Assessing and Identifying Improvements to Enhance Biodiversity at the University of Glasgow
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ASSESSING AND IDENTIFYING IMPROVEMENTS TO ENHANCE BIODIVERSITY AT THE UNIVERSITY OF GLASGOW 2089878 BSc (Hons) Environmental Science & Sustainability University of Glasgow School of Interdisciplinary Studies Supervisor: Dr. Steven Gillespie ABSTRACT As urban environments continue to expand, the conservation value of urban biodiversity is open to question. Recent studies on urban ecosystems highlight that urban biodiversity is fundamental to ecosystem regulation and improving health and wellbeing. In a time of increased climate variability, it is important to identify what species are valuable to ensure urban resilience and sustainability in the future. This paper examines the biodiversity found in six habitats at the University of Glasgow Gilmorehill and Garscube, Scotland. This was done so university users, visitors and estate developers can understand the wider values of biodiversity at the university. Habitats were ascertained using the University of Glasgow Phase 1 Habitat Survey, and assessed in terms of their socio-ecological significance and potential to enhance native biodiversity. The assessment identified Amenity Grassland as the dominant habitat on both campuses. The discussion on Amenity Grassland found that there is an imbalance between the ecological and social significance of biodiversity within these habitats and surrounding areas. To enhance biodiversity in ecologically fragmented habitats, connectivity between Broadleaved Parkland/Scattered Tree, Intact Hedge native species-rich, Semi-natural Broadleaved Woodland, Marsh/Marshy Grassland and Running water (Oligotrophic) habitats could be improved. This could be done through management and conservation initiatives aimed and enhancing and promoting the ecological, social and educational values of native biodiversity on campus. In turn, this could increase the socio- ecological values of campus biodiversity, and exhibit the university’s commitment to conservation at a local, national and global scale. 2 CONTENTS PAGE Abstract 2 Acknowledgements 6 List of Abbreviations 7 1 Introduction and Review of Literature 9 1.1 Urban biodiversity: a growing issue for concern 9 1.2 The global situation 11 1.3 The University of Glasgow 11 2 Aims & Objectives 12 3 Methods 13 3.1 Procedure 13 3.2 Limitations 14 4 Assessing and identifying improvements to enhance biodiversity 15 5 Amenity Grassland 20 5.1 Definition and characteristics 20 5.2 Gilmorehill 20 5.3 Garscube 21 5.4 Opportunities to enhance Amenity Grassland 23 5.4.1 Ecologically 23 5.4.2 Socially 27 5.4.3 Educationally 27 6 Broadleaved Parkland/Scattered Tree 29 6.1 Definition and characteristics 29 6.2 Gilmorehill 29 6.3 Garscube 30 6.4 Opportunities to enhance Broadleaved Parkland/Scattered Tree habitat 32 6.4.1 Ecologically 32 6.4.2 Socially 36 6.4.3 Educationally 36 7 Intact Hedge Native Species-Rich 38 7.1 Definition and characteristics 38 7.2 Gilmorehill 38 7.3 Opportunities to enhance Intact Hedge native species-rich habitat 40 7.3.1 Ecologically 40 7.3.2 Socially 44 7.3.3 Educationally 44 8 Broadleaved Woodland: Semi-Natural 46 8.1 Definition and characteristics 46 8.2 Garscube 46 8.3 Garscube: River Kelvin 48 8.4 Opportunities to enhance Semi-Natural Broadleaved Woodland habitat 49 8.4.1 Ecologically 49 8.4.2 Socially 52 8.4.3 Educationally 52 9 Marsh/Marshy Grassland 53 9.1 Definition and characteristics 53 9.2 Garscube 53 9.3 Opportunities to enhance Marsh/Marshy Grassland habitat 54 9.3.1 Ecologically 54 9.3.2 Socially 58 9.3.3 Educationally 58 10 Running Water (Oligotrophic) 59 10.1 Definition and characteristics 59 3 10.2 Garscube: River Kelvin 59 10.3 Opportunities to enhance Running Water (Oligotrophic) habitat 61 10.3.1 Ecologically 61 10.3.2 Socially 64 10.3.3 Educationally 64 11 Guidelines to improve biodiversity at the University of Glasgow 65 11.1 Amenity Grassland 65 11.2 Broadleaved Parkland/Scattered Tree 65 11.3 Intact Hedge Native Species-Rich 66 11.4 Semi-Natural Broadleaved Woodland 66 11.5 Marsh/Marshy Grassland 67 11.6 Running Water (Oligotrophic) 67 12 Conclusion 68 References 70 Appendices 83 Appendix 1 Species List 83 Appendix 2 Habitat Alphanumeric Codes 89 List of Tables Table 1 Legend for Fig. 4 24 Table 2 Legend for Fig. 5 26 Table 3 Legend for Fig. 6 33 Table 4 Legend for Fig. 7 35 Table 5 Legend for Fig. 8 41 Table 6 Legend for Fig. 9 & Fig. 10 43 Table 7 Legend for Fig. 11 & Fig. 12 51 Table 8 Legend for Fig. 13 55 Table 9 Legend for Fig. 14 57 Table 10 Legend for Fig. 15 & 16 63 List of Figures Fig. 1 Phase 1 Habitat Map of Gilmorehill 15 Fig. 2 Phase 1 Habitat Map of Garscube 16 Fig. 3 Phase 1 Habitat Map of Garscube: River Kelvin-Map 1 17 Fig. 3.1 Phase 1 Habitat Map of Garscube: River Kelvin-Map 2 17 Fig. 3.2 Phase 1 Habitat Map of Garscube: River Kelvin-Map 3 17 Fig. 3.3 Phase 1 Habitat Map of Garscube: River Kelvin-Map 4 17 Fig. 3.4 Phase 1 Habitat Map of Garscube: River Kelvin-Map 5 18 Fig. 3.5 Phase 1 Habitat Map of Garscube: River Kelvin-Map 6 18 Fig. 3.6 Phase 1 Habitat Map of Garscube: River Kelvin-Map 7 18 Fig. 4 Improvements for Amenity Grassland: Gilmorehill 24 Fig. 5 Improvements for Amenity Grassland: Garscube 26 Fig. 6 Improvements for Broadleaved Parkland/Scattered Tree: Gilmorehill 33 Fig. 7 Improvements for Broadleaved Parkland/Scattered Tree: Garscube 34 Fig.8 Improvements for Intact Hedge native species-rich: Gilmorehill 41 Fig.9 Improvements for Intact Hedge native species-rich: Garscube-Map 1 42 Fig.10 Improvements for Intact Hedge native species-rich: Garscube-Map 2 43 Fig.11 Improvements for Semi-natural Broadleaved Woodland: Garscube-Map 1 50 Fig.12 Improvements for Semi-natural Broadleaved Woodland: Garscube-Map 2 50 Fig.13 Improvements for Marsh/Marshy Grassland: Gilmorehill 55 Fig.14 Improvements for Marsh/Marshy Grassland: Garscube 56 Fig.15 Improvements for Running Water (Oligotrophic): Garscube-Map 1 62 4 Fig.16 Improvements for Running Water (Oligotrophic): Garscube-Map 2 62 5 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Along the journey of my studies, I have been encouraged, supported and inspired by many people. Here, I would like to take the opportunity to thank several people who contributed to the development and completion of this dissertation. First and foremost, I would like to express my sincerest gratitude to my supervisor, Dr Steven Gillespie. Without your expertise, optimism and continuous support, this dissertation would not be possible. I would also like to thank all members of staff at the University of Glasgow: Dumfries Campus who have helped me go from strength to strength throughout my undergraduate degree. In particular, I would like to thank Dr Bethan Wood for her enthusiasm and suggestions for Sections 5-10 of this work. I must express my gratitude to Dr Stewart Miller for providing me with key policy documents which form the basis of this research. Thanks are also due to members of staff at the University of Glasgow Estates and Buildings department for their assistance throughout the entirety of this project. Completing this dissertation would have been all the more difficult were it not for the support received from fellow classmates on the BSc (Hons.) Environmental Science and Sustainability programme. Particularly to Catherine, I am indebted to you for your help and friendship over the past four years. I would like to say a heartfelt thank you to my parents and grandparents for supporting me throughout my studies, and providing a home to complete my research. Thanks must also be given to Neil Wallace and David Suttie for offering to proofread this dissertation. Finally, I would like to dedicate this work to Margaret Rose Nelson - your love and strength will continue to inspire me for the rest of my life. 6 LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS UN - United Nations UNCBD - Convention on Biological Diversity JNCC - Joint Nature Conservation Committee UoG - University of Glasgow FC - Forestry Commission FCS - Forestry Commission Scotland SNH - Scottish Natural Heritage DAFOR - Dominant, Abundant, Frequent, Occasional, Rare AGMP - Amenity Grassland Management Plan BAP - Biodiversity Action Plan GUWGT - Glasgow University Wildlife Garden Team NGO - Non-governmental Organisation GUEST - Glasgow University Environmental Sustainability Team WT - The Woodland Trust QMU - Queen Margaret Union WFD - Water Framework Directive RMP - Riverbank Management Plan SWT - Scottish Wildlife Trust 7 PSTMP - Parkland/Scattered Tree Management Plan HMP - Hedgerow Management Plan WoMP - Woodland Management Plan WeMP - Wetland Management Plan UGST - University Grounds Services Team 8 1. INTRODUCTION 1.1 Urban biodiversity: a growing issue for concern Ecosystem services provide a myriad of benefits that are critical to maintain species composition, enhance species richness and sustain ecosystem function (Daily, 1997; Downing, 2005). Without these services, natural processes such as climate regulation, carbon sequestration, water purification and waste management would be non-existent (Godbold & Solan, 2009; BISE, 2016; Parris, 2016). In recent years, academics and policy- makers have considered biodiversity as an influential actor that controls a range of ecosystem functions (Cardinale et al., 2012; Tilman et al., 2012). Subsequently, this has influenced the formation of the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (UNCBD) and global strategies aimed at conserving biological diversity, e.g. the United Nations (UN) Millennium Development Goals (UN, 1992; UN, 2015). Particularly in urban environments, the variety, variability and interactions amongst living organisms can be valuable to sustain ecological systems (Berkes & Folke, 1998). For instance, Kohsaka et al. (2003) suggest that urban biodiversity reduces the effects of inland and coastal flooding, the urban heat island effect, geo-hydrological hazards and air pollution. In areas where urbanization is augmenting climate variability, urban biodiversity could be essential to mitigate the effects of climate change and protect natural resources (Dearborn & Kark, 2010).