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The current status and distribution of the beetles Anthonomus conspersus, Aulacobaris lepidii and Thinobius newberyi on selected Welsh Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) in 2018

The three species selected for this contract are all Individually Qualifying Features on their respective SSSIs, yet they had not been recorded on those SSSIs for at least twenty years. There is no evidence that Anthonomus conspersus or Aulacobaris lepidii had been looked for in the intervening period and although there was some survey effort in 2004 which could have yielded records of Thinobius newberyi, this is a difficult species to find. With habitat conditions for all three ostensibly remaining suitable there was no reason to suppose that any of their populations had become extinct. Over such a long period, however, confirmation of their continued presence is clearly desirable. The rowan weevil A. conspersus was found to be strongly established at Coed Boch y rhaeadr in Migneint-Arenig-Dduallt SSSI, with adults recorded throughout the wood and on the adjacent ffridd. Historically the area was probably managed as pasture woodland and numerous ancient rowan trees are scattered throughout the more densely wooded parts of the site, as well as the open hillside. A detailed survey of the tree resource was not possible in the time available, but a rough estimate suggests that there are more than 300 trees present. A map of the denser concentrations is provided. For at least 20 years grazing stock has been fenced out of the wood as part of an agri-environment scheme and this has led to an increase in birch scrub on the lower slopes. At present there are sufficient clearings to provide suitable conditions for A. conspersus but consideration should be given to some management to retain these open spaces in the wood. The yellow crucifer weevil A. lepidii was recorded twice on the Dee Meanders in Afon Dyfrdwy (River Dee) SSSI in the 1990s but has not been seen since. Five sites were selected for survey from aerial photographs where exposed sand and gravel was obvious on the riverbanks, as A. lepidii breeds in the roots of crucifers growing in sandy sediments. A further two sites were visited that had been identified as containing potential habitat during a previous survey. The species was not found during any of these surveys and vegetational succession had taken place at both of the recommended sites such that little or no exposed sand was seen. Hostplants of the weevil were generally scarce on the remaining sites and at four of the five trampling by livestock was noticeable, with the hostplant crucifers being heavily grazed. It is probable that A. lepidii still occurs along this stretch of river but the disturbance to the shingle bars is a concern and consideration should be given to fencing some of them to give protection to the shingle invertebrate fauna. The shingle rove beetle T. newberyi is a feature of Gro Ty'n yr Helyg SSSI on the Ystwyth and Rheidol Shingles & Backwaters SSSI on the Rheidol. At the original site on the Afon Ystwyth, Gro Ty’n-yr-helyg, the river has altered course to remove most of the former bar. Suitable sediment is deposited further downstream, but this is much smaller in extent than previously. On the Afon Rheidol, the original site of records in the 1990s is no longer suitable as dense willow carr has become established over the whole area. Efforts to reach other shingle bars in the floodplain were frustrated by deep water or dense scrub and the only bar investigated, at Abercwmdolau, had a high silt load in the sediment, whereas clean sand or fine gravel are thought to be required by the species. Hand-searching and excavation on both rivers failed to discover any examples of the target species, but this is a very difficult species to find and its absence from this survey should not be taken as evidence of extinction. The current state of the Rheidol is worrying but future flood events may rework sediments to create new bars. On the Ystywth, potential sites up and downstream from Ty’n-yr-helyg should be investigated to assess their potential for shingle invertebrates.

  • Identification
  • Extent
  • Distribution
  • Quality
  • Keywords
  • Spatial Reference System
  • Content
  • Constraints
  • Maintenance
  • Metadata

Identification

Identifier
NRW_DS121844
Alternative Title
  • Statws a dosbarthiad cyfredol y chwilod Anthonomus conspersus, Aulacobaris lepidii a Thinobius newberyi ar Safleoedd o Ddiddordeb Gwyddonol Arbennig (SoDdGA) dethol yng Nghymru yn 2018
Metadata Language
English
Lineage

Survey techniques for the three beetle species involved visual searches, hand-searches and substrate excavations.

Dataset Reference Date (Publication)
2018-11-12
Owner
  Natural Resources Wales (NRW)
Maes-y-Ffynnon, Penrhosgarnedd, Bangor, Gwynedd, LL57 2DW, Wales
http://naturalresources.wales/?lang=en
Originator
  Adrian Fowles
Adrian Fowles, C/O Natural Resources Wales at Maes y Ffynnon, Penrhosgarnedd, Bangor, Gwynedd, LL57 2DW, Wales
https://naturalresources.wales/?lang=en
 

Extent

Extent

Geographic Extent
Wales (WLS)
N
W
E
S
Map representing the geographic extent of the dataset


 
 

Distribution

Format Type and Description
  • Database ()

    Specification

    Database: records held in Welsh Invertebrate Database (WID). Documents: pdf of the report in the DMS report archive.

 

Quality

Data quality

Quality Scope
Dataset
Conformity
Commission Regulation (EU) No 1089/2010 of 23 November 2010 implementing Directive 2007/2/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards interoperability of spatial data sets and services
Explanation
Degree
false
Lineage

Survey techniques for the three beetle species involved visual searches, hand-searches and substrate excavations.

 

Keywords

Keywords

GEMET - INSPIRE themes, version 1.0
  • Protected sites
  • Habitats and biotopes
  • Species distribution
Type
Theme

Citation

Date (Publication)
2008-06-01
Code
geonetwork.thesaurus.external.theme.httpinspireeceuropaeutheme-theme

Keywords

NRW Thesaurus
  • beetles
  • coleoptera
Type
Theme

Citation

Date (Publication)
2023-12-31
Code
geonetwork.thesaurus.local.theme.converted_nrw-keywords
 

Spatial Reference System

Code
British National Grid (EPSG::27700)
 

Content

Content Information

NRW Profile

Custom Elements

NRW Related Title

The current status and distribution of the beetles Anthonomus conspersus, Aulacobaris lepidii and Thinobius newberyi on selected Welsh SSSIs in 2018

 

Constraints

Constraints

Limitations on Public Access and Use

Restriction type
Other restrictions
 

Access Constraints Directive

Limitations
no limitations
 

Access Constraints Text

Other constraints

There are no access restrictions on this data. NRW may release, publish or disseminate it freely.

 

Use Constraints

Use constraints type
Other restrictions
Other constraints

© CNC/NRW Data may be re-used under the terms of the Open Government Licence providing it is done so, acknowledging both the source and NRW's copyright. It is the recipient's responsibility to ensure the data is fit for the intended purpose. Attribution statement: Contains Natural Resources Wales information © Natural Resources Wales and Database Right. All rights Reserved.

 
 
 

Metadata

Metadata

File Identifier
4f4c4942-4343-5764-6473-313231383434 XML
Metadata Language
English
Resource type
Dataset
Metadata Date
2024-05-31T09:38:32.608Z
Metadata Standard Name
NRW
Metadata Standard Version

1.0

pointOfContact
  Natural Resources Wales (NRW)
Maes-y-Ffynnon, Penrhosgarnedd, Bangor, Gwynedd, LL57 2DW, Wales
http://naturalresources.wales/?lang=en
 
 

Publishing Body

Access the portal
Full access to the portal and metadata.


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