‘Effectively protected’ land in England has declined to just 2.93%. With the government’s commitment to protecting 30% of Britain’s land and sea by 2030 fast approaching, campaigners warn that swift, direct action is needed to overturn these declines. Ocean protection has increased to 9.92% from last year’s 8%, however land protection has fallen to under 3%, less than last year’s estimate. Declines in land protection result from the diminishing condition of Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) due to climate change, pollution and overgrazing and conservation authorities agree that the UK government will need to take big steps over the next few years to meet 30×30 targets.
The UK Government has pledged £22b to support the development of two carbon capture and storage projects. Based in Merseyside and Teesside, these carbon capture projects will store carbon emissions from industry and energy production to help the UK meet its climate goals. This new industry is regarded as a key element in meeting targets around greenhouse gas emissions and is hoped to attract significant private investment as well as provide 4,000 jobs for local people. The captured carbon will be stored in deep geological storage in the North Sea and Liverpool Bay, with the hopes of removing up to 8.5 million tonnes of carbon emissions each year.
Botanists from Kew’s Royal Botanic Gardens believe there are around 100,000 plant species yet to be discovered across the globe. A study revealed 33 areas that are likely to contain great numbers of undiscovered species and highlights regions in which botanists should be concentrating their search for new plants. By increasing the rate of discoveries, scientists hope to better target conservation and preservation, and discover these species before they are lost to extinction. Of the 33 areas identified, most are in Asia and include Vietnam and the eastern Himalayas. Africa, South America, Madagascar, Colombia and Peru have also been identified as key areas of interest.
Satellite data analysis from the University of Exeter has reported greening across the Antarctic continent. Due to the acceleration of the climate crisis, plant cover in the region has increased more than tenfold over recent decades, expanding from just 1km2 in 1986 to nearly 12km2 in 2021. Comprised mainly of mosses and green algae, this greening leaves the continent open to invasive species colonisation from foreign visitors. Although still dominated by ice, the growth of vegetation in the region is cause for concern and could facilitate further soil formation due to an increased presence of vegetative organic matter.
Conservation
Pine Martens have been successfully reintroduced to south-west England. In September, fifteen Pine Martens – eight females and seven males – were released in undisclosed locations on Dartmoor National Park for the first time in 150 years. After being driven to extinction by habitat loss and persecution, this translocation will reinstate natural predator-prey interactions and processes. Next year, the project will turn its attention to Exmoor National Park to translocate another group of these elusive mustelids.
Salmon numbers in England and Wales took a sharp decline in 2023. In a report by CEFAS and the Environment Agency, data showed that last year’s salmon stocks were at the lowest since records began in 1997 – declared catch in 2023 totalled 5,399, nearly 1,500 less than the year before. There are 64 principal salmon rivers in the UK (rivers which contain significant numbers), and only one of these is classified as not at risk. It is believed that climate change and polluted waterways are directly endangering these fish, as salmon are an indicator species for polluted waters.
The Welsh Government has announced its support for the reintroduction of Eurasian Beavers in Wales. With flood warnings becoming more regular across the country, the reintroduction of these animals could provide Wales with a nature-based solution to tackle water pollution and flooding through the creation of wetland habitats. The project is supported by over 90% of the Welsh population, revealed by a survey that was conducted by the Welsh Beaver Project who have been investigating the feasibility of reintroduction since 2005.
Whether you are planning a construction project, are in the middle of a new–build or are looking to update an existing structure, you may be exploring options for providing bat habitats. We have an extensive range of bat boxes available on our website, in a variety of formats and materials. Here we explore thedifferent types, how they may be used and where they can be installed.
Bat Box Material Properties
Bat boxes are constructed with a variety of materials, each with differing properties.
Most commonly used for external boxes, wood is lightweight with good thermal properties for inhabitants. However, it does rot without treatment and therefore does not last as long as other materials.
Woodcrete (also named woodstone or woodconcrete) is a very durable material with exceptional thermal properties and is often the material of choice for built-in boxes. It can also be used externally and can last several decades once installed.
Eco-plastics are used to create lightweight boxes, typically designed for external use. They have good weather resistance and longevity, although less durability.
Concrete is exceptionally durable and is used for built-in boxes. It has good thermal properties but due to its weight, is unsuitable for external mounting.
Maternity Boxes
Typically larger in size with multiple internal chambers, maternity boxes are designed to support breeding colonies by providing a well-insulated roosting space for raising young.
These boxes are mostly made for external installation but are also available in a built-in format which is installed into the brickwork and can be rendered over.
Since these boxes are mostly available in an external form, they can be installed once construction has taken place. Built-in boxes should be fixed during the construction process and installed directly into the brickwork.
An FSC certified crevice box, suitable for roosts or maternity groups.
Bat Tubes
Bat tubes are longer internal cavities with multiple sections or crevices. These are often made of woodcrete and are available in modular versions which can be connected in the facade allowing for side-by-side or a longer tower format.
These boxes come built-in and are incorporated into the building’s brickwork during exterior wall construction where they can be rendered over.
A modular option available in multiple depths and styles for crevice and cavity species.
Bat Bricks
Constructed to industry standard size, bat bricks have a dome-shaped access hole to allow bats into a suitable cavity.
These products are designed to be incorporated into the brickwork of a building, whether this be a new build or an existing structure under renovation, and are available in standard colours enabling them to seamlessly blend into existing walls. When installing bat bricks, it is important to ensure that a chamber free from insulating material is available behind the access brick to allow bats to safely roost.
A standard-sized brick available in red, golden and brown colours.
Access Tiles and Panels
Similar to bat bricks, these tiles provide an access point to open roof space or the underfelt of the roof, allowing bats to roost in confined spaces beneath the tiles. They can be installed within the roof or ridge tiles during construction, or they may be used to replace tiles on existing structures, and are available in multiple colours to blend seamlessly into existing tiles.
Bat access panels are also available to provide bats access to a roosting site, and are particularly advantageous for renovation projects with existing roosting colonies. These panels can also be rendered over, and can be installed at any point during construction.
Access tiles and panels require an insulation-free cavity behind the product to provide roosting space.
A woodconcrete access panel with an overall depth of just 8cm for easy integration.
Bat Box
These boxes are available as external or built-in designs and consist of a simple box with an entrance hole and varying interiors. Bat boxes can come in a range of forms, and can have one large, single cavity or a multi-chamber interior and can cater to both crevice and cavity-dwelling bats. There are also hybrid options, where a box is designed with cavities for multiple species, for example a box may cater to bats and Swifts.
Built-in boxes are designed to be installed among the brickwork and can be rendered over. External boxes can be mounted to trees, fences and buildings with the appropriate fixings. It is important to consider the weight of an external box before mounting, more lightweight boxes (made from wood or plastic for example) can be fixed to trees, but heavier woodcrete boxes should be fixed to a solid structure.
Features a single internal cavity that is suitable as a summer roost.
Rocket box
Rocket boxes are large, pole-mounted habitats that provide a large roosting area over multiple chambers. Typically made with a plastic shell, these boxes allow for 360 movement and are available with both crevice and cavity designs.
Rocket boxes are external and do not attach to any part of the building. They are particularly useful when there are no suitable trees for external boxes, and a wall mounted box is undesirable. They have also been used to provide an alternative roosting site near building works.
If you have any questions about our range or would like some advice on the right product for you then please contact us via email at customer.services@nhbs.com or phone on 01803 865913.
This blog focusses on forgotten species; those that are extinct, endangered or just urban, small and under-recorded. With climate change, habitat loss and invasive species threatening our native mammals, highlighting their importance is vital in driving their conservation, so we have chosen to spotlight three of the UK’s endangeredmammals, discussing their biology and characteristics, current conservation initiatives and what the future might look like for these animals.
Habitat: Freshwater, particularly streams and rivers near woodland.
Diet: Aquatic plants and grasses during warmer months, tree bark and shoots during winter. Preference for willow, Aspen, Alder and fruit trees.
Conservation Status: Critically endangered in England, endangered in Scotland.
Distribution: Free-range populations in the River Tay, River Otter and Knapdale, Scotland. Enclosed populations in Kent, Essex and the Forest of Dean. As of 2023, Scottish beavers have established 424 territories, housing up to 1,500 individuals.
Breeding: Between December and April. Birth in early summer of up to six kits, sexually mature at two years old.
Description: With distinctive orange, chisel-like teeth and a flat, scaled tail, beavers are instantly recognisable. Similar in size to a medium dog with shorter legs and a rounder body, the fur of a beaver ranges from brown to black. Once widespread in the UK, the Eurasian Beaver was historically persecuted for medicinal and cosmetic purposes. The species was hunted for fur, meat and the oil from its scent glands, resulting in extinction by the 1600’s.
Did you know? High iron content in the enamel of their teeth gives them their distinctive orange colour. This addition provides the teeth the extra strength that is required for felling trees and eating.
Conservation of Eurasian Beavers
Beavers are talented ‘engineers’, able to transform wetland and freshwater environments. Through the alteration and modification of these habitats, beavers can create complex wetlands, ponds and nurture more resilient ecosystems.Their dams provide a natural filtration system for freshwater landscapes and water quality is shown to increase as it passes through dam complexes, helping to reduce diffuse pollution in the area. Through improved water storage, beaver activities can also maintain water flow to drought-ridden landscapes, increasing the habitat’s resilience to climate change related conditions.
Environments altered by beaver presence host significantly higher diversity compared to those without. Tree felling can shed more light onto aquatic areas, encouraging growth of wetland vegetation. Feeding on larger, fleshy plants can favour smaller, slow-growing species in the surrounding habitat, leading to more abundant, diverse plant communities in the long-term. Species richness and overall abundance of small mammals, amphibians and bird species are also found to be higher in areas close to beaver dams.
After 400–500 years of local extinction, beaver reintroduction has been gathering traction in the UK. There are a number of reintroduction projects trialling their release, including the 2009 Scottish Beaver Trial in Knapdale Forest (which introduced around a dozen beavers to over four hectares of land) and the Devon Beaver Project which introduced one family group to an enclosed area in West Devon. England’s first wild project, The River Otter Beaver Trial, was founded due to the discovery of wild beavers in the region. This 5-year project observedeight family units over 28,700ha and is seeking to demonstrate the effect of beavers on other wildlife, local landscapes, water flow, water quality and local communities. Further reintroductions across the country have established both wild and enclosed populations of this keystone species.
Looking Forward
Reintroduction projects across the UK have been successful. Populations are breeding successfully and have been expanding their territories. However, there is cause for concern with the potential of conflicts to arise over land management. It is likely that, with expansion, there will be human-wildlife conflict with landowners and other stakeholders in the future. The impact of beaver activities on the environment can cause flooding of pasture, risk to crops and the felling of trees can cause harm to livestock and structures. Natural England has advised a paced approach to beaver reintroduction, minimising impacts to land use, infrastructure, livelihoods or environmental features while maximising benefits for the environment.
Habitat: Grassy banks along slow-moving rivers, canals and streams. Marshes, reedbeds, wet moorland, wetland.
Diet: Grass and waterside vegetation. Wetland plants in spring and summer. Roots, rhizomes, bulbs and bark in autumn and winter. Occasional invertebrates.
Conservation Status: Endangered in England and critically endangered in Wales.
Distribution: Found throughout mainland UK. Absent from Northern Ireland and most offshore islands. Estimated population of 132,000, range and numbers have declined by 94% from historical populations.
Breeding: March–October. Breed in spring, producing up to four litters a year.
Description: A small rat-sized rodent, the Water Vole has chestnut brown hair covering their entire body and tail, with a round nose and nearly hidden ears. This semi-aquatic rodent was historically widespread until the population saw a decline, resulting in nearly 90% reductions by 1998.
Habitat loss, degradation and fragmentation are key drivers of Water Vole declines in the UK. General infrastructure development, along with urbanisation of flood plains, have resulted in extensive loss of habitat for this species. Partnered with loss of vegetation and trampling around freshwater banks from grazing livestock, large areas of freshwater habitat are now unsuitable for voles. The unintended introduction of American Mink (Neovison vison) has also been pivotal in the collapse of Water Vole populations across the UK. Initially brought to England for fur farming, escaped mink have predated heavily on this species.
Conservation of Water Voles
Through grazing activities on grasses and rushes at the water’s edge, Water Voles manipulate their habitats, much like beavers but on a smaller scale. This manipulation can make space for a new community of wildflowers and grasses, attracting a host of invertebrate species to an area. As a valuable prey species, elevating Water Vole populations can support predators in the surrounding environment. Barn Owls (Tyto alba), Otters (Lutra lutra) and Pine Martens (Martes martes) are examples of native predators that would benefit from the repopulation of Water Voles.
A number of regional wildlife trusts have undertaken Water Vole recovery projects to support their repopulation in UK waterways. These typically involve recording and monitoring existing Water Vole activity, habitat enhancement, coordination of mink control, and in some cases, reintroduction of the species: 300 voles in the Yorkshire dales, over 600 in Essex, 200 in Gwent and over 1,000 individuals in Kielder Forest. The Forestry Commission has also pledged to make changes in Kielder Forest; improving the landscape by refraining from planting trees on river edges, providing much-needed habitat. In order to protect Water Vole settlement, the species is protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act (1981), the UK Biodiversity Framework, and is listed as a priority species on the UK Biodiversity Action Plan.
Looking Forward
Reintroduction efforts across the UK have had mixed results. A period of growth was observed following initial releases in Nottinghamshire, which has now slowed. Overall occupancy from 2006–2018 has declined by 23%. It is thought that the continued pressure of habitat loss and mink predation is preventing populations from settling successfully. Responding to the poor establishment of Water Vole populations, recovery projects are enhancing existing freshwater habitat and building new areas to establish populations. Breeding and release sites will also be created to facilitate the successful reproduction of Water Voles in a safe environment, away from predation. In addition to habitat enhancement, more widespread mink control is also expected.
Diet: Small mammals, carrion, birds, eggs, fruit and invertebrates.
Conservation Status: Critically endangered in England and Wales, least concern in Scotland.
Distribution: Widespread and relatively common in Ireland. Populations recovering in the Scottish Highlands, some isolated populations in southern Scotland. Populations in northern England and Wales are fragmented and small. Populations estimated at 1,600–8,900 in Britain and Ireland.
Breeding: Mating season is during the summer months. One litter per year, born in March or April. Kits are fully grown at six months and sexually mature by three years old.
Description: Often confused with mink, Weasels or Stoats, the Pine Marten is a fellow member of the Mustelid family. Characterised by its chocolate brown fur and a distinctive, uniquely shaped light-yellow bib around the throat and chest, this elusive species has a long, bushy tail and large, rounded ears. Around the size of a domestic cat, Pine Marten are larger than both Weasels and Stoats and can be distinguished from mink by their chocolate coat.
Pine Marten populations underwent a major decline in the 19th century due to persecution by Victorian gamekeepers on sporting estates. Extensive habitat loss and fragmentation is another factor which contributed to the decline of these species in the UK.
Conservation of Pine Martens
The reintroduction of Pine Martens is favoured by many across the UK. The species is valued for their natural control of the invasive, non-native Grey Squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis), which can account for up to 14% of a Pine Martens diet. This predation allows the native, endangered Red Squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris) to take hold. Eradicating competition from Grey Squirrels, and reducing the risk of the squirrel pox virus, has allowed the Red Squirrel to successfully repopulate areas around Pine Marten territory.
Pine Marten reintroductions positively impact Red Squirrel populations. Image by Joachim Dobler via Flickr
The Two Moors Pine Marten Project, the South East Pine Marten Restoration Project,Back From the Brink and Martens on the Move are programmes founded to support the expansion of Pine Martens in England. A total of 35 individuals have been relocated from Scotland to the Forest of Dean and the Wye Valley, and further reintroductions are expected to take place on Exmoor and Dartmoor National Parks later this year. Other projects aim to facilitate reintroductions through the enhancement of key habitats (Martens on the Move) or to undertake surveys and monitoring to inform on species distribution (Back from the Brink).
By 2017, around 50 Pine Martens had been relocated to woodland in mid-Wales from their original home in Scotland. The population was radio tracked throughout the first year, which monitored their movement and behaviour. The group have established a viable population, breeding every year since reintroduction.
Looking Forward
The future of Pine Martens in the UK is promising. Monitoring of existing projects shows successful breeding and expansion from Scotland into Northern England. It is expected that more Pine Martens will be released in the Forest of Dean, in addition to an estimated 40 individuals to be released with the Two Moors Restoration Project in autumn 2024. It is hoped that, with further expansion, populations may link with Welsh Pine Martens, boosting connectivity and genetic diversity.
However, as populations continue to expand, there is an increasing risk of conflict. With greater human populations, greater infrastructure, and greater exposure to protected species, concerns may arise among the public. The species are known to find their way into chicken coops and pheasant pens, damaging livestock and causing conflict with local farmers. The Vincent Wildlife Trust, Natural England and NatureScot recommend sufficient Pine Marten monitoring, active engagement and open communication with stakeholders to mitigate potential conflicts before they arise.
Each year, Butterfly Conservation urges the public to venture outdoors and record their local lepidoptera populations with the Big Butterfly Count – a UK-wide survey aiming to assess the health of butterflies and day-flying moths. The count involves recording the number and species of butterflies in a chosen area for fifteen minutes and uploading results to their official website.
There are around 130 day-flying macro moths and 59 species of butterfly in the UK. These highly sensitive animals are key indicators of environmental health and play a crucial role in pollination across the country. The latest State of the UK Butterflies report, an assessment on British butterflies, found that the group has declined by 80% since the 1970s. The Big Butterfly Count allows the health and trends of these species to be assessed, improving our understanding of their conservation and threats.
This year’s count took place between Friday 12th July and Sunday 4th August, and the results from nationwide counts can be found on Butterfly Conservation’s interactive map. Over 140,000 counts were taken during this time, recording nearly 1,000,000 butterflies. Gatekeeper (Pyronia tithonus), Meadow Brown (Maniola jurtina), Large White (Pieris brassicae), Small White (Pieris rapae) and Peacock (Aglais io) butterflies were the most recorded species across all data points, accounting for over 670,000 sightings.
This years count revealed the lowest numbers on record, and has led to the announcement of a nationwide ‘butterfly emergency’. On average, seven butterflies and day-flying moths were seen per count, half of last years average. This years count observed significant downward trends in the group, with around 81% of species showing declines, and 600,000 less butterflies recorded than last year (which equates to around a third of 2023’s total observations). 9,000 counts did not record any butterflies, which is the highest number recorded in the history of the count.
We participated in the Big Butterfly Count this year, and are excited to share our results below.
Bats use echolocation, a series of high-pitched calls, to socialise, navigate their habitat and hunt for their prey. Most of these vocalisations are above the range of human hearing, so we require a bat detector to hear them. These devices allow us to monitor bat species by listening to their calls, observe their behaviours and feeding,and toidentify species in a given area. Here we look at a selection of our bat detectors, highlighting the key points to consider when expanding your kit.
A popular, cost-effective option. This lightweight, full-spectrum recorder can be attached to your mobile device to listen to, view and record sounds while identifying the species encountered on the free app. For device compatibility, see the Wildlife Acoustics page.
This entry-level detector has a very simple design catering to complete beginners. It allows users to listen in real time, with extended low frequency coverage which can also pick up insects and birds.
An auto-scanning, heterodyne bat detector, the Elekon Batscanner allows for simple listening in real time. This detector features excellent audio performance with a digitally driven heterodyne converter.
A cost-effective, frequency division detector, the Batbox Baton is simple and easy to use thanks to its auto-scanning, one-button operation. This detector also comes with BatScan software to analyse your recordings.
Designed for transect surveys, this full-spectrum detector features a built-in GPS and a simple press-and-go design suitable for any level of experience. The Scout ensures excellent quality audio and recording, which can be analysed using the free Anabat Insight software.
Recording format: Full spectrum
Frequency range: 10–160 kHz
Sampling rate: 320 ksps, 16 bit
Up to 10 hours of battery life
For more information on how to choose the right product, see our Buyers Guides.
In July, the Biological Recording Company held the first of three webinars on bioacoustics in conservation. These webinars, which are presented in partnership with Wilder Sensing, Wildlife Acoustics and NHBS, began with a general introduction to bioacoustics, and will be followed with two sessions later in the year discussing the technology in more detail.
In the first webinar, talks by Geoff Carss of Wilder Sensing and Joe Hampson from the Somerset Wildlife Trust provided listeners with an overview of bioacoustic technology, its applications in measuring diversity and a short story of Honeygar farm, the Trust’s first ‘wilded’ site. NHBS are pleased to have sponsored this webinar, and we would like to thank participants who took part in our prize draw to win a Song Meter Micro 2.
Wilder Sensing: An entry-level introduction to bioacoustics
Bioacoustics provides ecologists and conservationists with an auditable, low-cost technology to measure biodiversity. It involves the use of audio recorders to passively detect sound in an environment, which can then be analysed to provide insights into community assemblage.
This technology can be used to measure several environmental variables, including animal presence, soil health, weather and infrastructure. Long-term monitoring of an environment can provide us with new insights on the richness and species density of an area and can even be used to analyse migration of key groups. Analysis can also determine areas of interest and habitat preferences for certain species, which can be used to inform future land management.
This method removes bias from traditional surveying techniques, where the skill and age of the observer, or sometimes even the day itself, can impact the result of a traditional survey. However, there are some limitations associated with this technology. False positives (the technology can misidentify a species), false negatives (the technology might miss a call), poor sound quality and mimicry can impact the accuracy of recorded data. To capture an accurate picture of community assemblage, passive recording is best used in partnership with traditional site surveying. This way, disturbance and false negatives can be mitigated, and through bioacoustic surveys, we can revisit the recordings as technology develops.
An acoustic sensor deployed at Honeygar Farm. Image by Wilder Sensing.
Key points:
Bioacoustic technology provides additional insights into community assemblage through the use of sound
The technology is best used alongside traditional surveying for a more accurate overview
The technology is limited by sound quality, false positives and false negatives.
Somerset Wildlife Trust: Honeygar Farm Case study
Honeygar Farm is an 81-hectare site of former intensive farmland, now owned by the Somerset Wildlife Trust (SWT). Since acquiring Honeygar, SWT have employed a unique ‘wilded’ approach to restoring the site.
Changes in hydrology management were among the biggest alterations at Honeygar, as the site has been subject to intense peat drainage to make way for agriculture. Honeygar has over two metres depth of peat, equivalent to 100,000 tons of carbon dioxide, so restoring the natural peatland by blocking drainage ditches was key to improving the carbon storage on site. Cutting and grazing by cattle, historically a huge pressure, has also been reduced from a herd of around 140 animals to 40 individuals. This, partnered with limited silage cutting and resting fields from grazing, is encouraging recovery of the botanical communities on site. The Trust is also exploring the use of different ungulates, including goats, ponies and different cow breeds, to better support the wetland habitat.
Over 20 months, nearly 13 million records were gathered using four sensors on site. This monitoring was undertaken alongside breeding bird, wintering bird and breeding wader surveys to provide a more detailed picture of community assemblage, confirmed with manual validation and targeted surveys to assess rare bird presence. Honeygar will continue to be monitored for insects, birds, mammals, fungi and plants to inform future management practices.
Speaker Joe Hampson deploying acoustic recorders on site. Image by Wilder Sensing.
Key points:
Honeygar Farm is the Trust’s flagship site for the ‘wilding’ approach
Formerly an agricultural farm, Honeygar is being restored to its natural peatland habitat through alterations in landscape management
Bioacoustic technology has provided insight into the community assemblage at the farm, helping to inform landscape management.
This webinar was an enlightening insight into bioacoustics and highlighted some interesting points on its conservation applications. Read our Q&A with Geoff to hear more about Wilder Sensing and its technology, and find more details on Honeygar on the Somerset Wildlife Trust website.
Find tickets for the next webinar, ‘Can Passive Acoustic Monitoring of Birds Replace Site Surveys?’ here.
The number of plastic bags found on beaches has reduced by 80%. Since mandatory charges were introduced in the UK, data recorded by the Marine Conservation Society’s annual litter survey has recorded a marked decrease in the number of bags found on UK beaches – last year the survey recorded an average of one plastic bag every 100m, down from five in 2014. The discovery has led to calls for action to further reduce other types of marine litter.
Coral Bleaching. Image by The Ocean Agency/XL Catlin Seaview Survey/Richard Vevers via Flickr
The world’s reefs are in the middle of the most widespread heat event since records began. After 18 months of record-breaking temperatures, reefs in over 70 countries have been impacted and over 73% of reefs have experienced temperature extremes high enough to initiate bleaching. This event is the second recorded in the last ten years and is the fourth global coral bleaching event on record. Reef conservationists and researchers are urging the scientific community to rethink ways to tackle these events, and are calling for the redoubling of efforts to reduce other stressors on reef habitats.
Discoveries
Chimpanzees have been observed turn-taking during conversation. Researchers have followed five groups of Eastern Chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes schweinfurthii) in Tanzania and Uganda, recording the chatter between groups. The team recorded over 8,500 gestures used in back-and-forth conversation, finding a response time of around 200 milliseconds – the same time as observed in humans. Gestures involve hand flicking to shoo others away and stretching of hands to ask for food. Researchers believe that, in this species, gestures do the talking, while facial expressions and vocalisations add tone to the conversation.
Brazilian wild sharks have tested positive for cocaine. Previous studies have found traces of cocaine in rivers, seawater, wastewater, and smaller marine organisms such as shrimp and mussels, causing serious toxicological effects. However, the concentration observed in Rio’s sharks is around a hundred times higher than other animals testing positive for this substance. The contamination source is currently unknown but is thought to have originated from losses during shipment or the dumping of narcotics to evade authorities. Particularly worrying, the Brazilian Sharpnose Sharks (Rhizoprionodon lalandii) analysed in this study are a component of the Brazilian diet, and it is not yet known how this contamination could impact humans.
Conservation
A near extinct species of crocodile is making encouraging progress in Cambodia. In June, sixty Siamese Crocodiles (Crocodylus siamensis) hatched, following the discovery of five nests in May; a rewarding result from nearly two decades worth of conservation efforts in the Cardamom mountains. Once widespread, these animals have been subject to hunting and habitat loss, resulting in their classification as critically endangered . Since 2012, a collaborative programme by local officials and Fauna & Flora has successfully released nearly 200 individuals, helping to maintain the global population which currently sits at around 400.
Butterfly numbers in the UK are the lowest on record. An unusually wet spring and summer has dampened mating opportunities for butterflies across the country, resulting in a dramatic decrease in populations. With populations still struggling to bounce back from 2022’s drought, the wettest spring since 1986 has further prevented butterfly recovery across the country. Populations are at the lowest recorded since Butterfly Conservation’s Big Butterfly Count began 14 years ago, and as a key indicator species for habitat health, the findings are particularly troubling for the wider environment.
There has been a surge in ‘starving’ bats in Britain. Conservation groups have reported an increase in malnourished, underweight bats and fewer individuals overall for this time of year. A wetter-than-average spring and summer have negatively impacted insect, butterfly and moth populations, resulting in a blow to food sources for these animals. With nursing mothers unable to feed their young, volunteer organisations caring for bats are also seeing a surge in admissions.
A charismatic highlight of any rock-pooling session, crabs are both diverse and wonderful. Here we have a selection of the most common crabs in the UK, detailing their habitats and how to identify them.
Where to find them: The species is widespread throughout the UK and can be found year-round on rocky shores at low water. They are found more frequently on sheltered shores and prefer rocky substrates.
Shell Width: Up to 10cm.
ID: Also known as the devil crab, the Velvet Swimming Crab has short hairs covering its body, giving the animal a velvety appearance. The crab is blue in colour, but is covered by a reddish-brown pubescence masking the overall hue – they do, however, have visible blue lines on their legs, and blue tips on their claws. The carapace is flattened and has five pointed ridges on either side of the eyes. A fast-moving and aggressive crab, it has distinctive, bright red eyes that give it its alternative name. Pincers are of equal size, and the rear legs are flattened to be used as paddles.
Where to find them: Edible Crabs can be found year-round on rocky shores across the UK. The species is often found hidden under rocks and boulders but can also be found on mixed coarse ground and on muddy sand offshore.
Shell width: 10-25cm, averaging around 15cm.
ID: A large species, the Edible Crab is also known as the brown crab for its colour – they can be brown to reddish-brown, bearing white patches and young specimens can have a purple-brown carapace. They have a thick, oval-shaped shell with a distinctive ‘pie crust’ edge. Also recognised by the black tips to their claws.
Where to find them: Spiny Spider Crabs, also known as European spider crabs, can be found from January to December on rocky areas. They are common on the south and west coasts, but are largely absent from northern England, Scotland and the North Sea.
Shell width: Up to 20cm.
ID: Known to be the largest spider crab in Britain and Ireland, they are instantly recognisable for their long legs resembling a spider. They have a distinctively spiky carapace, often covered with algae giving it a hairy, green appearance. The shell has an oval shape, broader at the back and narrower at the front. It has longer, more pronounced spines on the border of the shell, and the rest is covered by smaller spines. They are mostly orange in colour, but have been found in red, yellow or brown varieties. They have two distinct frontal spines which are sandwiched by two small eyes. The legs are covered in hair, with the first pair bearing small claws.
Where to find them: Common Hermit Crabs can be found year-round on rocky shores and sandy substrates along the UK coast. They are most easily found in rock pools at low tide, particularly after storms and turbulent weather, where they can be dislodged and are more easily visible.
Shell width: Varies according to body size, which can measure up to 4cm in length.
ID: The largest and most common of the 15 hermit crab species, these crabs live inside the empty shells of sea snails, commonly whelks and periwinkles. Their body is reddish-brown in colour, with a larger right pincer. Their claws are strong, and are covered in uniformly distributed granules, with two rows of larger granulations starting at the base of the claw, converging towards the middle. The species is associated with Calliactis parasitica, a sea anemone which lives on their shell in a symbiotic relationship.
Where to find them: Shore Crabs are found year-round in rockpools. They may also be found while crabbing in shallow waters and are particularly abundant in estuaries and salt marshes.
Shell width: Up to 9cm.
ID: The species is slightly green in colour, but can also be found with orange and red carapaces and yellowish spots on the abdomen – varied colouration can be attributed to life cycle stages, and juvenile Shore Crabs specifically can have significant variance in colour. The broad carapace has five teeth on each side of the shell, and three scalloped lobes between the eyes.
Where to find them: A small burrowing crab, the Masked Crab can be found buried in sandy substrates on the lower shore. They are found along most of the British coastline and are particularly abundant in the south and west of the UK.
Shell width: Up to 4cm.
ID: Masked Crabs have an elongated oval carapace with long antennae, often the size of their body. Their colour can range from reddish brown to yellow and the lateral margin of the carapace has four distinct spines. The claws are twice the length of the carapace, although females have smaller pincers.
Where to find them: Can be found January to December across the UK, although with sporadic distribution. They can be found under rocks and small boulders on rocky shores.
Shell width: 1.5–1.8cm.
ID: A small crab covered with long hairs, the Porcelain Crab can be grey to greenish-brown with an off-white underside. They have large, broad front claws that appear to be slightly flattened and two long antennae. The fifth pair of legs are smaller and often concealed, resulting in the illusion of only three pairs of walking legs. Due to its size and impressive camouflage, this species can be hard to spot.
It can be truly fascinating to sift through rock pools, finding the weird and wonderful creatures that our environment has to offer,but it is important to remember best practices when investigating our wildlife. To look for crabs safely, approach them from behind to avoid pincers, opt for a net for safe retrieval and hold the crab firmly, without squeezing, to ensure that it does not fall whilst handling. When you are finished, remember to leave everything where you found it, replace any rocks that you may have turned over during your search and return crabs to the same body of water you found them in.
***** An eye-opening and thought-provoking reportage
The road to hell might be paved with good intentions, but the roads to pretty much everywhere else are paved with the corpses of animals. In Crossings, environmental journalist Ben Goldfarb explores the outsized yet underappreciated impacts of the ~65 million kilometres of roads that hold the planet in a paved stranglehold. These extend beyond roadkill to numerous other insidious biological effects. The relatively young discipline of road ecology tries to gauge and mitigate them and sees biologists join forces with engineers and roadbuilders. This is a wide-ranging and eye-opening survey of the situation in the USA and various other countries.
As Goldfarb points out, roadkill is as old as the road but the phenomenon went into overdrive with the invention of the combustion engine and a new-found need for speed that menaced humans and animals alike. With the morbid curiosity typical of biologists, Dayton and Lilian Stoner published the first tally of motorcar casualties in 1925, in the process diagnosing “a malady with no name” (p. 16), as the word roadkill would not be coined for another two decades. The word road ecology was only coined in 1993 by Richard Forman, though it was translated from the German Straßenökologie that was coined in 1981 by Heinz Ellenberg.
As a discipline, road ecology both studies the impact of roads and formulates solutions. Particularly common, and featured extensively in this book, are wildlife crossings. Underpasses serve many animals but others have different needs such as overpasses or canopy rope bridges. Amphibians and reptiles are given a helping hand with toad tunnels and bucket brigades. Fish migration is being restored by retrofitting culverts that are better navigable.
The long and winding road by Mussi Katz, via flickr.
To us, roads are the unnoticed connective tissue that links places of extraction with industry and commerce, and shuttles commuters between home and work. For other animals, they are barriers: despite the good intentions, wildlife crossings cannot serve all animals equally and cannot be constructed everywhere. Millions of animals still die in collisions every day. Goldfarb addresses the very real concerns of extirpation, habitat fragmentation, interrupted migrations, and noise pollution. With roads come humans who bring deforestation, hunting, real estate development, urban sprawl, tourism, etc.
Amidst this litany of harms, Goldfarb features several topics that will be eye-opening even to ecologists. There is the little-known history of how the US Forest Service constructed one of the world’s largest road networks of now mostly abandoned forest tracks. Roads also feed a diverse community of scavengers that includes humans; a necrobiome that “airbrushes our roadsides, camouflaging a crisis by devouring it” (p. 181). In Syracuse, Goldfarb faces the racist legacy of interstate highways that were bulldozed straight through Black and Latino neighbourhoods. Plans are now afoot to reverse this wrong, move the highway, and create a community where people can again walk to their destinations. In a brilliant flourish, Goldfarb connects this back to the book’s main topic: “Road ecologists and urban advocates are engaged in the same epic project: creating a world that’s amenable to feet” (p. 287).
Badbury Rings Avenue – No HDR by JackPeasePhotography, via flickr.
So far, so good. Goldfarb’s writing shines and certain turns of phrase are memorable. I was initially concerned how US-centric this book would be. Though weighted towards US examples, Goldfarb also visits Wales, Costa Rica, Tasmania, and Brazil, and discusses several European initiatives.
Despite the gloomy picture, there are some encouraging signs. The US Forest Service has started decommissioning parts of its road network. Brazil, meanwhile, shows what government regulation can achieve. Here, highway operators are held legally responsible for dealing with the harm and costs resulting from collisions. Contrast this with the USA, Goldfarb observes sharply, where individual drivers are blamed for collisions. This “deflects culpability from the car companies building ever more massive SUVs and the engineers designing unsafe streets” (p. 295). As with addressing climate change, individual action only gets us so far; making roads safer demands systemic change, “a public works project, one of history’s most colossal” (p. 296).
And yet, something nagged at me. The focus on mitigation smacks of a palliative solution and Goldfarb concedes the limitations of road ecology. Crossings and fences will not stop the many other impacts of roads and risk becoming “a form of greenwashing […] a fig leaf that conceals and rationalizes destruction” (p. 265). As with other environmental problems, should we not first focus on abandoning or reducing certain behaviours, instead of turning to techno-fixes? Can we imagine something more radical? Can Goldfarb?
Country road and yellow field by Susanne Nilsson, via flickr.
To his credit, he admits wrestling with this problem. “The most straightforward solution to the road’s ills would be a collective rejection of automobility […] In the course of writing this book, I’ve felt, at times, like a defeatist—as though, by extolling wildlife passages, I foreclose the possibility of a more radical, carless future” (p. 295). I would have loved to see him explore this further in a dedicated chapter. Instead, Goldfarb comes down on the side of pragmatism. Bicycles and public transport are great for making urban areas more liveable, but most roadkill happens elsewhere. Furthermore, personal mobility is only part of the story, with logistics making up a huge chunk of traffic. The eye-opening chapter on Brazil, and the outsized influence of China’s Belt and Road Initiative that sees it invest in infrastructure globally, is a forceful reminder that the developmental juggernaut is nigh impossible to slow down. One road ecologist points out that you cannot seriously enter the discussion around roads if you oppose social and economic development, while another chimes in that, whether we like it or not, more roads will be built. Although I do not think resistance is futile, Goldfarb leaves me sympathetic to the road ecologists who are desperately trying to nudge construction projects in directions “that, if not quite “right,” are at least less wrong” (p. 270).
Goldfarb acknowledges the input of some 250 people and even then stresses his book is far from the final word on the subject. He encourages readers to take it as a starting point and read deeper, providing 43 pages of notes to the many sources of information he has used. I would additionally recommend A Clouded Leopard in the Middle of the Road by Australian road ecologist Darryl Jones which was published last year but seems to have flown under the radar compared to Goldfarb’s book. Overall, Crossings is a wide-ranging, eye-opening, and thought-provoking reportage that deserves top marks.
The Royal Entomological Society (RES) is an organisation dedicated to advancing the field of insect science. Through encouraging open communication, research and publication, the RES hopes to enrich the world with entomology.
Developed in collaboration with the RES, the Royal Entomological Society Bug Hunting Kits provide naturalist users with the tools to safely capture, observe and identify British insects. Kitted with sweep nets, collecting pots and a pooter to capture your insects, you will also be provided with a hand lens, ID guide and optional forceps for identification of species you find.
As seen on Countryfile, the Standard Sweep Netprovides users with a simple, lightweight (280g) net for catching invertebrates. The short, 15cm handle has a foam grip for improved control and a lightweight aluminium frame. The net itself is made in the UK and features a soft calico bag attached via Velcro to the frame, making it easy to remove for washing.
At the core of this kit is the NHBS Insect Pooter. Expertly designed and manufactured at our facilities in Devon, this piece of kit can safely capture a wide range of invertebrates. Affordable and simple to use, this item allows the user to observe specimens in a see-through chamber. The chamber is topped with a 2.5× magnification lens for easy viewing and identification. The pooter’s components can be removed and cleaned for sanitation between sampling.
Each kit comes with five 60ml Collecting Pots for specimen handling and collection. The collecting pots have secure screw-on lids, made with see-through polypropylene for easy, clear viewing.
The handy Double Loupe Hand Lens provided with this kit is only 30mm in diameter, comprisingtwo silicate glass lenses, 5× and 10× magnification. The lenses of this sturdy pocket magnifier fold into a protective casing, keeping them clear from scratches between use. Lightweight and compact, this hand lens is highly portable and is ideal for people of all ages.
Made from a non-magnetic stainless-steel alloy, theSuper Fine Pointed Forceps are manufactured with fine points for precision use. Included with the Advanced Bug Hunting Kit, these precise forceps are not serrated to minimise damage to delicate specimens, and at 11cm are a handy size for transportation and use in-field.
Provided with the Advanced Bug Hunting Kit, theCollins Complete Guide to British Insectsis a photographic field guide to common and unusual insect species across Britain. This extensive work covers over 1,500 species, providing descriptions and detailing where, and when, to observe them. With detailed photographs for each species, differences between similar organisms are highlighted to aid identification. This book covers a range of insects, from bugs and bees to moths and mayflies.
A Naturalists Guide to the Insects of Britain and Northern Europeis provided with the Educational Bug Hunting Kit. This easy-to-use ID guide is ideal for nonspecialist naturalists, with high quality photos of over 280 insect species. A description of appearance, associated habitats, habits and conservation status are outlined for each species. The guide also includes life cycles and describes the conservation of the group.
The mission of The Royal Entomological Society is to enrich the world with insect science- doing this through events, books and supporting young people in gaining skills in entomology.
The Royal Entomological Society receives 10% from the sale of this kit to support their cause.
