Reduced occupancy of hedgehogs (Erinaceus europaeus) in rural England and Wales: the influence of habitat and an asymmetric intra-guild predator

Agricultural landscapes have become increasingly intensively managed resulting in population declines across a broad range of taxa, including insectivores such as the hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus). Hedgehog declines have also been attributed to an increase in the abundance of badgers (Meles meles), an intra-guild predator. The status of hedgehogs across the rural landscape at large spatial scales is, however, unknown. In this study, we used footprint tracking tunnels to conduct the first national survey of rural hedgehog populations in England and Wales. Single and two-species occupancy modelling was used to quantify hedgehog occupancy in relation to habitat and predator covariates. Hedgehog occupancy was low (22% nationally), and significantly negatively related to badger sett density and positively related to the built environment. Hedgehogs were also absent from 71% of sites that had no badger setts, indicating that large areas of the rural landscape are not occupied by hedgehogs. Our results provide the first field based national survey of hedgehogs, providing a robust baseline for future monitoring. Furthermore, the combined effects of increasing badger abundance and intensive agriculture may have provided a perfect storm for hedgehogs in rural Britain, leading to worryingly low levels of occupancy over large spatial scales

The 'long' 16th century : a key period of animal husbandry change in England

Although many historians have extensively discussed the agricultural history of England between the Late Middle Ages and the Modern Era, this period of crucial changes has received less attention by archaeologists. In this paper, zooarchaeological evidence dated between the Late Middle Ages and the Early Modern period is analysed to investigate changes in animal husbandry during the ‘long’ sixteenth century. The size and shape of the main domestic animals (cattle, sheep, pig and chicken) is explored through biometrical data and discussed in line with evidence of taxonomic frequencies, ageing and sex ratios. Data from 12 sites with relevant chronologies and located in different areas of the country are considered. The results show that, although a remarkable size increase of animals occurred in England throughout the post-medieval period, much of this improvement occurred as early as the sixteenth century. The nature and causes of such improvement are discussed, with the aim of understanding the development of Early Modern farming and the foundations of the so-called Agricultural Revolution

Immigration rates of signal crayfish (Pacifastacus leniusculus) in response to manual control measures

1. Crayfish are amongst the most frequently introduced non-native aquatic organisms, with well-documented negative effects on a large number of freshwater taxa. Many crayfish-control strategies make use of manual removal by trapping, a method known preferentially to remove the largest individuals, leaving the juvenile population almost entirely untrapped. 2. A predicted outcome of trapping bias in riparian habitats is that removed individuals could be replaced by large crayfish immigrating from surrounding, untrapped, areas. We tested the hypothesis that removal by trapping of American signal crayfish from a UK river would result in increased rates of immigration, and increased distances moved, of crayfish from untrapped areas. 3. We studied four stretches of the River Windrush each 1 km in length and divided into three sections; a 250 m long upstream section, a 500 m middle section and a 250 m downstream section. At two sites (removal sites) signal crayfish were trapped and removed from the 500 m middle sections, at the other two (non-removal) they were marked and returned. All crayfish captured in the upstream and downstream sections were marked and returned. 4. Probability of capture was higher for larger individuals with both chelae intact, and larger crayfish were more likely to immigrate from the upstream and downstream sections into the middle. The percentage of captured crayfish immigrating into the middle sections was the same (3.7%) in both removal and non-removal sites. However, the mean distance that crayfish moved when immigrating was significantly greater at removal sites (239 m) than at non-removal sites (187 m). 5. These results imply that removal of large individuals may have reduced the potential for interference competition by increasing the relative competitiveness of the immigrating individuals and permitting them to make larger movements. Consequently, the impact of manual removal strategies, both on the signal crayfish population and other biota affected by them, is likely to be reduced at the point of removal, but to extend at least 200 m beyond the trapped length of river.</p

The effect of manual removal on movement distances in populations of signal crayfish (Pacifastacus leniusculus)

1. Crayfish are amongst the most frequently introduced non-native aquatic organisms, with well-documented negative effects on a large number of freshwater taxa. Many crayfish-control strategies make use of manual removal by trapping, a method known preferentially to remove the largest individuals, leaving the juvenile population almost entirely untrapped. 2. Removal by trapping may be used in an attempt to delay colonisation of new stretches by invasive crayfish. It is, however, unclear what effects trapping may have on movement distances of crayfish in wild populations. We examine the impacts of removal by trapping on the movements of American signal crayfish in two UK rivers. 3. We studied four 100m stretches of two rivers, the Evenlode and Thame, comprising two removal and two non-removal stretches. Each river supported both treatments. Half of the crayfish captured from the removal sections were removed and humanely destroyed by freezing, and half were marked with their trap location and released there. All crayfish captured from the non-removal sections were marked and returned at the point of capture. 4. Mean movement distances were smaller in the removal stretches than the non-removal stretches, both within capture sessions (10.8 m and 16.0m, respectively) and between sessions (14.5 m and 24.6 m, respectively), suggesting that removal trapping resulted in the remaining crayfish making smaller movements. Crayfish with larger carapace lengths under both treatments made substantially larger movements than those with smaller carapace lengths, both within capture sessions (range 7.6 - 19.6 m) and between range capture sessions (range 8.9 - 32.6 m). 5. The results of this study are consistent with expectations if removal by trapping lowered population densities, which we speculate may have affected movement distances directly, or indirectly through increasing the availability of food and shelter. 5. The results of this study are consistent with expectations if removal by trapping lowered population densities, which we speculate may have affected movement distances directly, or indirectly through increasing the availability of food and shelter.</p

Immigration rates of signal crayfish (Pacifastacus leniusculus) in response to manual control measures

1. Crayfish are amongst the most frequently introduced non-native aquatic organisms, with well-documented negative effects on a large number of freshwater taxa. Many crayfish-control strategies make use of manual removal by trapping, a method known preferentially to remove the largest individuals, leaving the juvenile population almost entirely untrapped. 2. A predicted outcome of trapping bias in riparian habitats is that removed individuals could be replaced by large crayfish immigrating from surrounding, untrapped, areas. We tested the hypothesis that removal by trapping of American signal crayfish from a UK river would result in increased rates of immigration, and increased distances moved, of crayfish from untrapped areas. 3. We studied four stretches of the River Windrush each 1 km in length and divided into three sections; a 250 m long upstream section, a 500 m middle section and a 250 m downstream section. At two sites (removal sites) signal crayfish were trapped and removed from the 500 m middle sections, at the other two (non-removal) they were marked and returned. All crayfish captured in the upstream and downstream sections were marked and returned. 4. Probability of capture was higher for larger individuals with both chelae intact, and larger crayfish were more likely to immigrate from the upstream and downstream sections into the middle. The percentage of captured crayfish immigrating into the middle sections was the same (3.7%) in both removal and non-removal sites. However, the mean distance that crayfish moved when immigrating was significantly greater at removal sites (239 m) than at non-removal sites (187 m). 5. These results imply that removal of large individuals may have reduced the potential for interference competition by increasing the relative competitiveness of the immigrating individuals and permitting them to make larger movements. Consequently, the impact of manual removal strategies, both on the signal crayfish population and other biota affected by them, is likely to be reduced at the point of removal, but to extend at least 200 m beyond the trapped length of river.</p

The effect of manual removal on movement distances in populations of signal crayfish (Pacifastacus leniusculus)

1. Crayfish are amongst the most frequently introduced non-native aquatic organisms, with well-documented negative effects on a large number of freshwater taxa. Many crayfish-control strategies make use of manual removal by trapping, a method known preferentially to remove the largest individuals, leaving the juvenile population almost entirely untrapped. 2. Removal by trapping may be used in an attempt to delay colonisation of new stretches by invasive crayfish. It is, however, unclear what effects trapping may have on movement distances of crayfish in wild populations. We examine the impacts of removal by trapping on the movements of American signal crayfish in two UK rivers. 3. We studied four 100m stretches of two rivers, the Evenlode and Thame, comprising two removal and two non-removal stretches. Each river supported both treatments. Half of the crayfish captured from the removal sections were removed and humanely destroyed by freezing, and half were marked with their trap location and released there. All crayfish captured from the non-removal sections were marked and returned at the point of capture. 4. Mean movement distances were smaller in the removal stretches than the non-removal stretches, both within capture sessions (10.8 m and 16.0m, respectively) and between sessions (14.5 m and 24.6 m, respectively), suggesting that removal trapping resulted in the remaining crayfish making smaller movements. Crayfish with larger carapace lengths under both treatments made substantially larger movements than those with smaller carapace lengths, both within capture sessions (range 7.6 - 19.6 m) and between range capture sessions (range 8.9 - 32.6 m). 5. The results of this study are consistent with expectations if removal by trapping lowered population densities, which we speculate may have affected movement distances directly, or indirectly through increasing the availability of food and shelter. 5. The results of this study are consistent with expectations if removal by trapping lowered population densities, which we speculate may have affected movement distances directly, or indirectly through increasing the availability of food and shelter.</p

Are Chinese nationals' attitudes to wildlife tourist attractions different from those of other nationalities?

Many wildlife tourist attractions (WTAs) have negative impacts on animal welfare and species conservation. In the absence of regulation, raising standards requires tourists to create market pressure by choosing to attend WTAs with benefits for wildlife. We surveyed respondents from five countries – China, Australia, Canada, UK and USA – to quantify how attitudes to captive animals, and towards WTAs’ outputs and standards, may vary with nationality. Our aim was to provide a firm basis for behaviour change interventions to alter current patterns of tourist consumption of WTAs. All respondents agreed on the importance of conservation and animal welfare, but Chinese respondents were twice as likely to believe that WTAs wouldn't be allowed to exist if they were bad for animals, and that WTAs' promotional materials were reliable indicators of welfare and conservation standards. These findings indicate Chinese respondents had fundamentally similar attitudes to those from the other countries, but differed in how those attitudes were likely to be applied. Chinese tourists may experience more barriers to aligning their actions with their values with respect to WTAs. Removing these barriers may require information campaigns to highlight the lack of regulation, and the unreliability of some WTAs’ promotional materials and tourists’ reviews

Are Chinese nationals' attitudes to wildlife tourist attractions different from those of other nationalities?

Many wildlife tourist attractions (WTAs) have negative impacts on animal welfare and species conservation. In the absence of regulation, raising standards requires tourists to create market pressure by choosing to attend WTAs with benefits for wildlife. We surveyed respondents from five countries – China, Australia, Canada, UK and USA – to quantify how attitudes to captive animals, and towards WTAs’ outputs and standards, may vary with nationality. Our aim was to provide a firm basis for behaviour change interventions to alter current patterns of tourist consumption of WTAs. All respondents agreed on the importance of conservation and animal welfare, but Chinese respondents were twice as likely to believe that WTAs wouldn't be allowed to exist if they were bad for animals, and that WTAs' promotional materials were reliable indicators of welfare and conservation standards. These findings indicate Chinese respondents had fundamentally similar attitudes to those from the other countries, but differed in how those attitudes were likely to be applied. Chinese tourists may experience more barriers to aligning their actions with their values with respect to WTAs. Removing these barriers may require information campaigns to highlight the lack of regulation, and the unreliability of some WTAs’ promotional materials and tourists’ reviews