Creating a biophilic Wales: increasing the health and wellbeing of people, biodiversity and the environment

The National Botanic Garden of Wales (NBGW) is dedicated to the research and conservation of biodiversity, sustainability, lifelong learning and the enjoyment of our visitors. NBGW’s Conservation and Research programme includes four major themes: ‘Saving Plants and Fungi’, ‘Saving Pollinators’, ‘International Conservation and Research’ and ‘Science and Society’. This article describes some of NBGW’s activities in three of these core areas, focusing on our work within Wales. 1. Conserving and understanding Welsh plants, fungi and habitats. 2. Conserving pollinating insects and understanding pollinator ecosystem services. 3. Understanding and promoting the importance of plants and gardens for the health and wellbeing of people, wildlife and the environment. NBGW takes a multi-disciplinary approach that involves research, education, engagement, advocacy and direct conservation action. We aim to create a Biophilic Wales by increasing our understanding of the natural world and inspiring people to protect it. Wales is used as a study system to develop models that can applied throughout the world

The Ecology and Genetics of Cirsium dissectum (L.) Hill in the British Isles and Implications for its Conservation

The aim of this study was to research the ecology and genetics of Cirsium dissectum and to discuss the implications of the results for its conservation. The ecology of C. dissectum was described through a review of the literature. Site characteristics, plant communities and reproductive biology were investigated by examining 22 populations throughout the British Isles. Microsatellite genetic markers were used to investigate levels of genetic diversity within and between these populations. Within populations, relationships between genetic diversity, population size, fitness and habitat quality (concentrating on soil nutrients and vegetation structure) were explored using multiple regression and structural equation modelling. Differentiation between populations was examined by comparing rnicrosatellite markers with morphological traits and this was supplemented by a crossing experiment that investigated the effects of inbreeding and outbreeding. This study showed that C. dissectum was a clonal species with a mixed mating system. Previous research had suggested that clonal propagation was the dominant form of reproduction but this study showed that sexual reproduction was important in this species, as levels of genotypic diversity were high. There were interactions between population size, genetic diversity, plant fitness and habitat quality. Smaller populations of C. dissectum had lower genetic diversity and this subsequently reduced plant fitness. Higher levels of bare soil and phosphorus were related to higher levels of genetic diversity; bare soil may provide establishment gaps for seedlings and clonal offspring, while phosphorus may encourage flowering and/or seedling survival. Populations of C. dissectum showed high levels of genetic differentiation and strong isolation by distance using microsatellite genetic markers. Both microsatellite genetic markers and morphological traits revealed geographical structuring between populations, but this was less pronounced using the morphological traits. Plants in Ireland showed higher levels of morphological differentiation compared to Britain. C. dissectum showed strong, early acting inbreeding depression when plants were selfed and a trend towards outbreeding depression when genetically distant populations were crossed. Populations of C. dissectum should be conserved throughout the geographical range of the species in the British Isles. Sites should be managed so that habitat heterogeneity is maintained, enabling C. dissectum rosettes to flower and to maintain bare soil for seedling establishment. Habitat restoration should use seed collected from a number of local populations of the same habitat

Demographic vulnerability of the clonal and endangered meadow thistle

Contains fulltext : 65634.pdf ( ) (Open Access

Flower resource and land management drives hoverfly communities and bee abundance in semi-natural and agricultural grasslands

1. Pollination is a key ecosystem service, and appropriate management, particularly in agricultural systems, is essential to maintain a diversity of pollinator guilds. However, management recommendations frequently focus on maintaining plant communities, with the assumption that associated invertebrate populations will be sustained. 2. We tested whether plant community, flower resources and soil moisture would influence hoverfly (Syrphidae) abundance and species richness in floristically-rich semi-natural and floristically-impoverished agricultural grassland communities in Wales (U.K.), and compared these to two Hymenoptera genera, Bombus and Lasioglossum. Interactions between environmental variables were tested using generalised linear modelling, and hoverfly community composition examined using canonical correspondence analysis. 3. There was no difference in hoverfly abundance, species richness, or bee abundance, between grassland types. There was a positive association between hoverfly abundance, species richness and flower abundance in unimproved grasslands. However, this was not evident in agriculturally improved grassland, possibly reflecting intrinsically low flower resource in these habitats, or the presence of plant species with low or relatively inaccessible nectar resources. There was no association between soil moisture content and hoverfly abundance or species richness. 4. Hoverfly community composition was influenced by agricultural improvement and the amount of flower resource. Hoverfly species with semi-aquatic larvae were associated with both semi-natural and agricultural wet grasslands, possibly because of localised larval habitat. Despite the absence of differences in hoverfly abundance and species-richness, distinct hoverfly communities are associated with marshy grasslands, agriculturally improved marshy grasslands and unimproved dry grasslands, but not with improved dry grasslands. 5. Grassland plant community cannot be used as a proxy for pollinator community. Management of grasslands should aim to maximise the pollinator feeding resource, as well as maintain plant communities. Retaining waterlogged ground may enhance the number of hoverflies with semi-aquatic larvae.publishersversionPeer reviewe

Temporal Patterns of Honeybee Foraging in a Diverse Floral Landscape Revealed Using Pollen DNA Metabarcoding of Honey

Understanding the plants pollinators use through the year is vital to support pollinator populations and mitigate for declines in floral resources due to habitat loss. DNA metabarcoding allows the temporal picture of nectar and pollen foraging to be examined in detail. Here, we use DNA metabarcoding to examine the forage use of honeybees (Apis mellifera L.) within a florally diverse landscape within the UK, documenting the key forage plants used and seasonal progression over two years. The total number of plant taxa detected in the honey was 120, but only 16 of these were found with a high relative read abundance of DNA, across the main foraging months (April–September). Only a small proportion of the available flowering genera in the landscape were used by the honeybees. The greatest relative read abundance came from native or near-native plants, including Rubus spp., Trifolium repens, the Maleae tribe including Crataegus, Malus, and Cotoneaster, and Hedera helix. Tree species were important forage in the spring months, followed by increased use of herbs and shrubs later in the foraging season. Garden habitat increased the taxon richness of native, near-native and horticultural plants found in the honey. Although horticultural plants were rarely found abundantly within the honey samples, they may be important for increasing nutritional diversity of the pollen forage

Lighting and behaviour in captivity:Butterflies prefer light environments containing UV wavelengths

The behaviour and welfare of animals in captivity is of great importance to zoological collections, captive breeding programmes, food production and keepers of companion animals. Artificial lighting is commonly deficient in UV wavelengths, and use of such lighting for indoor animal enclosures could have significant impacts on the behaviour and welfare of animals to which UV wavelengths are visible. This includes birds, reptiles and fish, but also insects. Here we investigated the effect of UV-present and UV-absent light environments on the behaviour of Vanessa cardui, a butterfly that possesses a trichromatic visual system typical of many insects. We conducted behavioural experiments using a free-flight arena divided in half, where each half could be subjected to UV+ or UV− illumination. When lighting conditions for the two arena halves were the same, we found no significant differences in activity between UV+ and UV− light environments. However when lighting conditions for the two arena halves were different, butterflies showed a significant preference for the UV+ over the UV− half. This remained the case even when the overall intensity of UV+ illumination was less than that of UV− illumination. Our results suggest that UV-deficient artificial lighting conditions do not themselves affect the activity of butterflies, but that given a choice, butterflies prefer lighting that contains UV. Based on these findings, captive light environments can be designed that use supplementary lighting or filters to improve the welfare of captive insects, and the visitor experience.</p

Shifts in honeybee foraging reveal historical changes in floral resources

Decreasing floral resources as a result of habitat loss is one of the key factors in the decline of pollinating insects worldwide. Understanding which plants pollinators use is vital to inform the provision of appropriate floral resources to help prevent pollinator loss. Using a globally important pollinator, the honeybee, we show how changes in agricultural intensification, crop use and the spread of invasive species, have altered the nectar and pollen sources available in the UK. Using DNA metabarcoding, we analysed 441 honey samples from 2017 and compared these to a nationwide survey of honey samples from 1952. We reveal that shifts in major plants foraged by honeybees are driven by changes in the availability of these plants within the landscape. Improved grasslands are the most widespread habitat type in the UK, and management changes within this habitat have the greatest potential to increase floral resource availability

Breeding system and spatial isolation from congeners strongly constrain seed set in an insect-pollinated apomictic tree: Sorbus subcuneata (Rosaceae)

The article associated with this dataset is in ORE at: http://hdl.handle.net/10871/26965The datasets are the results of 1) pollen grain accumulation on stigmas. 2) Flowering phenology of individual trees as % of opened buds, with 50 percentile values of the cumulative flowering curve. 3) Location data for all trees of both species of flowering size (see article text) plus connectivity measures of maternal seed trees to all S. admonitor trees. X and y coordinates are GB OS National Grid. This data is related to the Scientific Reports paper of the same title.Whitley Wildlife Conservation Trust, Paignton Zoo Environmental ParkNER

Pollen DNA barcoding:Current applications and future prospects.

Identification of the species origin of pollen has many applications, including assessment of plant-pollinator networks, reconstruction of ancient plant communities, product authentication, allergen monitoring, and forensics. Such applications, however, have previously been limited by microscopy-based identification of pollen, which is slow, has low taxonomic resolution, and few expert practitioners. One alternative is pollen DNA barcoding, which could overcome these issues. Recent studies demonstrate that both chloroplast and nuclear barcoding markers can be amplified from pollen. These recent validations of pollen metabarcoding indicate that now is the time for researchers in various fields to consider applying these methods to their research programs. In this paper, we review the nascent field of pollen DNA barcoding and discuss potential new applications of this technology, highlighting existing limitations and future research developments that will improve its utility in a wide range of applications.publishersversionPeer reviewe