ABI Wildlife Consultancy Edinburgh Napier University Biodiversity Phase 1 and 3 Survey of Craighouse, Craiglockhart and Merchiston Campuses 2010 - 2011 Craighouse Campus – South-eastern edge of North Woodland Report commissioned by Jamie Pearson, Sustainability / Environmental Advisor Property & Facilities, on behalf of Edinburgh Napier University Field work, research and report compiled by Mr Abbie Patterson, Ecological Consultant, ABI Wildlife Consultancy 1st February 2012. Contact author: Mr Abbie Patterson [email protected] Contents Page No. Map of Edinburgh Napier University Campus Locations……………….... 5 1 Introduction……………………………………………………………. 6 2 Methodology of Phase 1 and 3……………………………………… 6 3 Craighouse Campus 3.1 Summary……………………………………………………………… 8 3.2 North Woodland A1.1.2 PBW Plants……………………………………………………………………….. 9 Birds………………………………………………………………………… 10 Mammals............................................................................................. 13 Fungi.................................................................................................... 14 Invertebrates……………………………………………………………….. 16 Lichens……………………………………………………………………… 17 3.3 South Woodland A1.1.2 PBW Plants……………………………………………………………………….. 18 Birds………………………………………………………………………… 19 Mammals……………………………………………………….. 21 Fungi……………………………………………………………. 23 Invertebrates……………………………………………………. 24 Lichens…………………………………………………………. 25 3.4 Parkland A3.1 SBW Plants………………………………………………………….. 26 Birds…………………………………………………………… 27 Mammals………………………………………………………. 30 Fungi…………………………………………………………… 31 Invertebrates…………………………………………………… 31 Lichens………………………………………………………… 31 3.5 Buildings J3.6 Plants…………………………………………………………. 32 Birds………………………………………………………….. 33 Mammals……………………………………………………… 34 Lichens……………………………………………………….. 34 3.6 Craighouse Discussion……………………………………………. 35 2 Contents Page No. 4. Craiglockhart Campus 4.1 Summary……………………………………………………………. 39 4.2 Parkland A3.1 SBW Plants………………………………………………………….. 40 Birds…………………………………………………………… 40 Mammals………………………………………………………. 43 Fungi…………………………………………………………… 44 Invertebrates…………………………………………………… 45 Lichens………………………………………………………… 46 4.3 Semi-improved Grassland B6.SI Plants………………………………………………………….. 47 Birds…………………………………………………………… 48 Mammals………………………………………………………. 50 Fungi…………………………………………………………… 51 Invertebrates…………………………………………………… 51 4.4 Buildings J3.6 Plants………………………………………………………….. 53 Birds…………………………………………………………… 54 Mammals………………………………………………………. 55 Invertebrates…………………………………………………… 55 Lichens………………………………………………………… 55 4.5 Craiglockhart Discussion…………………………………………... 56 5 Merchiston Campus 5.1 Summary…………………………………………………………….. 59 5.2 Buildings J3.6 Plants………………………………………………………….. 60 Birds…………………………………………………………… 61 Mammals………………………………………………………. 63 Lichens………………………………………………………… 63 3 Contents Page No. 5.3 Introduced Shrub J2.3.2 PHT Plants………………………………………………………….. 64 Birds…………………………………………………………… 65 Mammals………………………………………………………. 65 Invertebrates…………………………………………………… 66 Lichens & Fungi………………………………………………… 67 5.4 Merchiston Discussion……………………………………………… 67 Acknowledgements…………………………………………………………. 69 References………………………………………………………………….. 69 Appendix 1: Craighouse Campus Species Lists …………………………………………. 71 Target Notes and Map………………………………… 83 Appendix 2: Craiglockhart Campus Species Lists …………………………………………. 88 Target Notes and Map………………………………… 97 Appendix 3: Merchiston Campus Species Lists …………………………………………. 101 Target Notes and Map………………………………… 104 4 5 1. Introduction Phase 1 survey is a standardised system for classifying and mapping habitats allowing for a rapid assessment of habitat types and potential for biodiversity. Phase 3 survey provides more extensive detail to the extent and distribution of species within phase 1 habitat types. These survey methods were applied to all flora and fauna within Edinburgh Napier University campuses of Craiglockhart, Craighouse and Merchiston. This will provide Edinburgh Napier University with a detailed monthly cross-section of species taken over a one year period, species lists for each habitat type, along with all protected and designated species for each habitat type as identified in Phase 1 Habitat Mapping. The detailed information will be invaluable for management regarding any development, land management and species management within the campuses. These campuses, with the exception of Merchiston, are situated within a landscape that has mixed habitat types containing both trees of differing age structure, open maintained grassland and rough grassland along with buildings and other man made structures such as walls. Merchiston campus is within the heart of a built-up area and surrounded by roads and buildings and has limited habitat quality. However, this campus has exotic shrubs, a few trees and minimal grass areas that do contain some degree of flora and fauna. The information within this report will also be of benefit to students who may wish to use areas of the campus for studies for dissertations, research or other academic field study. Universities and students add a great deal to our knowledge, understanding and thinking on many complex issues which brings many benefits to society. This report will provide a strong baseline to enhance a more focused and in-depth study of ecological aspects within a city environment and its potential, a subject that has not been fully exploited and in many respects is still under-recorded. An understanding of the complexities of ecology within our cities has wide reaching benefits. For example planning areas for development, road infrastructure, housing, and industry can take into account biodiversity at an early phase of planning and help retain geomorphological links and corridors for both flora and fauna. This will go a long way in helping design a healthier environment for human populations to work and live in our cities and urban areas. 2. Methodology Habitat types within each campus are coded (Table 1) according to parameters given by the Nature Conservancy Council, (NCC 1990), reprinted with some minor revisions by Joint Nature Conservancy Council Handbook for Phase 1 habitat survey (JNCC, 2010). This publication gives a standardised system for habitat survey and mapping habitats. The Phase 3 species survey adds a considerable amount of data to Phase 1 where each habitat is provided with a detailed species list. This list contains the status of species in relation to any designation for protection from current legislation that exists. Phase 1 habitat coding principally refers to vegetation type which categorises and helps interpret different areas throughout each campus with a consistent level of detail and accuracy. This was then followed with a phase 3 survey which adds greater detail to the phase 1 by identifying flora and faunal communities and their distribution. By using a standardised 6 method for mapping habitat allows data from one area to be compared with that of another similar area. This information is of value to development planners highlighting nature conservation values within the landscape and allowing a more sensitive and focused mitigation procedure to take place at the planning phase of any project. Table 1. Campus Habitats/JNCC Phase 1 Codes Craighouse Craiglockhart Merchiston Woodland A1.1.2 PBW Buildings J3.6 Buildings J3.6 Buildings J3.6 Parkland A3.1 SBW Introduced Shrub J2.3.2 PHT Parkland A3.1 SBW Grassland B6 SI Three Edinburgh Napier University campuses were examined for their biodiversity by recording biota each month over a twelve month period. The recording began in August 2010 and ended in July 2011. Main biota types recorded were: flowering plants, grasses, ferns, lichens, fungi, invertebrates, mammals and birds. This inventory of biota misses out several other species groups which are important for biodiversity and these species groups were not included in the phase 3 survey due to a higher level of survey input and time required to conduct these surveys. This would have been impractical to carry out in conjunction with the current phase 1 & 3 surveys. For example a small mammal survey where traps have to be recorded each day and species released, traps moved and set up in another area to record a sample every three days. A full invertebrate survey would require four sets of sample type and collection each week for each habitat type within each campus. The size of sample would be extensive and take several months to analyse. However, the cross-section of biota recorded for this report gives a strong indication of the levels of biodiversity within campuses and where priority species are located. Table 2. Recording effort for individual species groups. Species Group Recording Time Months Birds Every month 12 Mammals Every month 12 Bats May to August 4 Grey Squirrel (drey survey) January 1 Invertebrates (sweep net) August 1 Butterflies May to September 5 Ferns July to September 3 Plants/grasses February to August 7 Lichens June to July 2 Fungi September to November 3 The timing of each recording was mainly in the last week of each month for consistency keeping approximately four week gaps between collecting data. Weather was taken into account where all surveys took place in reasonable conditions avoiding very windy and continuous rain. In general only one specific group of species were surveyed at one time so that maximum focus could be maintained on that one group though some incidental sightings of other biota were recorded where these were known to be new records. Birds and mammals were recorded on a transect line through habitats e.g.,