A5 Western Transport Corridor Volume 3 – Appendices 718736-3000-R-008 REV A Appendix 11G –Terrestrial Invertebrates .................................................................. 2 Legislation ........................................................................................................................... 2 Conservation Status............................................................................................................ 4 Policy Framework and Guidance Notes.............................................................................. 5 Baseline Data Collection ..................................................................................................... 6 Designated Sites ................................................................................................................. 9 Species Records ................................................................................................................. 9 Field Survey ...................................................................................................................... 19 Evaluation.......................................................................................................................... 20 NI Terrestrial Invertebrate Species of Conservation Concern (SoCC) Occuring in Habitats Present within the Study Area........................................................................................... 25 Appendix 11 – Ecology and Nature Conservation A.11V -1 Terrestrial Invertebrates © Mouchel 2010 A5 Western Transport Corridor Volume 3 – Appendices 718736-3000-R-008 REV A Appendix 11G –Terrestrial Invertebrates Terrestrial invertebrate species and assemblages are considered significant nature conservation receptors for the Proposed Scheme for the following reasons: • Some notable invertebrate species in Northern Ireland (NI) are afforded protection through both national statute and planning guidance, with some species afforded full statutory protection; • Several invertebrate species in NI exhibit unfavourable conservation status’, and are the subject of both national and local Biodiversity Action Plans (BAPs) aiming to improve their conservation status within NI. They are also listed as NI Priority Species and Species of Conservation Concern (SoCC); and • Invertebrate diversity can be a good indicator of wider ecosystem health and wider biodiversity value across habitats (e.g. Baldi, 2003; Raino & Niemela, 2003). Appendix 11 – Ecology and Nature Conservation A.11V -2 Terrestrial Invertebrates © Mouchel 2010 A5 Western Transport Corridor Volume 3 – Appendices 718736-3000-R-008 REV A Legislation The Wildlife (Northern Ireland) Order 1985 (as amended) makes it an offence to intentionally kill, injure, or take an invertebrate species listed in Schedule 5 to that Order and / or intentionally damage or destroy such a species breeding site or place of rest / shelter, and / or intentionally disturb such an invertebrate while it occupies such as place. Invertebrate species listed in Schedule 5 to that Order consist of the following: • Holly blue Celastrina argiolus ; • Large heath Coenonympha tullia ; • Small blue Cupido minimus ; • Dingy skipper Erynnis tages; • Marsh fritillary Eurodryas aurinia ; • Brimstone Gonepteryx rhamni ; and • Purple hairstreak Quercusia quercus. EC Directives and European Conventions aimed at conserving biodiversity that are particularly relevant to terrestrial invertebrate species, include Council Directive 92/43/EEC on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora (“the Habitats Directive”) and the 1979 Bern Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats” Appendix 11 – Ecology and Nature Conservation A.11V -3 Terrestrial Invertebrates © Mouchel 2010 A5 Western Transport Corridor Volume 3 – Appendices 718736-3000-R-008 REV A Conservation Status In Biodiversity in NI: Recommendations to Government for a NI Biodiversity Strategy , the NI Biodiversity Group recognised the need to develop lists of NI Priority Species (which require conservation action) and SoCC species (which require monitoring because they may need conservation action in the future). Draft lists of NI Priority Species and NI SoCC species were published in NI Biodiversity Strategy Proposals in 1999. In 2004 these lists were reviewed by collating proposals and supporting information supplied by experts on species groups, then refining and applying the selection criteria. The current list includes 66 invertebrate SoCC species, of which 50 are NI Priority Species. This list was used as the basis for the original scoping study (Mouchel, 2009a); with the habitat requirements and historical distribution of all SoCC species being considered. Appendix 11 – Ecology and Nature Conservation A.11V -4 Terrestrial Invertebrates © Mouchel 2010 A5 Western Transport Corridor Volume 3 – Appendices 718736-3000-R-008 REV A Policy Framework and Guidance Notes The following policies and guidance documents aim to help conserve and protect significant terrestrial invertebrate species within NI and the study area: • Design Manual for Roads and Bridges (DMRB), Volume 11 Environmental Assessment - Outlines potential impacts of road schemes on ecological receptors and designated sites, in addition to describing assessment and mitigation techniques ; • Roads Service Biodiversity Implementation Plan; • Planning Policy Statement (PPS) 2 – Planning and Nature Conservation - Outlines the need to consider biodiversity during the planning process within NI; • Northern Ireland Biodiversity Strategy - Outlines the requirement to identify SoCC and PSoCC and the delivery of Species and Habitat Biodiversity Action Plans; • Local Development Plans - The West Tyrone, Dungannon and South Tyrone, and Londonderry Area Plans all highlight the need to maintain existing levels of biodiversity within their jurisdictions; • NI Biodiversity Strategy and associated Plans - Individual Species Action Plans exist for several NI species including marsh fritillary butterfly Eurodryas aurinia and narrow- bordered bee hawk-moth Hemaris tityus; and • Local Biodiversity Action Plans - The Londonderry LBAP lists bumblebees as Priority Species, whilst the Omagh LBAP lists Irish damselfly Coenagrion lunulatum and green hairstreak butterfly Callophrys rubi. Appendix 11 – Ecology and Nature Conservation A.11V -5 Terrestrial Invertebrates © Mouchel 2010 A5 Western Transport Corridor Volume 3 – Appendices 718736-3000-R-008 REV A Baseline Data Collection Field surveys were undertaken in eight specific locations within this study area which were thought most likely to support good assemblages of notable terrestrial invertebrates. These were based upon analysis of baseline habitat surveys identifying the majority of semi-natural habitats within what are termed Eco Identity Areas (EID Areas) within a 1-3km corridor roughly centred on the scheme route (see Habitats and Flora Appendix 11G). The methods used to collect information on significant terrestrial invertebrates followed the guidance provided within Design Manual for Roads and Bridges (DMRB), Volume 11, Section 3, Part 4 Ecology & Nature Conservation. This included: • Obtaining up-to-date details of the location and nature of all statutory and non- statutory designated sites, notified for their value to invertebrate species, within the study area from the NI Environment Agency (NIEA) (formerly Environment and Heritage Service [EHS]); • Collation of information from desk-based sources relating to the presence of significant terrestrial invertebrates in NI and, where possible, potential distribution and habitat preference; and • Completion of detailed field surveys to identify the presence / likely absence of notable terrestrial invertebrates within the vicinity of the Preferred Route. Selection of Field Survey Sites Habitat parcels within the study area were appraised for their potential to support significant invertebrate species or assemblages. This evaluation was used to identify area which would be subject to field survey if the location was likely to be affected by the Proposed Scheme. The appraisal was based on desk study data (including those undertaken during Stage 2) and the results of consultations with statutory and non-statutory nature conservation organisations. Criteria used to determine the potential value of sites included the presence of appropriate habitat types, host plant species and historical presence of a particular species within the study area. Information from the NI’s Species of Conservation Concern website (EHS, 2007) allowed species to be grouped according to their habitat requirements.The habitat information from the Habitats and Flora baseline studies was then compared with these requirements to identify habitat areas within the study area which may be suitable for SoCC invertebrate species. Each suitable EID Area was ranked purely on the number of supporting habitats each ID area contained. Appendix 11 – Ecology and Nature Conservation A.11V -6 Terrestrial Invertebrates © Mouchel 2010 A5 Western Transport Corridor Volume 3 – Appendices 718736-3000-R-008 REV A Field Survey Once sites were identified for survey, two survey methods were used at each location, if appropriate: • sweeping a large diameter net through grass, herbage, shrubs and overhanging trees. Specimens were extracted from the net with a pooter or, in the case of larger specimens, individually potted in glass tubes. When sampling was completed, or the pooter became too full, the contents were