably possible object recognizable from challenges chapter. Each have been treated by the were still an aspiring young Pierre (2015) and useful. In a world of 7 a distance’ as well as ‘an chapter has a summary of US Government for over fish biologist, or an academic Cambridge University billion the cultural drivers event marking a stage or key points, includes case a century. The authors freshwater biologist, Press, 426pp, £62.00 (hb) are different. Whilst for important turning point’. histories, and ends with document many examples a fisheries manager or £35.99 (pb) of deceit and exploitation, ecologists this is not a very a full list of references to Trying to provide a consultant, I wouldn’t ISBN 978-1-107-07732-4 (hb) from cheating tribes out of useful book, for anyone the academic literature. comprehensive account of hesitate to buy my own their original territories to interested in exploitation The emphasis is on ISBN 978-1-107-43432-5 (pb) inland fisheries worldwide copy. I know, I know, eighty restricting their access to and suppression of establishing the theoretical is a daunting task, one that pounds for a book makes the An excellent review of the subsistence hunting and ethnic groups this will be basis of the subject and could not sensibly be tackled eyes water, but you can get interaction of ‘bottom-up’ banning native languages fascinating. as such it provides a very by a single author, or even a a guided tour of the whole and ‘top-down’ processes to try to obliterate native solid academic text in David Walton small group. You need a big world of fisheries ecology for across terrestrial and culture. And it is clear restoration ecology. international team, recruited trivially more than the cost aquatic ecosystems, that their tribal culture and guided by someone of renewing a UK passport. The contributors include a published in the BES/CUP was totally at odds with with experience of fisheries The book will last you at healthy mix of experienced Ecological Reviews series. the drive for ownership in different climates and least as long and make much senior academics with and resource exploitation cultures, able to identify more interesting reading. a seasoning of younger that characterised early and bring together a diverse scientists, presumably American history. The Alan Crowden
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Bad Choices River Science How Algorithms can Wildlife Conservation Poppy Remote Sensing and GIS Research and The Biology of Deserts Reptile Ecology and help you think smarter in Farm Landscapes Andrew Lack (2016) Harvesting Rainwater for Ecologists FEB16 Management for 2nd edition Conservation and live happier David Lindenmayer, Damian Reaktion Books, 200pp, from Buildings Using Open Source the 21st Century David Ward (2016) Ali Almossawi (2017) Michael, Mason Crane, A Handbook of £16.00 Software Edited by David J. Gilvear, Oxford University Press, Syed Azizul Haq (2017) Sachiko Okada, Daniel Techniques ISBN 978-1-78023-653-7 John Murray, London, Edited by Martin Wegman, Malcolm T. Greenwood, 386pp, £80.00 (hb) £37.50 Springer International 160pp, £14.99 (hb) Florance, Philip Barton Edited by C. Kenneth Dodd, Benjamin Leutner and Martin C. Thoms and (pb) The recent anniversary of Publishing Switzerland, and Karen Ikin (2016) JR. (2016) ISBN 978-1-473-65076-3 Stefan Dech (2016) Paul J. Wood (2016) ISBN 978-0-19-873275-4 (hb) the battle of Passchendaele 294pp, £86.00 (hb) CSIRO Publishing, 228pp, Oxford University Press, Pelagic Publishing 348pp Wiley-Blackwell, 412pp, ISBN 978-0-19-873276-1 (pb) was a stark reminder of the ISBN 978-3-319-46360-5 A$49.99 (pb) 490pp, £75.00 (hb) £37.50 £34.99 (pbk) £85.00 (hbk) symbolism associated with ISBN 978-1-486-30310-6 (pb) Aims to provide user- ISBN 978-1-119-99434-3 Reviewers can say what the poppy in the UK and ISBN 978-1-78427-022-3 they like about a book, the elsewhere. This glossy and friendly methodology It’s not clear from the ISBN 978-0-19-872613-5 (hb) River science is defined real test is whether readers attractive book by biologist for the planning, design, The potential value of title but this is quite ISBN 978-0-19-872614-2 (pb) here as a field of study buy it in sufficient numbers Andrew Lack is aimed at a construction and remote sensing and GIS to specifically a book on the focusing on the interactions to merit the author slaving A state of the art review far wider audience than just maintenance of rainwater ecologists is obvious, but integration of conservation between the physical, over a second edition, of techniques for studying the readership of the Bulletin harvesting infrastructure. getting to grips with the and agriculture in the chemical and biological and renders the publisher reptiles. Covers an and achieves well its aim of tools and techniques can temperate eucalypt components within willing to stump up for international range of integrating botanical writing be more difficult. While not woodland belt of eastern riverine landscapes, and another round of production examples. One method is with a broader account replacing the need for a Australia. That being said, how they influence and costs. This wide-ranging commended as ‘enabling of the cultural and social basic textbook, this useful it is another sparkling are influenced by human account of desert biology crocodilians to be captured impact of plants and flowers. volume hones in on the example of the long- activities. Authors were clearly found a market first from a greater distance most useful remote sensing term ecological research asked to address the time round, and continues and without direct physical approaches for ecologists, of David Lindenmayer historical development of to provide a chunky but contact with humans’. That Managing Australia’s wisely making use of clear, and his associates, and the field of river science, manageable account of the would be my preference, Pest Animals relevant examples. the publishing expertise identify research challenges subject. Excellent coverage, too. Glib comments of CSIRO Publishing. A guide to strategic and highlight wider a lengthy reference list aside, another useful Lavishly illustrated with planning and effective societal implications of to use as a resource for volume in OUP’s excellent colour photographs, but management the research. Noble aims, further reading, and a useful Techniques in Ecology & devoid of graphs and pie creditably addressed and emphasis on global change Conservation series. Mike Braysher (2017) charts and paraphernalia a book worth having in the (rather than just global normally associated with CSIRO Publishing, 216pp, library of any institution or warming) as the key issue. academic writing, the book AU $49.95 (pb) organisation with a broad nonetheless is steeped in ISBN 978-1-486-30443-1 outlook on rivers and their science and is full of advice management. and encouragement for land Clearly a book that will managers. I have no idea have direct relevance to whether the ideas are taken only a very small proportion up by the target audience, of the BES membership, but good on the authors and but even those not resident publisher for giving it a go. in Australia can learn from examining how other countries approach the issues around planning, prioritising and applying best practice in pest control.
62 63 british ecologicalsociety.org accounts Accounts for the year ended 31 December 2016 together with Council’s and auditor’s reports
Company number: 1522897 Charity number: 281213
65 BES Bulletin british ecologicalsociety.org VOL 48:3 | September 2017
CONTENTS Council’s report For the year ended 31 December 2016
The Trustees present their report and meetings, the funding of numerous grant In 2016, our journals grew both in terms Content PAGE financial statements for the year ended schemes, public engagement, education of submissions and published papers, Councils’ report 67 31 December 2016. work and policy work. The Society with more content than ever before being has approximately 4,400 members published. The five BES subscription Auditors’ report 76 1. Objectives and Strategy worldwide, and membership is open journals published over 50 additional to all with an interest in ecology. There articles in 2016 compared to 2015, across Statement of financial activities 77 The objects for which the British is a small membership fee, with almost 700 additional pages. There Ecological Society (BES) is established discounts for students and those from has also been enormous growth in our Balance sheet 78 are to advance the education of the public low-income countries. partner journal Ecology & Evolution, in the subject of ecology as a branch which published over 750 papers in 2016. Cash flow statement 79 of natural sciences and to advance and 2. Report on Principal The surplus provided by the journals continues to provide the main source of Notes to the accounts 80 support research in that field, and to disseminate the results of such Activities income into the Society, which in turn useful research. funds all our other activities. The Trustees confirm that they have The vision of the BES is: complied with the duty in section 17 of The publications team are always A world inspired, informed and the Charities Act 2011 to have due regard keen to support our early career influenced by ecology to the Charity Commission’s general researchers and 2016 was no exception. guidance on public benefit. All trustees We produced a number of activities Our mission is to: give their time voluntarily and do not that were designed specifically for Generate, communicate and promote receive any private benefit. Details of this audience: webinars on how to ecological knowledge and solutions Trustees’ expenses and remuneration are get published and how to become an disclosed in notes 5 and 15 respectively. associate editor; a publishing workshop In order to achieve this our major goals at the BES’s annual summer school for are to: The first four of the Society’s strategic undergraduates; and a workshop on how goals stated in section 4 provide clear • Communicate world-leading to get published at the Annual Meeting. public benefits, whilst the final one ecological science We also held a fascinating debate on defines the ways in which the Society the future of peer review at our Annual • Generate, synthesise and exchange gains greater leverage from its finite Meeting, which was recorded and ecological knowledge resources and ensures its long-term subsequently posted online. sustainability. • Share the excitement and relevance Many of our journal articles received of ecology The BES portfolio of grants covers all coverage in the international press of the Society’s aims. It can be divided during 2016, including the BBC, The • Inspire, engage and recognise talent into several broad categories; research, Telegraph, The Guardian, Science, Nature training & travel, outreach and support • Build a sustainable, resilient and and The Financial Times. One article for ecologists in Africa. The BES funds efficient Society discussing ash dieback published in grants with the aim of promoting Journal of Ecology by Peter Thomas, Ecology is the scientific study of the ecology as widely as possible and “Biological Flora of the British Isles: distribution, abundance and dynamics hence individual awards are generally Fraxinus excelsior”, resulted in Hazel of organisms, their interactions with of relatively small value, although many Norman, the BES Executive Director, other organisms and with their physical awards are made. being interviewed by the BBC News. environment. At a time when finite 2.1 Communicate world-leading natural resources are being used at In late 2016, we commissioned a survey ecological science, and generate, increasing rates, it has never been of BES authors and reviewers, which synthesise and exchange ecological more important for human society to had over 2,000 responses. We were knowledge understand its impact on ecological pleased to find that overall satisfaction with the submission, publication and systems (which includes systems These major goals are primarily review process is high and over 79% intensively managed or impacted supported by our work in publishing, of respondents stated they were likely on by humans such as arable farms, meetings and grants. pastures and marine fisheries) and to submit to us again. The team are their importance in maintaining human Publishing – Resources Expended = producing a full report on this survey health. The BES’s many activities include £1.55M (45% of total) in early 2017 including any planned the publication of a range of scientific improvements to our services as literature, including internationally a result of this feedback. renowned journals, the organisation and sponsorship of a wide variety of
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The BES hosted two strategic workshops who attended and Happy Anniversary In 2013, Grants Committee We provide an annual contribution to After the improvement in attendance In addition to our Annual Meeting, focused on publications during 2016, to Functional Ecology! recognised the importance of the support scholarships for students from following a shift in timing last year, we delivered a joint symposium with the one in London in April and one in Oxford Committee’s activities being transparent European institutions to attend Tropical the AGM was programmed to run Cambridge Conservation Initiative (CCI) in September. Participants included Research – Resources Expended = and made the decision to make all grant Biology Association courses. In 2016, our immediately after Anne Chao’s plenary on ‘Making a Difference in Conservation: an international selection of Editors, £0.33M (10% of total) success rates publically available on the contribution of £10,000 allowed 21 young lecture; it was a popular lecture, so Improving the Links between Ecological biologists from 21 institutions, spanning attendance figures for the AGM Research, Policy and Practice’, 11 – 13 Publications Committee members, In 2016 the Society received BES website. Compared to the 2015 rates, 12 countries, to attend field courses at were healthy. April, Cambridge, UK, with the hashtag Council members, BES President, BES 345 applications for funding across its there was a small decrease in the rate Kibale National Park in Uganda and #BEScci. It was organised by Bill Treasurer and key BES personnel. main grants portfolio (excluding Training for Large Research (16% in 2015 to 14% Kirindy Forest in Madagascar. Twitter continued to be the main social Sutherland (University of Cambridge), Progress was monitored on the BES’s & Travel), and funded 49 projects in 2016) and a larger decrease in success publications strategic plan and activities rate for Small Research (21% to 16%), media platform. This year we asked Nancy Ockendon (University of totalling £308,830. Meetings – Resources Expended = planned for the coming 12 months to both offset by a doubling in success SIG secretaries to curate the threads, Cambridge), Stuart Butchart (Birdlife £0.74M (22% of total) although this can be challenging with ensure our journal portfolio continues to The majority of our awards went towards rate for Outreach (9% in 2015 to 18% in International), Zoe Davies (DICE: Durrell the sheer number of tweets. As usual, develop and grow. funding scientific ecological research 2016) and an increase in Ecologists in Institute for Conservation and Ecology), The exchange of ideas and networking Twitter was used to accept questions for projects. We supported small projects Africa (6 to 8%). Going forward, it will be Nathalie Pettorelli (Zoological Society that happens at scientific conferences our plenary speakers, network and widen Part of the BES’s Strategic Plan is to with new and innovative ideas, as important for the BES to consider how of London), Peter Brotherton (Natural and field trips are vital ways in which participation outside of the meeting forge better links between practitioners well as larger projects that aim to help to monitor and mitigate the impact of England) and Juliet Vickery (RSPB). science advances and develops. venue. Its popularity at our Annual and academics, and the publications early career ecologists to establish an decreasing application success rates The RSPB, Conservation Evidence, DICE Meetings grows year on year, with the team took part in a number of initiatives independent research career in ecology. in the longer term. In 2016, our Annual Meeting was held and our Conservation Ecology Special during 2016 to help with this objective. at the ACC in Liverpool. It ran from meeting hashtag #BES2016 trending in Interest Group sponsored this popular We conducted a number of one-to-one We supported ecologists in We have awarded a number of prizes to 11 – 14 December and attracted 1,200 UK and Europe for the whole three days. symposium, attracting about interviews, focus groups and ran a developing countries through the outstanding individuals in recognition delegates from over 43 countries. We are consistently aware of our 250 delegates. survey (with around 600 responses) to Ecologists in Africa grant scheme. This of their contribution towards the science There were 550 talks spread over the commitment to the wider society, discover more about the information scheme recognises that ecologists in of ecology, including our annual Anne Our Special Interest Groups provide a daily 12 parallel sessions, 16 thematic which is why we keep Annual Meeting needs of the practitioner community Africa face unique challenges in carrying Keymer student talk prize and Best valuable source of individual disciplinary topics, 246 posters and two poster registration fees competitively priced, and how the BES’s existing journals or out research and aims to provide them Poster Prize at the 2017 Annual Meeting accessibility to members and non- sessions. We were pleased to be able to always seeking extra revenue through any future products can best meet these with support to develop their skills, in Liverpool. members, and deliver events for specific draw renowned names to present our sponsorship and the sale of exhibition needs. This work will continue into 2017. experience, and knowledge base, as well plenary lectures: Anne Chao gave the ecological areas. There are currently We continue to support the Gratis Book space. We ensure the Annual Meeting as making connections with ecologists BES Lecture, Daniel Pauly the Tansley 17 groups, with an additional three as At the 2016 Annual Meeting in Liverpool, Scheme, the aim of which is to provide is great value for everyone, but in the developed world. Lecture, Alison Hester encapsulated potential new groups. In 2016, our SIGs Methods in Ecology and Evolution ecology and conservation books for free particularly students, unemployed and ’12 Months in Ecology’ and Hugh organised about 44 events, ranging from Editor Rob Freckleton, along with Finally, funding has also contributed to individuals from outside Western retired members, which is why we offer Possingham gave the Closing Lecture. a conference on rewilding, a UK-India several experts with backgrounds to Outreach grants, which support Europe, North America, Japan, Australia, them reduced rates, and additional meeting in India and a Data Integration in programming and ecology, ran an projects promoting the public and New Zealand who would otherwise Workshops are now a staple of our reductions for anyone who works as in R workshop. We subsidise these oversubscribed workshop providing engagement of ecology and/or improving be unable to obtain them. The purpose meeting programme. We retained the a ‘helper’ for part of the meeting. We events and promote them through practical discussion of writing and skills in science communication. of this scheme is to spread ecological popular extended lunchtime slots for continue to develop a raft of events our various communication channels. sharing code for research. There knowledge as widely as possible. This sixteen community-generated workshops within the Annual Meeting including However, in line with the desire to Training & Travel Grants contributed just were various breakout sessions scheme is a collaboration between over the two full days; those who did not practical workshops, career development, achieve cost neutrality, the SIGs have over £31,000 to enable 63 PhD students giving participants practical training the BES (who pay for the postage), the attend workshops were able to use the opportunities to network informally also been encouraged to be cost or postgraduate research assistants to in best practice for using code in NHBS online bookstore (who co-ordinate extra time to network. This year we and events for the public; we ran our effective, or raise profit if possible. present their research at meetings across ecology research, focusing on quality, and organise the distribution), and the also ran a popular paid-for half-day second BES Science Slam (hosted by They have also been more encouraged to the world or take part in specialist field functionality, robustness and usability. publishers and authors of the books (who Coding workshop alongside our Early local comedian Sam Avery), which was be aware of the importance of inclusivity training. This included supporting four Finally, participants were given the provide the books for free). In 2016, the Career workshop. attended by about 100 people in when inviting speakers, which venues students from countries that are classed opportunity to input into the development BES contributed £1,400 enabling 124 a comedy venue close to the ACC. they choose and when communicating as lower or middle-lower income, to of new guidelines for archiving code for books to be dispatched to over We built on the successes of Edinburgh with their communities. publication, which are currently being attend and present their work at our 40 countries. and paid special attention to the delegate We also took the opportunity to publicly developed by the BES journal Methods Annual Meeting in Liverpool and we experience – ensuring people felt thank those who helped us make such a 2.2 Share the excitement and relevance in Ecology and Evolution. We hope to would welcome more applications from welcomed, included and represented. positive impact – our numerous assistant of ecology publish these guidelines during 2017. those countries in the future. It was the second year that we held an editors, Special Interest Groups leaders LGBT+ evening mixer and a Christian and grants Review College volunteers. This major goal is primarily supported We thank them for their commitment and by our work in policy. Last but not least, our Annual Meeting in 2016 Success Rates morning mixer, both of which were December also provided an opportunity attended by more people than the enthusiasm in helping us to attain our for Functional Ecology to celebrate its shared goals. Resources Expended = Grant Type Number of applications number of awards success Rate previous year (c. 25 each). The feedback £0.23M (7% of total) 30th anniversary. The journal hosted a from the LGBT+ mixer was that they well-attended thematic session, ran a Large research 42 6 14% found the BES progressive, inclusive Following our 2015 policy strategy competition to win a mini-iPad and held a and welcoming, and encouraged us review, in 2016 we continued to Small Research 137 22 16% birthday party complete with cake at our to continue the mixer; the Christian develop and grow our programme of traditional Associate Editor reception. Outreach 80 14 18% mixer was similarly positive, having policy engagement. We communicate As always, we had a large number of an interesting discussion on Bible the value of ecological knowledge to Ecologists in Africa 86 7 8% Associate Editors and Editors attending interpretation from an international policymakers and promote evidence- the meeting from overseas and within mix of delegates. informed solutions, whilst supporting the UK and this meeting provided an our members to enhance the policy excellent opportunity to thank them impact of their work. in person for their essential role on our journals and discuss future developments with them. A big Thank You to everyone
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In 2016, the political context of our the Committee’s final report incorporated 2.3 Inspire, engage and recognise talent students from a broader In2Science In 2016 we continued to develop and Annual budgets for the following year work was dominated by the UK’s many of our recommendations, including programme. support the BES Journals to further are drawn up in the fourth quarter and decision to leave the European Union, on the evidence base for rewilding and This major goal is primarily supported enhance their standing so that they are approved by Council at its meeting in creating the likelihood of the most the design of agri-environment schemes. by our work in education. In 2016 we expanded our training remain a sustainable and significant December. substantial changes to our environmental support for 30 Early Career researchers income stream for the Society in the Resources Expended = policy framework in a generation and Supporting members to build their policy to include a grant writing workshop. The near future, despite uncertainties over The BES has a set of Financial £0.27M (8% of total) placing British science in a state of engagement skills, gain experience and event was significantly oversubscribed the impact of open access and economic Regulations, which must be followed. and feedback from it has led to an These Regulations are reviewed annually profound uncertainty. We have engaged enhance the impact of their research The Society supports the ecological challenges across the world. increase in provision for 2017. by the Finance Board and a significant proactively with the challenges and is central to our work. Our annual education of people of all ages and aims The 2015-19 Strategic Plan included an update occurred during 2016 including opportunities presented by Brexit to Fellowship with the Parliamentary Office to support ecologists at each stage In the lead up to the Annual Meeting, the objective to diversity the Society’s income changes to the way in which payments ensure that the voice of the ecological of Science and Technology continues of their career development through Society offered a series of 4 free webinars as a way of increasing the resilience are authorised, and placing orders for community is heard. to offer early career members a unique providing advice and opportunities to support early career scientists in using of the organisation. Half way through goods and services, ensuring the BES is policy experience, and our 2016 Fellow for professional development. The On 21 July 2016, over 400 people social media at scientific conferences 2016 a Fundraising and Development following current good practice. published a well-received report on BES supports our members in the attended our second “People, Politics and how to network at conferences. Manager was appointed following environmental crime. Our Parliamentary development of education and public and the Planet: Any Questions?” Additional webinars targeted mid-career the implementation the sustainable In 2016 £0.34M (10% of resources Shadowing Scheme was extended to engagement activities related to debate; the first post-referendum scientists managing interdisciplinary fundraising strategy accepted by BES expended) was given away in grants. Scotland for the first time, with Roseanna their research. opportunity for a public audience to Cunningham MSP, Cabinet Secretary for careers and those considering applying Council. The Society has developed a set This substantive sum requires careful for associate editor roles. These management by the Society. Applications question leading politicians on the Environment, Climate Change and Land In 2016, the Society continued to of fundraising guidelines that comply events were part of a growing career are reviewed against specific, published future of UK environmental policy Reform, hosting a shadow. Following a extend its support for researchers with the new advice provided by the development programme for the annual criteria. A Peer Review College post-Brexit. Hosted in partnership successful scoping phase in 2016, we communicating their science to the Charity Commission and has started to meeting that includes a low cost careers reviews grant applications, scoring with the Royal Geographical Society will soon be launching a new Policy public, school groups and others. This develop various initiatives, which will day, with skills development and and commenting on them. Using a Peer (with IBG) and the Sibthorp Trust, Fellowship for mid-career members. support is offered through free to attend start to raise funds in 2017. networking opportunities. Review College ensures that the Society the debate was chaired by leading training courses, guided support in During 2016 the BES embarked on a uses the most appropriately experienced broadcaster Jonathan Dimbleby, with Scotland was a hive of activity in 2016, developing and translating science into The Society continued to collaborate quality assurance programme called reviewers for each grant application. panellists including Agriculture Minister as our Scottish Policy Group (SPG) went activities alongside up to £10,000 funding with a wide range of societies to deliver PQASSO, which has been specifically The only exception to this is the Travel George Eustice MP, former Green Party from strength to strength. The biannual for those who are delivering regional careers advice and mentoring for women developed for the voluntary sector. The & Training Grant scheme, applications leader Natalie Bennett, and former Scottish Biodiversity Science conference engagement activities. addressed the theme of “Connecting in science. Mentoring and careers advice self-assessment process is being carried to which are reviewed by BES staff and Shadow Environment Secretary Kerry is provided through a range of free to People and Environment”, and was The Society delivered two national out by a working group comprising awards are made if the applicant meets McCarthy MP. The event was live- attend events and conferences. We preceded by a sold-out policy training public engagement events. The RHS trustees and staff, and covers a the published criteria and there are streamed to undergraduate students continue to provide free, paper-based day for early career members. For the Chelsea Flower Show exhibit focussed on wide range of activities from HR and sufficient funds available. attending our summer school, and the resources to schools. first time the SPG were invited to present identifying a range of no- bee pollinator finance to governance and external video is available online (http://www. 2.4.2 Investment Policy and to Scottish Government Staff at Victoria species gardeners could plant in their communications. The work will be britishecologicalsociety.org/discussions- During 2016, an Equality and Diversity Performance people-politics-planet-questions-event/). Quay on the latest ecological research, gardens, the estimated foot fall through Working Group was established completed in 2017 and will ensure that and the outputs of the latest iteration of this exhibit was 12,000. Glastonbury following the recommendations adopted the Society meets the standards of good The listed investments held by the In collaboration with the Zoological our “Pie and a Pint” discussion evenings took a series of activities to music by BES Council in December 2015. Work practice across all its activities. BES and managed by Barclays Wealth Society of London, Wildlife and directly informed Scottish Natural festival-goers and was a collaborative completed in 2016 included developing 2.4.1 Financial Management and Control were worth £5.3M in 2016 and their Countryside Link, the Royal Society of Heritage’s consultation on the future event with the James Hutton Institute, and publishing the Society’s equality and performance is in-line with appropriate Biology and the Campaign for Science of protected areas. OPAL and the University of Lancaster. diversity policy, developing equality and During the year the BES Committees benchmarks. The investment managers and Engineering, we organised a high- The estimated footfall through this event diversity guidelines for BES Committees, undertook a wide range of activities produce a quarterly summary of profile public discussion evening on 7 Finally, a policy focus was embedded was almost 1,000. throughout a number of BES events and introducing unconscious bias in pursuit of the Society’s charitable performance for the Honorary Treasurer September 2016 titled “Making Brexit training for staff and volunteers. The objectives. It is therefore necessary to and Executive Director. The investment over the course of the year, including The Society hosted its second Summer work for Ecology and Conservation”, Working Group will develop a range of have budgets and clearly written policies managers attend one meeting of the first policy themed day at our School, a residential school for 1st and focusing on the need to protect and use initiatives in 2017 including supporting about what activities will be funded and the Finance Board a year to discuss Annual Meeting in Liverpool. Most 2nd year undergraduates from across the UK’s world class scientific expertise those with disabilities. how, and to communicate these clearly to performance and general strategy. Day to notably, our joint symposium with the the UK including students from Northern during Brexit. We were able to raise our all involved. day investment decisions are delegated Cambridge Conservation Initiative (see Ireland. A total of 49 Undergraduate concerns with Government when our 2.4 Build a sustainable, resilient and to Barclays Wealth in accordance with the Meetings Section above), brought students from 37 universities attended President and Policy Manager attended efficient Society The Finance Board considers quarterly the agreed mandate. The BES has spread together delegates from research, policy the school, which was free to attend and a follow-up round table meeting with management accounts at its meetings its risk as far as practicable by part and practice, with international speakers travel bursaries were offered. We have a duty to ensure the long-term Robin Walker MP, Minister for Exiting through the year, with a narrative owning its headquarters building and the European Union. We have also and a public lecture by former UK viability of the Society. During 2009 BES provided by the Honorary Treasurer and Additionally we grew our relationship holding some of its reserves in long-term ensured that ecological science informs Government Chief Scientific Advisor, Council co-invested in Charles Darwin Executive Director, as appropriate. The with In2Science and hosted 10 A-level deposit accounts as well as in equities, Parliamentary debate by engaging with Sir John Beddington. House to provide new office space for narrative focuses on reasons for variation students from black and other minority bonds and trust funds. a number of Select Committee inquiries the Society, shared with several other against budget. During 2016 the Finance ethnicities or lower socio-economic throughout the year. Most significantly, organisations with complimentary Board agreed to improve the format of status as part of the above summer we submitted written evidence to the aims (i.e. the Society for Experimental the management accounts by introducing school. All school, travel, and some Environmental Audit Committee’s Biology). A second building close by was year to date as well as full year actual clothing costs were covered for students inquiry on the future of the UK’s natural purchased in 2013 and the two buildings and budget figures. The quarterly attending. Students were fully integrated environment outside the EU, and were together diversify income streams to management accounts are also circulated into the science programme and provided subsequently called to give oral evidence. increase the financial resilience of to budget holders. with in-depth support and careers Sue Hartley, BES President, gave the BES. mentoring throughout. These students evidence on behalf of the Society, and then went onto a celebratory event with
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We have continued to use the services income levels drop significantly. scaling back of the Society’s financial 2.4.6 Fundraising Policy of the Ethical Investment Research commitments if income dropped. The 3. THE SOCIETY’S 4. FUTURE DEVELOPMENTS Service (EIRIS) to provide us with The second purpose for holding reserves Society has a Head of Publishing to During 2016 the BES developed its is to set aside funds for specific major framework for fundraising by developing ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT Details of some of the wide range of information, based on a long list of deliver effective and efficient journal activities planned for 2017 are given under criteria and a scoring system, on the projects. The 2015 – 2019 Strategic management and to ensure that the a fundraising policy following the The purchase a new office for the Society Plan includes significant investment Charity Commission’s CC20 “Charity the headings of the Society’s principal environmental performance of FTSE Society keeps abreast of the latest in 2009 offered an unprecedented aims. The 2015 – 2019 Strategic Plan has listed companies. This information is in activities across the Society (e.g., an developments in journal publishing. Fundraising: A Guide to trustee duties”. opportunity for the Society to lead expansion of the publishing portfolio). provided an exciting and challenging updated twice annually and is used to We diversified our journals’ portfolio to Our guiding principles are that the way with regards to reducing our framework for our activities as the screen out companies with the worst Returns on investments held by the include an Open Access journal, Ecology environmental impact. Discussions Society will be required to part fund a we always: Society moves into its second century. environmental records and policies from and Evolution, by partnering with Wiley. with the other learned organisations As we approach the mid-point of that our portfolio. This gives a more objective number of the new activities contained This brings very useful expertise and • Protect personal data and lead to agreement that we should aim in the Strategic Plan. strategy we will be spending some time and consistent basis for excluding understanding into the BES on how to confidentiality; for a BREEAM rating of Excellent, the looking at it again to make sure that our second highest possible rating and a companies. Full details are available from The third is to ensure that the BES can run an Open Access title. Each journal strategic objectives are still relevant • Treat donors courteously and fairly; tough objective for a building designed the Honorary Treasurer or the BES Office. meet its operational needs and working has a strategic plan identifying ways and appropriate given the changing and built in 1959. BREEAM is a method A policy of this sort is consistent with capital requirements (the free reserve). in which it can increase its reputation • Respond promptly to donor queries environment we operate in. During 2017 of calculating the environmental impact the ethos of the BES and is important to The general funds are currently £1.4M and standing. In addition, in 2014, or complaints. we will continue to look at the potential of a building. The aim of achieving the maintaining the support of members and and represent approximately 5.8 months we developed a detailed publications for expansion of our publishing portfolio BREEAM Excellent rating was made the wider ecological research community. operating costs, excluding third party strategy closely aligned with the We will never: with plans to launch a new service, fundamental to the refurbishment project operating costs and grants. The Society Society’s overall strategic plan that Applied Ecological Resources, and to 2.4.3 Financial Performance • Share donor details with and had a major influence on decisions aims to hold between 3 and 6 months provides a long term vision of growth and develop proposals for other new titles. another charity for the purposes ranging from how to run recycling onsite The accounts show a surplus of £0.48M operating costs as free reserves. development for the journals’ portfolio. We will be extending our international of their fundraising; during the demolition stage through to (surplus of £0.55M in 2015) before net This strategy is reviewed annually. activities with our Joint Annual Meeting the choice of mechanical and engineering gains on investments of £0.51M (gains The designated tangible fixed asset fund • Telephone to ask for a donation unless in Ghent, Belgium alongside the A failure to diversity income sources: solutions, selection of the final fixtures of £0.02M in 2015). Total funds of the comprises the net book value of fixed donors have specifically asked us to Gesellschaft für Ökologie and NecoV in Publications make up 83% of the and fittings, and the development of a Society were £9.6M at the end of 2016 assets held by the Society, principally the do so; association with the European Ecological Society’s offices in London, and as such Society’s income. To mitigate the risk staff transport plan. We were delighted (£8.6M at the end of 2015). of a fall in publishing income we not Federation. We will be developing our it is not available to meet the general • Bombard donors with emails; to achieve a BREEAM Excellent rating only invest in our publications but we support for mid-career ecologists by 2.4.4 Reserves Policy running costs of the Society. in 2010. The refurbishment of the second expanding our successful grant-writing have started to take steps to diversify • Pass donor personal data to a third building represents the same opportunity retreat. The challenges and opportunities The Society holds reserves for The level of reserves and the Society’s our income streams. In 2016 we party such as a commercial partners or and we are again achieved a BREEAM presented by Brexit will be a significant three purposes. financial strategy is regularly reviewed recruited and employed a Fundraising publishers unless we have been given Excellent rating. strand of work for the policy team and and monitored by the Trustees. The and Development Manager to help explicit consent to do so. we will be organising two Symposia The first is to act as a buffer against reserves policy is reviewed annually at achieve our objective of doubling non- The move to Charles Darwin House has meetings. We will continue to develop our uncertainties over future journal the Finance Board meeting in September publications between 2015 and 2019. Our full fundraising policy is available created a new base line for resource equality and diversity work to ensure that publishing income and generate income and any recommended changes are Our investment portfolio produces from the BES office. consumption from 2010 onwards, ecology is open and welcoming to people for its operational needs. This is held as considered by Council in December a significant return each year and although the increase in occupancy of the for diverse backgrounds. In 2017 we will an expendable endowment and stands of that year. Charles Darwin House 2 also provides office floors to rent during 2010 and into at £5.5M (£5.0M in 2015). Continuing rental income. 2011, the second phase of construction be reviewing our governance structures concern over the stability of academic 2.4.5 Principal Risks and Uncertainties in 2010, the significant increase in the to make sure they provide the right publishing pricing models suggests A sustained decline in membership: use of the conference suite over this time framework for the Society’s activities. The BES has a risk register. It is that there is significant insecurity over The Society’s Membership Committee period and a significant increase in the reviewed in detail each spring by the The BES is planning a range of activities this very significant source of income receives regular reporting on number of staff working at CDH in have BES Committees and then approved and events during 2017 so that we for the Society. In addition, the Society membership numbers and trends. influenced electricity consumption. The by Council in June. The risk register continue to make progress towards our has a high level of commitment to Council regularly discusses the role drop in energy use in 2015 and through identifies areas of risk, ranks them in vision of a world inspired, informed and its current expenditure levels in the of learned societies such as the BES 2016 is most likely a result of a decrease priority ordered according to impact influenced by ecology. short and medium term. Significant in the 21st century and reviews the in the number of people working in CDH1 multiplied by probability, states who or uncertainty over most of the income activities of the organization to ensure as tenants moved to the new CDH2 which Committee is responsible combined with a high commitment to we provide excellent services that are building during the year. expenditure represents a major risk to for each risk, states how the risk is wanted and needed by the ecological the organisation. The Society is using the currently mitigated and what actions community. The BES continues to expendable endowment fund to gradually remain outstanding. work on the challenge of recruiting YeaR energy Consumption at CDH1 accumulate reserves so as to provide Some of the major risk areas are: A major new members and turning them into 2010 391,352 kWh greater long-term stability without long-term supporters of the Society. A loss in income from journals resulting 2011 372,939 kWh affecting its day-to-day activities. It is from a change in publication models or decline in membership is important for the Trustees’ intention to build this and a decrease in impact factor. Income from reputation and representational reasons, 2012 394,633 kWh other designated funds for this purpose not financial ones. journals is a very significant proportion 2013 407,474 kWh to approximately £10M. The income of the Society’s funds. There is continued from this sum will help to mitigate the uncertainty regarding publications 2014 441,169 kWh possible future decline in publishing models and the timeframe in which 2015 414,437 kWh income, allowing the Society to continue this might happen. This risk is being its work, and provide funds to invest in mitigated in a variety of ways. We have 2016 383,667 kWh future income-generating projects. It also a reserves policy that would provide enables the Society to take a planned a sufficient buffer to allow a gradual approach to reducing expenditure should
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5. GOVERNANCE: CONSTITUTION, 6. TRUSTEES AND ADVISORS Executive Director Chairpersons of standing 7. COUNCIL’S RESPONSIBILITIES Statement of disclosure to auditors: • so far as the directors are aware, STRUCTURE AND MANAGEMENT H Norman Committees (as at date of The Council of the BES (the Trustees and there is no relevant audit information OF THE SOCIETY this report) directors) are responsible for preparing of which the company’s auditors are Members of Council Principal address the Annual Report and the financial unaware; and The BES is a company limited by Finance Board T Ezard statements in accordance with applicable guarantee (Registration no. 1522897) C Banks-Leite Appointed Charles Darwin House law and regulations. • they have taken all the steps that they Management Board S Hartley and has no share capital. As a registered December 2016 12 Roger Street ought to have taken as directors in Company law requires the Council to charity (Registration no. 281213), it is London WC1N 2JU Education & Careers W Gosling order to make themselves aware of R Bardgett Appointed prepare financial statements for each governed by its Memorandum and Articles Committee any relevant audit information and to December 2016 financial year. Under that law the Council of Association. establish that the company’s auditors Auditors have elected to prepare the financial P Brotherton are aware of that information. Council is the supreme governing Grants Committee R Hails statements in accordance with United haysmacintyre body of the BES. Council comprises Y Buckley Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting This report has been prepared in 26 Red Lion Square Meetings Committee Z Davies the President, President- Elect or Past Practice (United Kingdom Accounting accordance with the provisions Z Davies London President, two Vice Presidents, Honorary Membership Committee A Pullin Standards and applicable law). The applicable to entities subject to WC1R 4AG Treasurer, Honorary Secretary, Chair of M Eichhorn financial statements are required by law the small companies’ regime. the Education and Careers Committee, to give a true and fair view of the state of T Ezard Appointed Personnel Committee A Vanbergen Chair of the Meetings Committee, Chair Bankers affairs of the company and of the surplus 8. AUDITORS December 2016 or deficit of the company for that period. of the Publications Committee, Chair of Policy Committee J Vickery In preparing these financial statements, the Policy Committee, and 12 Ordinary W Gosling Barclays Bank plc During the year the BES appointed Members. Council is responsible for Leicester Publications Committee J Hill the Council are required to: haysmacintyre as auditors. nominating officer and chair posts and Diana Gilbert LE87 2BB • select suitable accounting policies members of the Society are able to put A Gray Resigned and then apply them consistently; themselves forward for these roles. December 2016 Solicitors This report was approved by Nomination for Ordinary Members is open • observe the methods and principles the Council on 21 June 2017. to the whole membership. All members of R Hails Stone King LLP in the Charities SORP’; Council are elected by the membership at S Hartley Boundary House Professor Susan Hartley the AGM. All newly appointed Trustees 91 Charterhouse Street • make judgements and estimates that Member of the Council go through a process of induction, Jane Hill London, EC1M 6HR are reasonable and prudent; which fully briefs them about their roles, Nina Hautekèete • state whether applicable UK responsibilities and the BES. During their Accounting Standards have been tenure trustees have the opportunity to O Lewis Resigned Investment Advisors followed, subject to any material have ongoing training, paid for by the December 2016 Barclays Wealth departures disclosed and explained Society, to help them fulfil their duties. M O’Callaghan Resigned Charity Investments Team in the financial statements; There are nine committees that report December 2016 15th Floor • prepare the financial statements on to Council. These committees cover 1 Churchill Place A Pullin the going concern basis unless it is specific areas of work such as education, London E14 5HP inappropriate to presume that the meetings, publications, finance etc., and D Purves Resigned Company will continue in business. comprise Council members and, in most December 2016 Office bearers cases, ordinary members drawn from the H Roy Appointed The Council is responsible for keeping Society’s members. President S Hartley December 2016 proper accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time The Society has a governance document President Elect Richard Bardgett E Sayer Resigned the financial position of the British that details the structure, terms of Appointed December 2016 Ecological Society (BES) and enable them reference and membership of Council December 2016 to ensure that the accounts comply with and its committees. A member of staff Dawn Scott Vice President R Hails the Companies Act 2006. They are also supports the work of each committee. I Stott responsible for safeguarding the assets Vice President A Pullin of the BES and hence for taking The 2015 – 2019 strategic plan W Sutherland Resigned Hon. Secretary A Vanbergen reasonable steps for the prevention and for the Society provides an exciting December 2016 detection of fraud and other irregularities. and challenging framework for the Hon. Treasurer T Ezard P Thomas Appointed Society’s activities as it moves into its Appointed December 2016 second century. December 2016 Remuneration of all staff, including key L Turnbull management personnel, is considered A Vanbergen on an annual basis by the Society’s Personnel Committee. The Personnel J Vickery Committee considers sector benchmarks when setting salaries.
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Independent Auditor’s Report Statement of financial activities to the Members of the British Ecological Society Incorporating the income and expenditure account
We have audited the financial statements Scope of the audit of the Matters on which we are required of British Ecological Society for the financial statements to report by exception For the year ended 31 December 2016 year ended 31 December 2016, which comprise the Statement of Financial A description of the scope of an audit We have nothing to report in respect Restated Activities, the Balance Sheet, the Cash of financial statements is provided on of the following matters where the Notes Unrestricted Restricted Expendable 2016 2015 flow Statement and the related notes. the Financial Reporting Council’s Companies Act 2006 requires us to report £’000 £’000 Endowment £’000 £’000 website at www.frc.org.uk/ to you if, in our opinion: The financial reporting framework that Income from has been applied in their preparation auditscopeukprivate. • adequate accounting records have Donations & Legacies - 5 - 5 10 is applicable law and United Kingdom Opinion on financial statements not been kept or returns adequate for Accounting Standards including our audit have not been received from Other Trading Activities Financial Reporting Standard 102 In our opinion the financial statements: branches not visited by us; or Investment income 2 13 - 115 128 131 The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of • give a true and fair view of the state of • the financial statements are not in Other income 53 - - 53 10 Ireland (United Kingdom Generally the charitable company’s affairs as at agreement with the accounting records 66 5 115 186 151 Accepted Accounting Practice). 31 December 2016 and of the charitable and returns; or company’s net movement in funds This report is made solely to the including its income and expenditure, • certain disclosures of Trustees’ Incoming resources from charitable activities charitable company’s Members, as a for the year then ended; remuneration specified by law are not Publications 3,205 - - 3,205 2,946 body, in accordance with Chapter 3 made; or of Part 16 of the Companies Act 2006. • have been properly prepared in Income from conferences 421 - - 421 368 accordance with United Kingdom • we have not received all the Our audit work has been undertaken Subscriptions 106 - - 106 130 so that we might state to the charitable Generally Accepted Accounting information and explanations we company’s members those matters Practice; and require for our audit; or Total income 3,798 5 115 3,918 3,595 we are required to state to them in • have been prepared in accordance • the Trustees were not entitled to an Auditor’s Report and for no other Expenditure with the requirements of the prepare the financial statements in purpose. To the fullest extent permitted Companies Act 2006. accordance with the small companies Expenditure on raising funds by law, we do not accept or assume regime and to take advantage of the responsibility to anyone other than the Investment management fees 4 - 38 42 6 Opinion on other matters prescribed small companies’ exemption from the charitable company and its Members, by the Companies Act 2006 requirement to prepare a Strategic Expenditure on charitable activities as a body, for our audit work, for this Report or in preparing the Directors’ Publications 1,551 - - 1,551 1,464 report, or for the opinion we have formed. In our opinion, based on the work Report. undertaken in the course of the audit: Meetings 742 - - 742 592 Respective responsibilities of Trustees Kathryn Burtonfor and on behalf of and auditor • The information given in the Trustees’ Research 331 - - 331 266 Annual Report (which incorporates haysmacintyre Education 267 - - 267 255 As explained more fully in the Trustees’ the directors’ report) for the financial Chartered Accountants Responsibilities Statement, the Trustees year for which the financial statements Registered Auditors Policy 227 5 - 232 206 (who are also the directors of the are prepared is consistent with the 26 Red Lion Square Bulletin and other services 279 - - 279 256 charitable company for the purposes financial statements; and London of company law) are responsible for the Total expenditure 3 3,401 5 38 3,444 3,045 WC1R 4AG preparation of the financial statements • The Trustees’ Annual Report (which and for being satisfied that they give incorporates the directors’ report) has Date: 21 June 2017 a true and fair view. been prepared in accordance with Net income before gains on investment 397 - 77 474 550 applicable legal requirements. Net gains on investments 9 51 - 458 509 20 We have been appointed auditor under the Companies Act 2006. Our In the light of our knowledge and responsibility is to audit and express understanding of the charitable Net movement in funds in year 448 - 535 983 570 an opinion on the financial statements company and its environment obtained Fund balance brought forward 3,592 2 5,000 8,594 8,024 in accordance with applicable law and in the course of the audit, we have not International Standards on Auditing identified material misstatements in Fund balances carried forward 13 4,040 2 5,535 9,577 8,594 (UK and Ireland). Those standards the Trustees’ Annual Report (which require us to comply with the Auditing incorporates the directors’ report). Practices Board’s (APB’s) Ethical Standards for Auditors.
All of the above results derive from continuing activities. There are no gains and losses other than those disclosed above. The accompanying notes form an integral part of these financial statements.
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Balance Sheet Statement of Cashflows For the year ended 31 December 2016 For the year ended 31 December 2016
Notes 2016 2015 2016 2015 £’000 £’000 £’000 £’000 £’000 £’000 £’000 £’000 Fixed assets Cash flow from operating activities Tangible assets 8 2,652 2,704 Net (expenditure)/income Investments 9 6,114 5,556 983 570 8,766 8,260 Adjustments for: Interest income (128) (131) Current assets Depreciation 76 64 Debtors 11 935 665 (Increase)/Decrease in debtors (270) (24) Cash on deposit and in hand 315 154 (Decrease)/Increase in creditors (46) (5) 1,250 819 Net cash provided by/(used in) operating activities 615 474
Creditors: amounts falling due within one year 12 (439) (485) Cash flow from investing activities Net current assets 811 334 Purchase of tangible fixed assets (24) (306) Net assets 9,577 8,594 Investment income – bank interest 128 131 Purchase of investments (2,327) (1,359) Represented by Disposal of investments 2,278 713 Unrestricted funds Gain/(Losses) on investments (509) (20) General fund 1,388 888 Net cash (used in) investing activities (454) (841) Designated – Tangible fixed assets fund 2,652 2,704 4,040 3,592 Change in cash and cash equivalents in the year 161 (367)
Restricted fund 2 2 Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the year 154 521 Expendable Endowment fund 5,535 5,000 13 9,577 8,594 Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the year 315 154
Included in the above reserves are unrealised gains of £789,842 (2015 gains £333,326).
The accompanying notes form an integral part of these financial statements.
The accounts on pages 21 to 35 were approved and authorised for issue by the Council on 21 June 2017 and signed on its behalf by
Professor Susan Hartley Member of the Council
The accompanying notes form an integral part of these financial statements.
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i) Pensions k) Employee benefits m) Cash at bank and in hand
BES operates defined contribution The costs of short-term employee Cash at bank and cash in hand includes Notes to the accounts pension arrangements, the assets of benefits are recognised as a liability cash and short term highly liquid which are held separately from those of and an expense, unless those costs are investments. the BES in independently administered required to be recognised as part of the For the year ended 31 December 2016 funds. Contributions are charged to the cost of stock or fixed assets. n) Creditors income and expenditure account as they Creditors are recognised where the become payable. The cost of any unused holiday 1. Accounting policies financial statements, when there is a e) Depreciation entitlement is recognised in the period charity has a present obligation resulting legally enforceable right to set off the j) Fund accounting in which the employee’s services are from a past event that will probably Depreciation has been calculated to write result in the transfer of funds to a third a) Basis of accounting recognised amounts and there is an received. intention to settle on a net basis or to off the cost of assets over their expected General funds comprise the accumulated party and the amount due to settle the The financial statements have been realise the asset and settle the liability useful lives as follows: surplus or deficit and are available for Termination benefits are recognised obligation can be measured or estimated use at the discretion of the Council in immediately as an expense when the reliably. Creditors and provisions are prepared in accordance with Accounting simultaneously. With the exceptions Freehold property - 2% per annum on cost and Reporting by Charities: Statement of prepayments and deferred income furtherance of the general objectives of company is demonstrably committed normally recognised at their settlement of Recommended Practice applicable all other debtor and creditor balances Furniture, fixtures and equipment – 33% the BES. to terminate the employment of an amount after allowing for any trade to charities preparing their accounts in are considered to be basic financial per annum on a straight line basis. employee or to provide termination discounts due. Restricted funds are funds subject to accordance with the Financial Reporting instruments under FRS 102. benefits. specific restrictive covenants imposed by o) Judgements and estimates Standard applicable in the UK and The Society’s policy is to capitalise assets c) Income purchased over £1,000. donors or by the purpose of the appeal. l) Debtors Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective Judgements made by the Trustee, in the 1 January 2015) – (Charities SORP (FRS i) Subscriptions income: f) Investments Designated funds comprise funds which Trade and other debtors are recognised application of these accounting policies 102)), the Financial Reporting Standard All subscriptions income is accounted have been set aside at the discretion of at the settlement amount due after any that have significant effect on the applicable in the UK and Republic of for in the period to which it relates. Investments are stated at market value. the Council for specific purposes. trade discount offered. Prepayments are financial statements and estimates with Ireland (FRS 102) and the Companies Subscriptions receipts in advance are It is the BES’s policy to keep valuations valued at the amount prepaid net of any a significant risk of material adjustment All income and expenditure of the BES Act 2006. Assets and liabilities are recorded as deferred income. up to date such that when investments trade discounts due. in the next year are deemed to be in initially recognised at historical cost are sold there is no gain or loss arising. has been included in the Statement of relation to the valuation of investments or transaction value unless otherwise ii) Other income: As a result the Statement of Financial Financial Activities. and are discussed above. stated in the relevant accounting All other income has been accounted Activities only includes those unrealised policy note(s). for on a receivable basis. gains and losses arising from the revaluation of the investment portfolio The trustees have assessed whether d) Expenditure (including grants) throughout the year. Disclosure is made the use of the going concern basis is 2. Investment income in note 9 of the difference between the appropriate and have considered possible Expenditure is classified under the historical cost and the sale proceeds of events or conditions that might cast principal categories of charitable and the investments sold during the year. significant doubt on the ability of the other expenditure rather than the type of 2016 2015 charity to continue as a going concern. expense, in order to provide more useful g) Foreign currencies £’000 £’000 information to users of the accounts. The trustees have made this assessment Income from listed investments 123 110 for a period of at least one year from Monetary assets and liabilities Charitable activities comprise direct the date of approval of the financial denominated in a foreign currency are Interest receivable 5 21 expenditure including direct staff costs statements. In particular the trustees translated into sterling at the exchange attributable to the activity. Support costs 128 131 have considered the charities forecasts rate ruling on the Balance Sheet date. have been allocated to activities based on and projections and have taken account the average staff time spent. Governance Transactions in foreign currencies of pressures on donation and investment costs are those incurred in connection are recorded at the rate of exchange income. After making enquiries the with the management of the Society’s prevailing at the date of transaction. trustees have concluded that there is a assets, organisational administration reasonable expectation that the charity and compliance with constitutional and All exchange differences are taken to the has adequate resources to continue in statutory requirements. Support costs are statement of financial activities. operational existence for the foreseeable allocated on the basis of time spent on future. The charity therefore continues h) Operating lease each activity. to adopt the going concern basis in Rentals payable under operating leases preparing its financial statements. Grants payable are charged in the are charged against income on a straight year when the offer is conveyed to the line basis over the lease term. b) Financial Instruments recipient except in those cases where the The BES has elected to apply the offer is conditional, such grants being provisions of Section 11 ‘Basic Financial recognised as expenditure when the Instruments’ and Section 12 ‘Other conditions attaching are fulfilled. Grants Financial Instruments Issues’ of FRS offered subject to conditions which have 102 to all of its financial instruments. not been met at the year-end are noted Financial instruments are recognised as a commitment, but not accrued in the Charity’s balance sheet when the as expenditure. Charity becomes party to the contractual provisions of the instrument. Financial assets and liabilities are offset, with the net amounts presented in the
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3. Analysis of total resources expended 4. Grants
Direct Staff Other Direct Support TOTAL TOTAL Grant commitments are as follows: Costs Costs Costs 2016 2015 2016 2015 £’000 £’000 £’000 £’000 £’000 £’000 £’000 Grant commitments at 1 January 125 235 Cost of Generating Income 38 4 - 42 6 Awards made during year 343 282 Bulletin & Other services 98 40 141 279 256 Payments made during the year (279) (392) Publications 396 941 214 1,551 1,464 Grant commitments at 31 December 189 125 Meetings 81 599 62 742 592
Research 19 302 10 331 266 Details of significant grant awards are detailed on the BES’s website. The majority of grants awarded are to individuals. Grants to Education 101 94 72 267 255 institutions are relatively few in number and low value. Policy 99 67 66 232 206 832 2,047 565 3,444 3,045 5. Net incoming resources Support Costs 2016 2015 £’000 £’000 is stated after charging: Governance Costs 2016 2015 Governance staff costs 8 8 £’000 £’000 Audit Fee 9 6 Depreciation 76 65 17 14 Auditor’s remuneration
audit services 9 6 Other Support Costs Support staff costs 53 46 Other than disclosed in note 15 members of Council did not receive any remuneration during the year. Expenses reimbursed to 13 Non salary staff costs 55 36 (2015: 15) Members of Council in the year equalled £9,731 (2015: £10,588). Property 63 58 IT costs 57 25 Venue Costs 9 8 6. Taxation Publicity 15 15 Fees / Affiliations 47 48 The BES is a registered charity and as such its income and gains are exempt from corporation tax to the extent that they are applied Office running costs 37 41 to its charitable objectives. There is no corporation tax charge for the year. Depreciation 76 64 Bulletin 68 78 Outsourced finance & payroll 32 29 Legal & Consultancy 9 14 Website - 2 Bank charges 27 36 565 514
*Support costs are allocated on the basis of time spent on each activity.
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7. Employees 8. Tangible fixed assets
The actual number of employees during the year was 21.1 (2015: 20.4) 20162015 20152014 Furniture, Freehold fixtures and Membership 1.5 1.51.8 property equipment Total Publishing 10.29.6 9.69.1 Charity £’000 £’000 £’000 Conferences / Meetings 2.0 2.01.9 Cost Research 0.4 0.40.6 1 January 2016 2,888 97 2,985 Education 2.5 2.52.2 Additions 17 7 24 Policy 3.23.5 3.53.9 31 December 2016 2,905 104 3,009 Governance 1.30.9 0.90.7 Depreciation 21.120.4 20.420.2 1 January 2016 208 73 281 £’000 £’000 Charge for the year 58 18 76 Staff costs during the year amounted to: 31 December 2016 266 91 357 Wages and salaries 749684 684646 Net book value Social security costs 7772 7266 31 December 2016 2,639 13 2,652 Employer’s pension contributions 4542 4240 31 December 2015 2,680 24 2,704 Redundancy 79822 752- 893 798
One (2014: one) employee earned £70,000-£79,999 during the year. The employer’s pension contributions in respect of this employee during the year was £5,373.
The total employee benefits including pension contributions of the key management personnel were £224,188 (2014: £217,825).
During 2009 the charity purchased a part share (36.1%) in the freehold 12 Roger Street as its new headquarters. It shares the ownership of the building with other biological focused charities and the property is held by a nominee company on trust for the Co- owners as tenants in common.
During 2011 the charity had disposed of 6.1% of the freehold in 12 Roger Street to the Society of Biology in accordance with the One (2015: one) employee earned £70,000-£79,999 during the year. The employer’s pension contributions in respect of this employee original plan to share the ownership of the building with other biological focused charities. This transaction resulted in a gain on during the year was £5,875. disposal of £69,498.
The aggregate benefits including pension contributions of the key management personnel were £262,234 (2015: £248,555), the During 2013 the Charity completed the purchase of a part share (21.1%) in the freehold property of 107 Grays Inn Road. As part of trustees were not remunerated for services to the charity. this transaction the Charity disposed of a part share of its interest in 12 Roger Street, reducing its interest in that property from 30% to 21.1%. It shares the ownership of the buildings with other biological focused charities and the property is held by Charles Darwin During the year settlement agreements were paid of £21,854 (2015: £nil). House Limited on trust for the Co-owners. This transaction resulted in a gain on disposal of £95,963.
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9. Investments 10. Subsidiary undertakings
20152016 20142015 The BES holds 100% of the issued share capital of BES Trading Company Limited, a company registered in England and Wales. £’000 £’000 The sole activity of BES Trading Company Limited was to organise the 11th International Congress of Ecology in August 2013. At 31 December 2016 the Share Capital and net assets of BES Trading Company Limited amounted to £2 – (2014 £2). Market value 1 January 20152016 4,8905,556 4,2534,890 During 2009 the BES acquired 36.1% of Charles Darwin House Limited, a company set up to manage the building. During 2011 Additions 1,3592,327 1,0791,359 shares representing 6.1% were disposed of leaving a remaining interest of 30.0%. During 2013 shares representing 8.9% were Disposals proceeds (507) (786) Disposals proceeds (1,176) (507) disposed of leaving a remaining interest of 21.1%. Net investment gain 20 103 Net investment gain 509 20 At 30 June 2016 the net assets according to the financial statements were £1,000. Movement in deposits (1,102)(206) (206)241 2016 2015 £’000 £’000 Market value 31 December 20152016 5,5566,114 4,8905,556 Income and Expenditure: Historical cost at 31 December 20152016 5,2235,325 4,5465,223 Turnover - - Accumulated unrealised gains based on historic cost at 31 December 20152016 333789 344333 Cost of sales - - Realised gain in year based on historic cost 45631 15431 Gross profit - - Represented by: Represented by: Interest Received - - UK equity shares 1,448 1,067 UK equity shares 1,616 1,448 Net result - - Overseas equities 1,4142,708 1,0011,414 Balance Sheet: UK fixed interest 250318 353250 Net result - - Overseas fixed interest 182196 18241 UK Other 272371 191272 Overseas Other 100117 140100 11. Debtors Market value of listed investments 5,326 3,666 Market value of listed investments 3,666 2,793 Investment in associated undertaking - - 2016 2015 Investment in associatedsubsidiary undertaking - - £’000 £’000 InvestmentAmounts held in subsidiaryin cash undertaking 788- 1,890- Trade debtors 554 475 AmountsTotal held in cash 1,8906,114 2,0965,556 Other debtors 14 49 Total 5,556 4,890 Prepayments and accrued income 326 133 VAT Refund 41 8 935 665
12. Creditors: amounts falling due within one year
2016 2015 £’000 £’000 Trade creditors 151 268 Social security & other taxes 24 21 Other creditors 2 6 Accruals and deferred income 73 65 Grants payable (note 4) 189 125 439 485
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Movement in deferred income Endowment
2016 2015 Expendable endowment funds of £5,535k at 31 December 2016 are represented by investment (2015 – £5,000k). £’000 £’000 Expendable Endowment fund As at 1 January 2016 30 35 Represents the value of investments that the Trustees believe they need to hold, to protect income in the longer term, in order to Released in year (30) (35) ensure that the society can carry out its mission and thrive. The Trustees believe the fund should be £10,000,000 in order to provide Deferred in year 40 30 sufficient long-term income. This is because most of the society’s income is from academic publishing, the profitability of which is widely expected to begin to decline significantly within the next few years. The society has just begun formal long-term financial As at 31 December 2016 40 30 modelling to assess the balance of income expenditure against the risk of future income declines.
13. Movement in Funds 2016 2015 Fund Net gains Fund Fund Net gains Fund balances on Balances balances on Balances brought Investment Carried brought Investment Carried forward Income Expenditure Assets Transfers Forward forward Income Expenditure Assets Transfers Forward 1/1/2016 31/12/2016 1/1/2015 31/12/2015 £’000 £’000 £’000 £’000 £’000 £’000 £’000 £’000 £’000 £’000 £’000 £’000 Restricted Restricted Alex S Watt Breckland Research Trust 2 - - - - 2 Alex S Watt Breckland Research Trust 2 - - - - 2 Policy Assistant Fund - 5 (5) - - - Policy Assistant Fund - 10 (10) - - - Total restricted funds 2 5 (5) - - 2 Total restricted funds 2 10 (10) - - 2
Unrestricted funds Unrestricted funds General 888 3,798 (3,400) 50 52 1,388 General 560 3,585 (3,035) 20 (242) 888 Tangible fixed asset fund 2,704 - - - (52) 2,652 Tangible fixed asset fund 2,462 - - - 242 2,704 Total unrestricted funds 3,592 3,798 (3,400) 50 - 4,040 Total unrestricted funds 3,022 3,585 (3,035) 20 - 3,592 Expendable Endowment Funds 5,000 115 (38) 458 - 5,535 Expendable Endowment Funds 5,000 - - - - 5,000 Total Funds 8,594 3,918 (3,443) 508 - 9,577 Total Funds 8,024 3,595 (3,045) 20 - 8,594
Restricted Income in the year to 31 December 2015 of £10,000 relates to donations and legacies. Expenditure of £10,000 was in relation to Policy.
14. Analysis of net assets between funds Designated 2016 Tangible fixed asset fund 2016 2016 General Designated Restricted Endowment Total Total Represents the net book value of tangible fixed assets in use by the Society and therefore not available to the Council to meet future £’000 £’000 £’000 £’000 £’000 £’000 expenditure. A transfer is made each year to reflect the change in net book value. Tangible assets - 2,652 - - 2,652 2,704 Restricted Investments 579 - - 5,535 6,114 5,556
Restricted funds of £1,985 at 31 December 2016 are represented by cash on deposit (2015 – £1,985). Net current assets / liabilities 809 - 2 - 811 334 Net assets 1,388 2,652 2 5,535 9,577 8,594 Alex S Watt Breckland Research Trust Funds administered by the BES in the memory of Alex Watt to provide funding for small scale research projects aimed to enhance our understanding of the conservation of the Breckland Region.
Policy Assistant Fund Restricted donation to support a staff member to work in the policy area. The staff member was appointed in February 2013.
The Society holds €33,580 (2015 €36,996) on behalf of the European Ecological Foundation. This balance does not form part of these accounts.
88 89 BES Bulletin VOL 48:3 | September 2017
Contact details 15 Related party transactions
No transactions have taken place with either Members or Senior Management Team. It is the policy of the BES that Committee members who have an interest in any grant awarding decisions must leave the room at the time the awarding decision is made. Officers: Ecological Reviews: our staff: Emma Sayer – the existing assistant editor of the Bulletin, was appointed as a trustee in the prior year. She continued to be paid President: Sue Hartley Series Editor: Phil H. Warren Executive Director: Hazel Norman at the fixed rate and has received £3,730 (2015 £1,513) in the year. She has received no remuneration in her capacity as a trustee. [email protected] [email protected] Email: [email protected] President-Elect: Richard Bardgett Editorial Office: Kate Harrison Communications Manager: Richard English [email protected] [email protected] Email: [email protected]
Vice-President: Rosie Hails Events Manager: Amy Everard 16 The George Jackson Estate [email protected] Special Interest Groups: Email: [email protected]
As part of the George Jackson bequest the Society was left as residuary beneficiary of a revisionary bequest. The property passes Vice-President: Andrew Pullin Agricultural Ecology: Barbara Smith Grants and Events Officer: Siri McDonnell to the Society upon the death of the life interest. Because of the uncertainty as to value and timing the value of the property is not [email protected] [email protected] Email: [email protected] included with these financial statements. Honorary Treasurer: Tom Ezard Aquatic Ecology: Nessa O’Connor and Lee Membership Manager: Helen Peri [email protected] Brown [email protected] Email: [email protected]
Honorary Secretary: Adam Vanbergen Citizen Science: Helen Roy and Michael Pocock Membership and Support Assistant: [email protected] [email protected] Phoebe Johnston Email: phoebe@@britishecologicalsociety.org Honorary Chairpersons: Climate Change Ecology: Mike Morecroft [email protected] Fundraising and Development Manager: Public and Policy: Juliet Vickery Paul Bower [email protected] Conservation Ecology: Nathalie Pettorelli Email: [email protected] [email protected] Meetings: Zoe Davies External Affairs Manager: Karen Devine [email protected] Ecological Genetics: Paul Ashton Email: [email protected] [email protected] Publications: Jane Hill Education Officer: Amy Padfield [email protected] Forest Ecology: Alan Jones Email: [email protected] [email protected] Education, Training and Careers: Will Gosling Policy Manager: Ben Connor [email protected] Macroecology: Rich Grenyer Email: [email protected] [email protected] Grants: Rosie Hails [email protected] Senior Policy Officer: Camilla Morrison-Bell Microbial Ecology: Rachael Antwis Email: [email protected] Membership Services: Andrew Pullin and Xavier Harrison [email protected] [email protected] Press Officer: Sabrina Weiss Email: [email protected] Movement Ecology: Luca Borger Editors: [email protected] Head of Publishing: Catherine Hill Email: [email protected] Journal of Ecology: Edited by David Gibson Parasite and Pathogen Ecology and Evolution: (Executive Editor), Richard Bardgett, Mark Rees Jo Lello [email protected] Managing Editor: Emilie Aimé and Amy Austin, with Andrea Baier and Email: [email protected] James Ross. Peatland Research: Ian Rotherham Email: [email protected] [email protected] Senior Managing Editor: Andrea Baier Email: [email protected] Journal of Animal Ecology: Edited by Plant Environmental Physiology: Katie Field Ken Wilson (Executive Editor), Ben Sheldon, [email protected] Managing Editor: Erika Newton Jean-Michel Gaillard and Nate Sanders with Email: [email protected] Plants, Soils, Ecosystems: Ellen Fry Erika Newton and Simon Hoggart. [email protected] Assistant Editor, Journal of Animal Ecology: Email: admin@journalofanimalecology Simon Hoggart Journal of Applied Ecology: Edited by Quantitative Ecology: Nick Golding Email: [email protected] quantitative@britishecologicalsociety Jos Barlow (Executive Editor), Michael Bode, Assistant Editor, Functional Ecology: Nathalie Pettorelli, Phil Stephens and Martin Teaching and Learning: Lesley Batty Jennifer Meyer Nuñez, with Erika Newton and Alice Plane [email protected] Email: [email protected] Email: admin@journalofappliedecology Tropical Ecology: Lindsay Banin Assistant Editor, Methods in Ecology Functional Ecology: Edited by Charles Fox [email protected] and Evolution: Chris Grieves (Executive Editor), Duncan Irschick, Email: [email protected] Ken Thompson, Alan Knapp and Craig White, with Andrea Baier and Jennifer Meyer. our Office: Assistant Editor, Journal of Ecology: Email: [email protected] James Ross The British Ecological Society, Charles Darwin Email: [email protected] Methods in Ecology and Evolution: Edited by House, 12 Roger Street, London WC1N 2JU, UK. Rob Freckleton (Executive Editor), Bob O’Hara, Assistant Editor, Journal of Applied Ecology: Tel: +44 0207 685 2500. Fax: +44 0207 685 2501. Jana Vamosi and Lee Hsiang Liow, with Kirsty Lucas Andrea Baier and Chris Grieves. General email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Email: www.britishecologicalsociety.org Assistant Editor, Ecological Reviews: [email protected] @BritishEcolSoc Kate Harrison www.facebook.com/BritishEcolSoc Biological Flora: Email: [email protected] Anthony Davy, University of East Anglia, Norwich [email protected].
The Bulletin: Edited by Alan Crowden Email: [email protected]
90 Looking back
An example of long-term recording in Lady Park Wood… The recording team of Jonathan Spencer and Susan Peterken measuring a small leaved lime on 6 March 1984 (left). By 15 March 2016 (right), 32 years later, the lime had grown from 97cmGBH to 140cm; developed substantial low branches from the trunk; and fractionally increased its angle of lean. The ivy died between 1986 and 1992. The recorders, of course, have hardly changed, though Jonathan has been able to afford a new anorak and boots. The project was proposed by the Forestry Commission in 1938 and has been implemented by Oxford University and the Nature Conservancy (and successors) with Forestry Commission support. For more about Lady Park Wood, see the article by George Peterken in this issue.