Dorset’s Under Recorded Species

Background

In 1997 DERC undertook a project to record species from a range of groups for which there was little recent information. In 1999 a similar project focused on Biodiversity Priority Species but now we have broadened the scope of the project to include more species. More recently, work to produce an update to the Dorset Biodiversity Audit and analysing our current species records, found that some groups are generally well recorded (butterflies, plants) but others, especially the more obscure invertebrates, are less well recorded often because there are far less people recording them.

This project is aimed at those under-recorded species and we would like people to get involved. The Dorset Flora Group have taken on work to update information for species on the Dorset Rare Plant Register. If you would like to help with new survey work to find out more about what we have lost, what we still have and what we can do to help retain Dorset’s wonderful range of flora and flora, please contact us.

Rationale

Dorset has a very rich natural history supporting thousands of species. Inevitably some species, or groups of species, are recorded better than others, and some areas or habitats have better coverage. At DERC we have reviewed the list of species that have some conservation designation and have come up with a list of approximately 2,750 species covering all terrestrial taxa. The list includes those species that may be extinct in the county with no records since 1990. For well-known groups such as plants, birds and butterflies we can be fairly sure a species has gone, but for the less well-recorded groups such as Coleoptera, Diptera, Hemiptera and Fungi it may be that the species has just not been looked for.

From our analysis of the records it is clear that some species or species-groups are under-recorded or lack recent data, therefore we are initiating an Under-recorded Species Project to fill in some of these gaps.

Obviously for some very large groups it will be impossible to expect them to be covered fully, therefore we would like to choose initially a small number of species from several groups that meet one or more of the following criteria:

  • Species that are under-recorded with few recent records
  • Species that have recent records but little information on populations, habitat or micro-habitat (niche) preferences or precise grid references
  • Species that have had detailed surveys in the past but need a re-survey
  • Species for which Dorset is a national stronghold, e.g. many heathland taxa
  • Species at the edge of their range which may be affected by the changing climate
  • Species that are listed as extinct in Dorset (not recorded since 1990) but may just be overlooked. This will probably apply to some of the invertebrate groups and fungi.
  • Species pairs, such a bee and its brood-parasite, or an insect or fungi that is associated with a particular plant species

We would like to gather more information than just presence / absence (negative records are useful too) and have designed a simple two-sided recording form that can be used. As different groups are surveyed in slightly different ways we have designed one form for plants, one for fungi and one for invertebrate groups. We would also encourage people to take photographs of the species and their habitats.

Outputs from the Project

The records and recording forms will be the main output of the surveys, but we will also produce a summary ‘Species Profile’ that will be made available via the DERC website. These summaries may not include site sketch maps or precise grid references if the recorder or landowner wishes the precise locations to remain confidential.

What can DERC provide?

  • A list of records for a particular species
  • You can download species recording forms from the links in the Resources section, below, or we can provide copies
  • Base maps and aerial photographs for field survey are available from Dorset Explorer, but if you cannot use this or you need something more specific, DERC may be able to help
  • Where feasible we will help with landownership details although this may not always be possible.

You can also apply to the DERC small grant scheme to help with travel costs or equipment expenses.

If you would like to get involved, whether working independently or as part of a small group, or you are already looking at some of Dorset’s under-recorded species, please do let DERC know. We would be interested to hear from you, help where we can and see the results of your survey.

Bryan Edwards (Ecologist)

Resources