State of Nature report - RSPB

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MARINE Razorbill Saving marine wildlife Steve Knell Most of the problems faced by marine wildlife are a result of increased human pressure. Positive management of marine habitats is far more challenging than on land. As a result, much work is targeted at preventing harmful impacts from human activities, often by implementing relevant policies. We urgently need an ecologically coherent network of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), which will allow the marine environment room to recover. We are currently going through a historic phase in marine conservation, with the designation of national networks of MPAs around the UK, to support the protection provided by European legislation. These are long overdue. The siting of these MPAs relies heavily on knowing where marine wildlife occurs: not an easy task given the difficulties of studying biodiversity at sea. However, recent developments in tracking individual birds using lightweight tags has provided a much more detailed picture of how seabirds use these areas, and is also redefining our knowledge of the distance some species are travelling to find food – up to three times further than previously thought, in some cases. Case study Following seabirds at sea FAME (Future of the Atlantic Marine Environment) is the largest seabird tracking study ever undertaken, part-funded by the EU Regional Development Fund. The study, led by the RSPB, involves seven different partners, working in five different countries. In the UK, scientists work at five sites along the Atlantic coast (Fair Isle and Orkney in Scotland; Colonsay in the Hebrides; Bardsey Island in Wales; and the Isles of Scilly) and concentrate on five seabird species: fulmar, shag, kittiwake, guillemot and razorbill. Knowing where and why seabirds forage is crucial in designating Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) across the north-east Atlantic. This knowledge can also influence the placement of offshore developments such as wind farms, and inform research into the impact of climate change on marine food chains. Excitingly, by relating the distribution data from seabird tracking to oceanographic features, it is possible to see not only where birds are foraging, but why birds are foraging in these areas. Figure 25 Map showing the movements of 23 razorbills tracked from Fair Isle in 2011. Data from the RSPB. To find out more about the FAME project, please visit www.fameproject.eu 64 STATE OF NATURE 2013
Harbour seals have declined by nearly a third in Scottish waters, as a result of pollution, disease, competition with grey seals and a lack of food. Guy Rogers Harbour seal pup sleeping
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STATE OF NATURE Foreword by Sir Dav
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UPLAND STATE OF NATURE 2013 29
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Although robust data are in short s
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ought species back from the brink o
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Wasps (175) All (5%) Moths (676) La
Page 13 and 14: MEASURING THE STATE OF NATURE Measu
Page 15 and 16: Although the evidence for the wides
Page 17 and 18: FARMLAND Farmland makes up around 7
Page 19 and 20: Why is farmland wildlife changing?
Page 21 and 22: Brown hares have benefited from hab
Page 23 and 24: lowland semi-natural grassland and
Page 25 and 26: Why is lowland semi-natural grassla
Page 27 and 28: Common lizard Steve Knell All six o
Page 29 and 30: UPLAND The UK’s uplands are the h
Page 31 and 32: o single factor is responsible for
Page 33 and 34: Golden eagles and other animals are
Page 35 and 36: WOODLAND Much of Britain was once c
Page 37 and 38: Why is woodland wildlife changing?
Page 39 and 40: Increased grazing pressure from dee
Page 41 and 42: COASTAL Wrapped in a narrow ribbon
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Page 45 and 46: Genevieve Leaper Sea thrift on a cl
Page 47 and 48: FRESHWATER AND WETLANDS Freshwater
Page 49 and 50: Why is freshwater and wetland wildl
Page 51 and 52: Common frog Mark Sisson Freshwater
Page 53 and 54: URBAN There are many different ways
Page 55 and 56: Why is urban wildlife changing? A s
Page 57 and 58: The renovation or demolition of old
Page 59 and 60: URBAN Derelict, disused and unloved
Page 61 and 62: MARINE he UK is truly a maritime na
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Page 67 and 68: UK OVERSEAS TERRITORIES The UK has
Page 69 and 70: Just one individual of St Helena’
Page 71 and 72: EXTINCTIONS AND COLONISATIONS You w
Page 73 and 74: Little egret Ernie Janes The little
Page 75 and 76: CONSERVATION HEROES Picture the sce
Page 77 and 78: Climate change Climate change is al
Page 79 and 80: A: In some datasets, both total cha
Page 81 and 82: Watchlist indicator Between 1995 an
Page 83 and 84: 11: Fuller RM (1987) Biological Con
Page 85 and 86: in urban area: implications for nat
Page 87 and 88: ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Acknowledgements T
Page 89 and 90: Conchological Society of Great Brit
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State of Nature report - RSPB

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