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Watershrew’s and wetland habitat quality

Watershrew’s and wetland habitat quality. Dawn Scott & Fran Southgate. Project background. 2002-2005 Partnership – SROP & UOB MPhil – Fran Southgate 27 study sites over 3 catchments Cuckmere, Ouse and Pevensey Levels Monitoring: Summer and Winter for 3 years. What is a water shrew?.

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Watershrew’s and wetland habitat quality

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  1. Watershrew’s and wetland habitat quality Dawn Scott & Fran Southgate

  2. Project background • 2002-2005 • Partnership – SROP & UOB • MPhil – Fran Southgate • 27 study sites over 3 catchments • Cuckmere, Ouse and Pevensey Levels • Monitoring: Summer and Winter for 3 years

  3. What is a water shrew? • Noemys fodiens • Largest UK shrew: 13g • Dark, usually silver pale underside • Fringed tail and feet • Ecology: • Breeding peak May & June (2 or < litters/season) • Life span 14-19 months • Aquatic/Riparian (but can be found away from water) • Insectivore: Diet 50: 50 terrestrial/aquatic invertebrates

  4. Why focus on this species? • Limited data on habitat requirements and distribution • Conservation status? W&C act 1987 • Predominantly feeds on aquatic prey • Intolerant to poor water quality ??? • Potential bio-indicator of water quality ??

  5. Project aims • Assess presence & abundance of water shrews across the 3 catchments and monitor these seasonally • Assess habitat characteristics and habitat quality • Assess presence and abundance of invertebrate prey base • Record indicators of water quality

  6. Methods • Shrew scat tubes: P/A and relative abundance • Wetland features: Bank slope, water body • Plant diversity: Bank and in-stream • Water quality: Temp,DO, pH, NH4, P, N • Habitat assessment: Composition and structure • Invertebrates: Diversity, BMWP, ASPT

  7. Water parameters • PH, temp. & DO showed no significant effect on water shrew presence over all sample seasons • Only DO in summer ’03 showed a significant effect on water shrew presence where higher DO = higher abundance • Higher water temperature was associated with lower water shrew presence in Summer 03 and Winter 04 • Data for phosphate, nitrates and ammonia showed no statistically significant relationships with water shrew abundance

  8. Invertebrates • Positive correlations between invertebrate diversity and richness scores and seasonal water shrew relative abundance in Summer 03, Winter 03 and Summer 04 • However, statistical analysis confirmed that neither water shrew presence nor relative abundance were associated with any of the derived BMWP and ASPT scores.

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