Scotland's Wildlife – an assessment of biodiversity in 20

The overall appraisal of coastal and marine priority habitats is divergent (positive and
negative elements).
A more complete account, although not comparable between years, is based on eight
assessments in 2005 and 2008 (Table 5.2). Those stable in 2008 (51%) exceeded
those declining (38%):
Table 5.2
Status of marine and coastal priority habitats in 2005 and in 2008
Source: Biodiversity Action Reporting System
Marine and coastal habitats 2005 2008
Assessed in either year count % count %
Trend unknown 2 25
Declining (continuing/accelerating) 1 13
Declining (slowing)
Fluctuating - probably declining 1 13 2 25
No clear trend 2 25 1 13
Fluctuating - probably stable 1 13
Stable 3 38 3 38
Fluctuating - probably increasing
Increasing
Priority species
Some 136 biodiversity priority species (e.g. lower plants and algae; invertebrates,
molluscs and fish; mammals, cetaceans and birds) occur in coastal and marine
ecosystems in Scotland.
Twelve species which were assessed in 2005 were re-assessed in 2008 (Table 5.3):
dune gentian, Gentianella uliginosa; slender scotch burnet moth, Zygaena loti subsp.
Scotica; new forest burnet moth, Zygaena viciae subsp. Argyllensis; lunar yellow
underwing moth, Noctua orbona; natterjack toad, Epidalea calamita; sand lizard,
Lacerta agilis; otter, Lutra lutra; corncrake, Crex crex; roseate tern, Sterna dougallii;
common skate, Dipturus batis; basking shark, Cetorhinus maximus; and bottle-nosed
dolphin, Tursiops truncates.
A third of those assessed in 2005 (33%) were declining, compared with a quarter (24%)
in 2008; the proportion that were stable or increasing rose from 59% to 66%.
Table 5.3
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