British Fauna Research Articles

On the tail of two species: The changing place of the peregrine falcon in society

Abstract Wildlife conservation can become contentious when human interests are impinged. For peregrine falcons (Falco peregrinus) in the United Kingdom, their iconic status as a protected species is contested by pigeon racers and falconers restrained by strict wildlife policies. However, even entrenched conservation policies can shift, sparking controversy. This paper seeks to understand the conditions leading to recent conservation policy shifts and conflicts. Through archival research and discourse analysis of falconry and pigeon racers' rhetoric, I review the development of 150 years of UK wildlife legislation and politics surrounding peregrines, situating present‐day conflict within long‐standing tensions between competing interests. In doing so, I demonstrate how contrasting ideologies of the raptors existed simultaneously between groups. Each vied for dominance and influenced policies over time, with the ideologies of ‘winners’ suppressing that of the ‘losers’ to become the norm. This historical approach highlights the key role global events like war played in overpowering the dominance of protective ideologies towards peregrines domestically, allowing peregrine culls and capture to become socially permissible. Conversely, post‐War environmental movements originating in the United States suppressed falconry's extractive relationships with peregrines in the United Kingdom, entrenching ecological priorities as a norm still conventional today. I argue that wildlife protection is contested because cultural extinction of falconry and pigeon racing were imminent, brought on by policymakers' focus on preventing the biological extinction of peregrines. However, recent policy shifts highlight the acceptance of anthropocentric interests within conservation practices. Policy implications: Animals can play multiple roles in society, but the public may not be accustomed to anthropocentric interests overtly displayed within contemporary conservation practices. Policy needs to be more sensitive towards accommodating or communicating human interests, but to also reflect on the social and ecological implications of their own ideologies towards conservation. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.

A journey through the history of the British Chrysididae (Hymenoptera): unexpected taxonomic problems, new records and description of a new species

ABSTRACT An overview on the history of the British cuckoo wasps is presented. Some very old publications dealing with this fauna have fallen into oblivion, along with the description of some taxa. In the present paper I discuss these taxa and other species observed in museum collections. The species formerly identified as Cleptes semicyaneus Tournier, 1879 was found in England and Scotland. This species was misidentified in the literature and it is here described as Cleptes britannicorum Rosa, sp. n. Three new synonymies are proposed: Chrysis politus Harris, 1776 syn. n. of Omalus aeneus (Fabricius, 1787); Chrysis curax Harris, 1776 syn. n. of Trichrysis cyanea (Linnaeus, 1758); Chrysis variegata Curtis, 1837 nec Olivier, 1790 syn. n. of Chrysis leachii Shuckard, 1837. The lectotype of Chrysis lucidula Fabricius, 1775 (type species of the genus Hedychrum Latreille, 1802) is designated. Chrysis aenea Fabricius, 1787 is considered a nomen protectum and Chrysis politus Harris, 1776 a nomen oblitum. A discussion on nomina nuda and nomina dubia found in historical publications is given. In the context of British fauna, Chrysis rutilans Olivier, 1790 is considered regionally extinct, and the presence of Chrysis mediadentata Linsenmaier, 1951 and Pseudomalus triangulifer (Abeille de Perrin, 1877) in England is reported for the first time. The following species recently added to the British fauna are considered native because they were present in the UK in the nineteenth century and can be traced in historical collections: Elampus konowi (du Buysson, 1892); Hedychridium caputaureum (Trautmann and Trautmann, 1919); C. corusca Valkeila, 1971; C. schencki Linsenmaier, 1968; C. terminata Dahlbom, 1854; and Chrysis mediadentata Linsenmaier, 1951. It is also confirmed, based on historical data, that Holopyga generosa (Förster, 1853) and Hedychrum nobile (Scopoli, 1763) have recently expanded their distributional limits, making their presence in England evident only in the last few decades. http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:1273ADDE-3EFF-4CA5-8C4E-A2F5FFDBB6E7

Eileen Harris

An expert in parasitic worms at the Natural History Museum, she was a dedicated and generous colleague who helped many vets identify parasites, particularly in UK wildlife.

Out of the laboratory, into the field: perspectives on social, ethical and regulatory challenges in UK wildlife research.

Drawing on insights from qualitative social science research, this paper aims to prompt reflection on social, ethical and regulatory challenges faced by scientists undertaking invasive animal research in the field and propose ways of addressing these challenges to promote good care for animals and environments. In particular, we explore challenges relating to the management of (i) relationships with publics and stakeholders, who may be present at field sites or crucial to research success; (ii) ethical considerations not present in the laboratory, such as the impacts of research on populations and ecosystems; (iii) working under an array of regulations, which may operate in accordance with competing ethical principles or objectives; and (iv) relationships with regulators (especially vets), which may involve disagreements over ethics and expertise, especially because regulators may be more accustomed to overseeing research in the laboratory than the field. We argue that flexibility—at a personal and policy level—and respect for others' expertise emerged as two key ways of negotiating ethical challenges, fostering positive working relationships and promoting good care for individual animals and broader ecosystems. While our analysis focuses on the UK, we propose that many of these lessons are broadly applicable to international contexts.This article is part of the theme issue ‘Measuring physiology in free-living animals (Part II)’.

Interspecies comparisons of brominated flame retardants in relation to foraging ecology and behaviour of gulls frequenting a UK landfill

This study quantifies and compares concentrations and profiles of legacy and alternative (alt-) brominated flame retardants (BFRs) in the eggs of three gull (Laridae) species of international/UK conservation concern – great black-backed gulls (Larus marinus; n = 7), European herring gulls (L. argentatus; n = 16) and lesser black-backed gulls (L. fuscus; n = 11) in relation to their foraging ecology and behaviour in order to investigate potential exposure pathways at a remote landfill in western Scotland, UK. Egg concentrations of sum (∑) polybrominated diphenyl ethers (∑8PBDEs) in all three species exceeded those for most reported avian species using landfill, except for those in North America. Despite relatively high detection frequencies of ∑hexabromocyclododecanes (∑3HBCDDs) (94–100%), concentrations of ∑8PBDEs exceeded ∑3HBCDDs and ∑5alt-BFRs, with ∑8PBDE levels similar in all three species. Egg carbon isotopic (δ13C) values highlighted a greater marine dietary input in great black-backed gulls that was consistent with their higher BDE-47 levels; otherwise, dietary tracers were minimally correlated with measured BFRs. ∑3HBCDD egg concentrations of herring gulls markedly exceeded those reported elsewhere in Europe. Decabromodiphenylethane (DBDPE) was the only alt-BFR detected (6–14% detection rate), in a single egg of each species. The great black-backed gull egg contained the highest concentration of DBDPE measured in biota to date globally and provides strong evidence for its emerging environmental presence as a BDE-209 replacement in UK wildlife. Correlations between δ13C (dietary source) and some measured BFRs in eggs suggest multiple routes of BFR exposure for gulls frequenting landfill through their diet, behaviour, preening, dermal exposure and likely inhalation. The frequent use of landfill by herring gulls and their increased egg BFR burdens suggest that this species may be an important bioindicator of BFR emissions from such sites.

Risky Business: Live Non-CITES Wildlife UK Imports and the Potential for Infectious Diseases.

Simple SummaryThe UK imports wild animals for commercial purposes from countries all across the world. We analyse a database of wildlife records from the UK’s Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) to summarise the volume and variety of non-CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species) listed wild animal imports over a recent 5-year period (2014–2018). We found that over 48 million individual animals were imported into the UK from 90 countries across nine global regions from 2014–2018. In terms of volume (semi-domesticated pigeons and game birds aside), amphibians were the most commonly imported group (73%), followed by reptiles (17%), mammals (4%), and birds (3%). The highest number of import records came from Europe and Africa, but the largest volume of animals came from North America and Asia. We review the potential for infectious diseases emerging from these vast and varied wildlife imports and discuss the potential threats they pose to public health. We also draw attention to an observed current lack of detail in the APHA database and suggest that better record keeping and reporting could help prevent and manage the introduction of infectious diseases.International wildlife trade is recognised as a major transmission pathway for the movement of pathogenic organisms around the world. The UK is an active consumer of non-native live wild animals and is therefore subject to the risks posed by pathogen pollution from imported wildlife. Here, we characterise a key yet overlooked portion of the UK wildlife import market. We evaluate the trade in live non-CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species) wild terrestrial animals entering the UK over a 5-year period using data reported by the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA). Between 2014 and 2018, over 48 million individual animals, across five taxonomic classes and 24 taxonomic orders, were imported into the UK from 90 countries across nine global regions. The largest volumes of wild animals were imported from North America and Asia, and most of the import records were from Europe and Africa. Excluding Columbiformes (pigeons) and Galliformes (‘game birds’), amphibians were the most imported taxonomic class (73%), followed by reptiles (17%), mammals (4%), birds (3%), and arachnids (<1%). The records described herein provide insight into the scope and scale of non-CITES listed wildlife imported in to the UK. We describe the potential for pathogen pollution from these vast and varied wildlife imports and highlight the potential threats they pose to public health. We also draw attention to the lack of detail in the UK wildlife import records, which limits its ability to help prevent and manage introduced infectious diseases. We recommend that improved record keeping and reporting could prove beneficial in this regard.

Changes in the British pseudoscorpion fauna over the last 50 years

Over the past 30 years the British pseudoscorpion fauna and our understanding of it has grown. Three new species have been discovered, two of which, Larca lata Hansen, 1884 and Microbisium brevifemoratum (Ellingsen, 1903) have viable populations, whilst a third, Americhernes oblongus (Say, 1821), is a casual introduction. A further species, Chthonius (Chthonius) halberti (Kew, 1816) was rediscovered in 2016. An atlas was published in 1980 and a revised Linnean Society Synopsis in 1998. The rise of computers facilitated the digitization of records from 1992 onwards, and enabled the publication of distribution records online through the author's web site, chelifer.com, and the NBN Atlas. The interest in pseudoscorpions has subsequently blossomed and given rise to a Facebook page and a number of identification courses. All this interest will hopefully further our understanding of the British pseudoscorpion fauna.

The British harvestman (Opiliones) fauna: 50 years of biodiversity change, and an annotated checklist

The British harvestman fauna amounted to 22 species in 1969, and increased by almost 30% to 31 species in the following 50 years. The recent additions are discussed, and an updated checklist is provided. Although some of these species had been considered as relicts, there is little evidence to suggest that they are anything other than recent immigrants, with distributions and patterns of spread largely consistent with that view. Possible future immigrants or overlooked species are considered, along with some of the pressures driving change.

A new British mayfly: Baetis atlanticus (Soldán &amp; Godunko, 2006) (Ephemeroptera: Baetidae)

Baetis atlanticus (Soldán &amp; Godunko, 2006) is reported as new to the British mayfly fauna. A key to separating nymphs of B. atlanticus from B. rhodani (Pictet, 1843) is provided.

The Monkey Selfie case and the concept of authorship: an EU perspective

... The dispute between, initially, the Wikimedia Foundation and UK wildlife photographer David Slater and, subsequently, between the latter and People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) over copyright ownership of the (now infamous) self-portrait photographs—selfies—taken in Indonesia by a Celebes crested macaque named Naruto (also known as the ‘Monkey Selfies’) has attracted widespread attention, both among lawyers and the general public. In 2014 the Wikimedia Foundation rejected Slater’s takedown request to remove from a Wikipedia page one of the photographs taken by Naruto. The Foundation did so on grounds that no copyright could subsist in a work created by an animal. It also concluded that the argument by Slater that he had befriended a group of macaques and set up the photographic equipment, so that they would use it and possibly take pictures (with him editing the resulting photographs), held no value.1

Pesticides – experts ignore the most serious threat to UK wildlife

We have monitored pairs of English (Grey) Partridges on the 800 acre farm in North West Norfolk which I manage since my father bought it in 1959. We are also lucky enough to have continuous nesting...

Wildlife conservation, multiple biopolitics and animal subjectification: Three mammals’ tales

•Foucaultian theories of biopolitics are applied to UK wildlife conservation.•Specifically to the management of red squirrels, grey squirrels, pine martens.•‘Animal subjectification’ developed to conceptualise techniques of self-government.•Ethical implications of resulting political status of animals assessed.

A Monograph of British Graptolites by Gertrude L.Elles and Ethel M.R.Wood, edited by CharlesLapworth. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 2015. No. of pages: a–m + 1–539 (vol. 1), i–clxxi (vol. 2, including 52 plates). Price: Volume 1 £34‐00, Volume 2 £25‐99. ISBN 978-1-108-08440-6 (volume 1), 978‐1‐108‐08441‐3 (volume 2) (paperback).

The Monograph of British Graptolites by Gertrude Elles, Ethel Wood and Charles Lapworth (1901–1918), is still, after a hundred years, one of the standard reference works on planktonic graptolites. Although graptolite taxonomy has moved on since publication of the original monograph, as a starting point for graptoloid identification, it is still useful to have the majority of the British fauna illustrated and described in a single publication. In addition, as many graptolite species are found on several palaeocontinents, the utility of the book is not limited to the British Isles. One of the outstanding features of the original was the plates. Specimens were drawn (by Wood) at five times life size; the drawings were published at life size. This arrangement has the benefit that it is possible to compare a specimen directly with a drawing, and also that more detail is visible on the drawing using a hand lens. My immediate thoughts on hearing that the work had been reissued were jubilation, because second-hand copies of the original are as rare as graptolite soft tissue, and then to wonder about the quality of the plates. The reproduction is in two volumes: the text in one and ‘History of Research’ and the plates in the other. This is a sensible way of arranging the information, as it is possible to read the description of a species while looking at the illustrations. The reproduction of the text is adequate, and the in-text figures are generally acceptable, if sometimes a little faint. The figures have been reproduced at the correct size. Unfortunately, some of the images on the plates have not been reproduced to the same quality as the original. For example, Plate XIII, Fig. 8, is very pale and details have been lost, and in Fig. 3b of the same plate, details of the interthecal septa are visible in the original monograph, but not in the reproduction. Despite the issues with image quality, the reproduction is usable for graptolite identification in conjunction with more recent literature. The price is reasonable, considering the size of the books. This reprinted monograph will be useful for anyone, not just in the UK, who is interested in identifying graptolites.

Conjunctival flora of healthy and diseased eyes of grey seals (Halichoerus grypus): implications for treatment

Ocular pathology is relatively common in stranded seals admitted to wildlife rehabilitation hospitals. Some have pre-existing problems, while others develop eye problems in captivity, and in particular ulcerative keratitis, due...

Leptospira interrogans serovars Bratislava and Muenchen animal infections: Implications for epidemiology and control

Strains of Leptospira interrogans belonging to two very closely related serovars – Bratislava and Muenchen – have been associated with disease in domestic animals, in particular pigs, but also in horses and dogs. Similar strains have also been recovered from various wildlife species. Their epidemiology is poorly understood. Two hundred and forty seven such isolates, from UK domestic animal and wildlife species, were examined by restriction endonuclease analysis in an attempt to elucidate their epidemiology. A representative sub-sample of 65 of these isolates was further examined by multiple-locus variable-number tandem repeat analysis and 22 by secY sequencing. Ten restriction pattern types were identified. The majority of isolates fell into one of three restriction endonuclease analysis pattern types designated B2a, B2b and M2a. B2a was ubiquitous and was isolated from 10 species and represented the majority of the horse and all dog isolates. B2b was very different, being isolated only from pigs, indicating that this type was maintained by pigs. The pattern M2a was reported for the majority of isolates from pigs but also was common in small rodents isolates. Five restriction pattern types were found only in wildlife suggesting that they are unlikely to pose a disease threat to domestic animals. Multiple-locus variable-number tandem repeat analysis identified six clusters. The REA types B2a and B2b were all found in one MLVA cluster while the majority of the M2a strains examined occurred in another cluster. The secY sequencing detected only one sequence type, clustered with other serovars of Leptospira interrogans.

Large-scale structure of brown rat (Rattus norvegicus) populations in England: effects on rodenticide resistance.

The brown rat (Rattus norvegicus) is a relatively recent (<300 years) addition to the British fauna, but by association with negative impacts on public health, animal health and agriculture, it is regarded as one of the most important vertebrate pest species. Anticoagulant rodenticides were introduced for brown rat control in the 1950s and are widely used for rat control in the UK, but long-standing resistance has been linked to control failures in some regions. One thus far ignored aspect of resistance biology is the population structure of the brown rat. This paper investigates the role population structure has on the development of anticoagulant resistance. Using mitochondrial and microsatellite DNA, we examined 186 individuals (from 15 counties in England and one location in Wales near the Wales–England border) to investigate the population structure of rural brown rat populations. We also examined individual rats for variations of the VKORC1 gene previously associated with resistance to anticoagulant rodenticides. We show that the populations were structured to some degree, but that this was only apparent in the microsatellite data and not the mtDNA data. We discuss various reasons why this is the case. We show that the population as a whole appears not to be at equilibrium. The relative lack of diversity in the mtDNA sequences examined can be explained by founder effects and a subsequent spatial expansion of a species introduced to the UK relatively recently. We found there was a geographical distribution of resistance mutations, and relatively low rate of gene flow between populations, which has implications for the development and management of anticoagulant resistance.

Towards the integration of urban planning and biodiversity conservation through collaboration

Abstract Despite aspirations to halt biodiversity loss by 2020 under the Aichi Biodiversity Targets, urban development continues to negatively impact UK wildlife and habitats. Reasons behind continued biodiversity decline are examined through the use of semi-structured interviews with ecologists, statutory regulators and land developers. It is found that despite strict legislation and best practice, for both planning and ecology, there is still much room for subjectivity regarding the protection of specific ecological features and the implementation of the mitigation hierarchy. Interviews also revealed that such subjectivity often facilitates the prioritisation of commercial over ecological benefits during site design. Furthermore, many felt an over reliance on the protection of individual animals, as opposed to maintaining functional connectivity for conservation of wider populations was detrimental to both the development industry and ecology. Our findings support the case for further research into the development of innovative geographical information systems to allow spatial deliberation, and collaborative decision-making between the three stakeholder groups.

The perfect pest: natural history and the red squirrel in nineteenth-century Scotland (William T. Stearn Prize 2014)

Following the extirpation of the red squirrel from much of Scotland by the end of the eighteenth century, nineteenth-century naturalists strived to find evidence of its native Scottish status. As medieval accounts and Gaelic place names proved ambiguous, the true extent of the squirrel's former habitat was a matter of some debate. While numerous reintroductions of the species were made from the late eighteenth century, general enthusiasm for the return of the squirrel quickly turned to dismay, ultimately followed by persecution. If the squirrel originally represented a symbolic mission to rediscover a lost species, the physical animal itself fell below expectations. It became publically perceived as both economically and ecologically destructive. The squirrel was despised by foresters and landowners for damaging trees, while naturalists condemned the species for the destruction of bird's eggs and nests. This article will investigate naturalists' quests to rediscover the red squirrel, before examining changing attitudes to the species upon its reintroduction and gradual proliferation. The narrative will emerge through the works and correspondence of Scottish naturalist John Alexander Harvie-Brown (1844–1916) and The new statistical account of Scotland (1834–1845). The argument will be made that the red squirrel as an object of antiquarian curiosity initially made the species endearing to natural historians, as part of a wider fascination with extinct British fauna. However, the clash between naturalists’ established ornithological interests did little to endear the species to that community, leaving the red squirrel open to a policy of general persecution on economic grounds.

A contribution towards the identification of the giant hogweed species (Heracleum, Apiaceae) naturalised in the British Isles with comments concerning their furanocoumarin content

The identity of giant hogweed species in the British Isles has been under debate in recent years. A morphometric analysis of fruit characters was used to study the number and identity of giant hogweed species occurring in these islands. Five clusters were identified, probably equating to species, to two of which the names Heracleum mantegazzianum Sommier & Levier and H. lehmannianum Bunge are tentatively attributed based on inclusion of type material. Details of the vittae and stylopodium are shown to provide a high level of discrimination and a preliminary key based on fruit characters is provided for the clusters identified. The legislative implications of these findings are considered and an amendment to Schedule 9 of the UK Wildlife and Countryside Act (1981) is advocated. An additional study of furanocoumarin content confirms that all naturalised populations of giant hogweed, regardless of identity, have the potential to cause phyto-photodermatitis and pose a threat to public health.

Vertebrate microremains from the late Silurian of Arisaig, Nova Scotia, Canada

Rare scales of agnathan thelodontsParalogania ludlowiensisandThelodussp. cf.T. parvidens, or alternativelyThelodus macintoshi, and acanthodian fishesNostolepis striata,Gomphonchussp.,Gomphonchoporussp. aff.G. hoppei, andMachaeraporus stonehousensis(Legault) n. gen., plus acanthodian fin spines, teeth and tooth whorls have been identified from the upper Moydart and Stonehouse formations near Arisaig, Nova Scotia. The assemblage agrees well with the late Silurian (uppermost Ludlow–Přídolí) age assigned to these strata based on invertebrate assemblages, and the vertebrate taxa show affinity with British and Baltic faunas of this age. All vertebrate-bearing strata were deposited in various positions off the western shores of the Avalonia terrane during or after its collision with Laurentia.