The Ecology of Four Scarce Wetland Molluscs
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The Ecology of Four Scarce Wetland Molluscs R&D Project Record W1-038/PR A Watson Research Contractor: Cardiff University Publishing Organisation Environment Agency, Rio House, Waterside Drive, Aztec West, Almondsbury, BRISTOL, BS32 4UD. Tel: 01454 624400 Fax: 01454 624409 Website: www.environment-agency.gov.uk © Environment Agency 2002 December 2002 ISBN 1844320812 This document is the result of work jointly funded by the Environment Agency, University of Cardiff, Natural Environment Research Council and The Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust. All rights reserved. No part of this document may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise without the prior permission of the Environment Agency. The views expressed in this document are not necessarily those of the Environment Agency. Its officers, servants or agents accept no liability whatsoever for any loss or damage arising from the interpretation or use of the information, or reliance upon views contained herein. Dissemination Status Internal: Released to Regions External: Limited release Statement of Use This Record (in the form of a PhD thesis) provides the Agency and others with a scientific basis that will allow for responsible ditch management and maintenance to be undertaken. It will be of particular interest and relevance to managers of drainage ditches in lowland grazing marshes of southern Britain. Keywords Mollusc, snail, wetland, ditch, Segmentina nitida, Anisus vorticulus, Valvata macrostoma, Pisidium pseudosphaerium, drainage, marsh, lowland grazing. Research Contractor This document was produced under R&D Project W1-038 by: Prof. Stephen Omerod, Catchment Research Group, School of Biosciences, Main Building, Cardiff University, PO Box 915, Cardiff, Wales CF10 3TL Tel: 029 20 875871 Fax: 029 20 874305 Email: [email protected] Environment Agency’s Project Manager The Environment Agency’s Project Manager for Project W1-038: Jason Lavender, Southern Region R&D PROJECT RECORD W1-038/PR THE ECOLOGY OF FOUR SCARCE WETLAND MOLLUSCS Thesis submitted for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy by Alisa Watson, B.Sc., M.Sc. School of Biosciences Cardiff University November 2002 R&D PROJECT RECORD W1-038/PR i DECLARATION This work has not previously been accepted in substance for any degree and is not being concurrently submitted in candidature for any degree. Signed ………………………………………………… (Candidate) Date ………………………………………………… STATEMENT 1 This thesis is the result of my own investigations, except where otherwise stated. Other sources are acknowledged by footnotes giving explicit references. A bibliography is appended. Signed ………………………………………………… (Candidate) Date ………………………………………………… STATEMENT 2 I hereby give consent for my thesis, if accepted, to be available for photocopying and for inter-library loan, and for the title and summary to be made available to outside organisations. Signed ………………………………………………… (Candidate) Date ………………………………………………… R&D PROJECT RECORD W1-038/PR ii SUMMARY 1. In 1995, the United Kingdom (UK) Biodiversity Action Plan listed four wetland molluscs of Red Data Book (RDB) status that required urgent conservation measures to prevent further reduction in their distribution: Segmentina nitida (Muller 1774), Anisus vorticulus (Troschel 1834), Valvata macrostoma (Morch 1864) and Pisidium pseudosphaerium (Schlesch 1947). All four typically occur in drainage ditches of large lowland grazing marshes of southern Britain and have shown marked decline in range, particular Segmentina nitida. However, despite their relative rarity, little is known of their ecological requirements, the reasons behind their decline, nor the management measures that might benefit their numbers. This study used a blend of large-scale surveys, small-scale surveys and field experiments to assess likely biotic and abiotic effects on distribution and abundance. 2. Each of the RDB molluscs occurred in ditches with different ecological characteristics. Segmentina nitida occurred in shallow calcareous ditches choked with mainly emergent plants and occurred in locations with abundant amphibious vegetation; these features typified ditches at the advanced stages of vegetation succession. Ditches with Valvata macrostoma were dominated by floating plants but this species reached its greatest numbers within the emergent stands. Anisus vorticulus was recorded in less calcareous ditches than the other two snails, and typically occurred in channels with a high diversity of aquatic plants. Pisidium pseudosphaerium occurred in ditches with similar vegetation to both Valvata macrostoma and Anisus vorticulus, which were at a comparatively less advanced stage of vegetation succession. 3. Despite their higher abundance among certain vegetation types, the three snails were unaffected by location within a ditch, although each was scarce at the lower depths (>0.6m). Below 0.6m, ditches were almost anoxic with concentrations of dissolved oxygen at <1mg l-1. 4. Classification and ordination showed that gastropod and bivalve assemblages in ditches strongly reflected vegetation characteristics. The three RDB snails are all potential ‘umbrella species,’ each representing and indicating the presence of a distinct associated assemblage. Gastropod responses to putative successional stages in vegetation were marked by changes in assemblage composition but there was no decline in the overall conservation interest. In contrast, increasing R&D PROJECT RECORD W1-038/PR iii vegetation cover appeared to result in reduced bivalve diversity, but with increasing abundance of the scarce Pisidium pseudosphaerium. 5. Based on the ditch vegetation and chemistry data, multiple logistic regression models indicated that Segmentina. nitida and Valvata macrostoma were absent from otherwise suitable ditches that had significantly higher concentrations of nitrate and nitrite than occupied ditches. Pisidium pseudosphaerium also appeared to be negatively affected by elevated concentrations of nitrogen. 6. A highly replicated field experiment was used to assess the short-term effect of nutrient loadings on Segmentina nitida, Valvata macrostoma and several other gastropod species. Elevated concentrations of ammoniacal-nitrogen occurred in response to nitrogen dosing but were not accompanied by variations in the biomass or abundance of any gastropod species. 7. Changes in the ecological character of drainage ditches can be attributed to the intensification of agriculture on grazing marshes, which has led to inappropriate ditch management, decreasing connectivity between ditches and increasing eutrophication. Based on work in this thesis, rotational management of ditches that maintained a full sequence of vegetation succession throughout a given grazing marsh would benefit all the target RDB molluscs and their associated assemblages. In addition, reduced agro-chemical use on grazing marshes is likely to assist the maintenance and recovery of three of the RDB species. Future work should aim to assess the long-term effects of ditch management and nutrient control on molluscs assemblages. Improved understanding of dispersal and persistence will also assist management of each of the RDB species. R&D PROJECT RECORD W1-038/PR iv ACKOWLEDGEMENTS Firstly I would like to thank my supervisor Professor Steve Ormerod for his support, and guidance throughout my PhD. Also to the rest of the Catchment Research Group, in no particular order, Zoe Masters, Phil Brewin, Heike Hirst, Dave Bradley, Ceri Williams, Fabio Lepori, Ian Vaughan and Renata Kowalik for their practical support and putting up with my moments of madness. I acknowledge the support and advice that I received from past and present members of my PhD steering group: Dr. Mark O’Connell and Matt Millett from the Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust (thank you for the loan of the Eckman grab). My succession of line managers at the Environment Agency, Jane Cecil, Phil Griffiths and currently Jason Lavender. Shelagh Wilson and Pamela Mardon also from the Environment Agency. Dr. Martin Drake from English Nature and finally the two independent advisors Ian Killeen and Dr. Martin Willing. I am grateful to Peter Watts of Radclad Metalwork, Shoreham, who so willingly made the sieve net and did a great job, as it is still going strong! I am indebted to the numerous farmers and landowners of the Arun Valley, Lewes Brooks, Pevensey Levels and the Stour Valley for kindly letting me have access to their ditches. Particular thanks to Martin Hole of Montague Farm, for allowing me to carry out the field experiment on his farm. Robin Duke of Gatley Farm supplied the ammonium nitrate and Sussex University supplied the sodium di-orthophosphate, both used for the experiment. To the various staff members of Sussex Wildlife Trust, Pulborough Royal Society for the Protection of Birds and English Nature, I appreciated their time and advice. Also I am grateful to Don Thomas from Sussex University for his advice and wisdom on snails. A big thank you to Derek Howlett for identifying all those impossible Sphaeriidae from my first year survey. To the volunteers: Elli Bucket, Ian Poyser, Georgia Arnott, Jim McGregor, Hanna Etherington, Elaine Austin, Carrie Whythe thank you for your time, company and assistance with the survey in the second year. My colleagues in Fisheries, Environment & Recreation (FER) and the other departments in the Environment Agency for providing practical support and endless humour on snails during my fieldwork. I acknowledge