The effects of water quality on freshwater fish populations - final report

There is a need to determine quantitative relationships between fishery status and water quality in order to make informed judgements concerning fishery health and the setting of environmental quality standards for fishery protection. Such relationships would also assist in the formulation of a system for classifying fisheries. A national database of fisheries and water quality has been collated from the archives of pollution control authorities throughout the UK. A number of probable and potential water quality effects on fish populations have been identified from a thorough analysis of the database, notwithstanding large confounding effects such as habitat variation and fish mobility, and the generally sparse nature of water quality information. A number of different approaches to data analysis was utilised, and the value of each has been appraised. Recommendations concerning the integration of water quality assessment approaches have been made and further research on fishery status, and its measurement, in relation to water quality has been suggested

Species management in aquatic Habitats overview of sub projects and their management

This is the Species management in aquatic Habitats overview of sub projects and their management produced by the Environment Agency in 1998. This report was under the R&D Project, which it was initiated in 1995 to provide information on species of conservation value of particular relevance to the Environment Agency (then the National Rivers Authority, NRA), in relation to its activities affecting aquatic environments. Outputs comprise Species Action Plans (SAPs), practical management guidelines for Agency staff and third parties, and various research and survey outputs to improve the knowledge base on the status and ecological requirements of priority species. This R&D Technical Report provides an overview of the work undertaken, additionally identifying lessons to be learnt in the management of species-related research within the framework of the UK Biodiversity Action Plan. The process of species selection was initially based upon a wide ranging review of priority species of relevance to the then NRA, encompassing both highly threatened species and species that are relatively common but are at particular risk from Agency activities

The Serendiptichord: Reflections on the collaborative design process between artist and researcher

The Serendiptichord is a wearable instrument, resulting from a collaboration crossing fashion, technology, music and dance. This paper reflects on the collaborative process and how defining both creative and research roles for each party led to a successful creative partnership built on mutual respect and open communication. After a brief snapshot of the instrument in performance, the instrument is considered within the context of dance-driven interactive music systems followed by a discussion on the nature of the collaboration and its impact upon the design process and final piece

Priority river habitat in England – mapping and targeting measures

• This paper outlines an analysis of nationally available GIS datasets to generate a new map of priority river habitat for England. • Rivers in England were selected as priority habitat based on naturalness criteria (physical, hydrological, chemical and biological), capturing the most natural remaining examples as far as can be ascertained from nationally available data. This means that many examples of river types included in the UK BAP definition (such as chalk rivers) are excluded from the priority habitat map as they have been significantly modified and degraded over the centuries. • In addition to explaining the development of the new priority habitat map, this paper provides advice on how the map might best be used, how to target and prioritise restoration activity on rivers that do not feature on the map, and how to identify and give recognition to any restoration works that contribute to wider priority river habitat objectives. • The priority habitat map (Figure 10 in the report) - This provides a focus for preventing deterioration of our most natural remaining rivers and undertaking any limited restoration of natural processes that may be desirable (as indicated in Figure 16). • Priority rivers for restoration - Figure 17 shows rivers that are of types relevant to the UK BAP definition (chalk rivers and active shingle rivers) but are not sufficiently natural to feature on the priority habitat map. These should be considered a priority for restoration of natural processes. Action on these rivers should be considered of equal importance to the protection and enhancement of rivers on the priority habitat map. • Given that this national analysis is relatively coarse (particularly in respect of headwater areas), there is considerable scope for local ground-truthing and refinement. Local knowledge and interpretation have an important role to play in the use of the outputs of this work. It is recommended that a process is established for refining the priority habitat map based on more detailed local knowledge of naturally functioning rivers. The national map should subsequently be updated (a timeframe of 6 months is recommended) to reflect any local refinements. Resources need to be made available for this process. • As part of local application, it should be recognised that the national analysis only provides a river-reach or water body perspective. Local interpretation is needed to place priorities in a whole-river and catchment management context

Estimating specific surface area of fine stream bed sediments from geochemistry

Specific surface area (SSA) of headwater stream bed sediments is a fundamental property which determines the nature of sediment surface reactions and influences ecosystem-level, biological processes. Measurements of SSA – commonly undertaken by BET nitrogen adsorption – are relatively costly in terms of instrumentation and operator time. A novel approach is presented for estimating fine (2.5 mg kg−1), four elements were identified as significant predictors of SSA (ordered by decreasing predictive power): V > Ca > Al > Rb. The optimum model from these four elements accounted for 73% of the variation in bed sediment SSA (range 6–46 m2 g−1) with a root mean squared error of prediction – based on leave-one-out cross-validation – of 6.3 m2 g−1. It is believed that V is the most significant predictor because its concentration is strongly correlated both with the quantity of Fe-oxides and clay minerals in the stream bed sediments, which dominate sediment SSA. Sample heterogeneity in SSA – based on triplicate measurements of sub-samples – was a substantial source of variation (standard error = 2.2 m2 g−1) which cannot be accounted for in the regression model. The model was used to estimate bed sediment SSA at the other 1792 sites and at 30 duplicate sites where an extra sediment sample had been collected, 25 m from the original site. By delineating sub-catchments for the headwater sediment sites only those sub-catchments were selected with a dominant (>50% of the sub-catchment area) bedrock formation and land use type; the bedrock and land use classes accounted for 39% and 7% of the variation in bed sediment SSA, respectively. Variation in estimated, fine bed sediment SSA from the paired, duplicate sediment sites was small (2.7 m2 g−1), showing that local variation in SSA at stream sites is modest when compared to that between catchments. How the approach might be applied in other environments and its potential limitations are discussed

A study of geographical distribution of geomagnetic micropulsations Final report

Geographical distributions of geomagnetic micropulsations continuously recorded on frequency modulated magnetic tap

The Early Byzantine Domed Basilicas of West Asia Minor, An essay in Graphic Reconstruction

This paper investigates the methodology employed in the recent survey and reconstruction of the major Early Byzantine domed churches of west Asia Minor. This involved both the documentation of construction details as well as their interpretation by reference to coeval monuments elsewhere. Focusing on this methodology, the author explores techniques of graphic recording and the theoretical framework within which parallels with other buildings can inform the work of reconstruction. The detailed examination of two case studies illustrates the way in which seemingly random scraps of testimony were interpreted to provide evidence for the missing superstructure of the churches. These case studies also serve to explore the adaptation of the methodology to sites with different characteristics and help to assess the credibility of the resulting graphic reconstructions

The natural capital of temporary rivers: characterising the value of dynamic aquatic-terrestrial habitats. Valuing Nature Natural Capital Synthesis Reports, VNP12

Temporary rivers naturally transition between flowing, pool and dry states, creating aquatic–terrestrial habitat mosaics that change in space and time. These dynamic habitats are common in the UK's cool, wet climate. Here, they take many forms, from headwater streams that may dominate networks in remote uplands, to winterbourne rivers crossing the chalk of south England. We examine published and unpublished sources to provide an evidence-informed characterisation of the natural assets in temporary rivers