Vocalizations of the largely nocturnal Japanese Brown Hawk Owl Ninox scutulata japonica were studied, with particular reference to the function of vocal communication. The adult owls were found to have thirteen types of vocalization and three non-vocal sounds with the possible addition of one other vocal sound. Nestlings had four vocal and one non-vocal sound. The development of the vocal repertoire was also studied from captive juveniles. Most of the vocal repertoire was recorded and sonagraphically analysed, and their behavioural contexts were investigated to give an idea of their various functions. The main function of primary calls was in interactions with conspecific birds from a distance. The daily calling of territorial males was not time-related and appeared to be greatly influenced by the intraspecific environment. Seasonal production was concentrated during breeding activity, showing four peaks which are discussed in terms of territorial, sexual and family interactions. The unusual vocal activity of a replacing male was studied and gave valuable additional information. Primary calls were also considered to convey different types of information through variation in their physical structure. From the examination of calls in natural conditions and in aggressive responses to playback, variations of frequency and rate were related to location in the territory, the breeding cycle and the caller's motivational state. There were consistent individual variations in temporal and frequency features of the calls. Playback of neighbour and stranger's calls and that of the mate and other females' calls at various locations in the territory elicited differential responses, suggesting individual recognition by voice. A general description of the species, including their classification, distribution, migration and inter-racial differences, is also given.

The Lincolnshire Limewoods are a group of Ancient Semi Natural Woodlands within Central Lincolnshire that include the nationally important Bardney Limewoods National Nature Reserve. The woods, although fragmented and isolated by tracts of agricultural land, are reservoirs of biodiversity and contain large populations of Tilia cordata Mill. The current management aims are to increase the biodiversity within the woods, as well as to extend and improve the connectivity between the woodlands, with new planting. An understanding of the genetic diversity and structure of the Limewoods, both as individual woods and by comparison with woods from other regions of Britain, will help to inform management decisions. A pilot study was undertaken using RAPD markers which demonstrated the potential for these markers to amplify and identify individual T. cordata trees. Dominant markers are less informative than co-dominant markers, especially when trees may be closely related, and to facilitate this study a T. cordata enriched microsatellite library was constructed. The ten microsatellite loci designed for the genetic study amplified both T. cordata and closely related Tilia platyphyllos Scop. and were also able to identify hybridisation between the two species. T. platyphyllos and hybrid trees were detected in eleven of the Lincolnshire Limewoods and were associated with identification of private alleles within the T. cordata populations. The high levels of genetic diversity and low genetic variance which were found show that the Lincolnshire Limewoods’ populations are all similar. Comparison with populations from outside Lincolnshire show similar genetic diversity, with AMOVA ii conducted over all populations showing that only 4% of the variation could be allocated between the populations whereas 82% was allocated between the individuals within the populations. Weak isolation by distance was identified and would suggest that the Lincolnshire Limewoods should be treated as a single population group for management purposes. To increase the likelihood that T. cordata is used for replanting schemes, seeds should be taken from woods without hybrid populations and, preferably, should be screened to identify and exclude F1 hybrids. Tissue culture was considered as a potential source of planting stock for the Lincolnshire Limewoods to provide trees of known provenance with potentially rejuvenated characteristics. Preliminary tissue culture investigation showed that the initial treatment and age of the tissue before sterilisation is important in controlling contamination after sterilisation. Tissue collected in the spring, prior to leaf emergence, with the buds allowed to develop under clean laboratory conditions resulted in a reduction in the number of contaminated explants. In explant culture, roots were induced with application of the auxin naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) and microshoots were induced with a combination of NAA and cytokinin, 6-benzyl-aminopurine (BAP). However, no rooted plantlets were produced. Further investigation into the use of somatic embryos as an explant source should now be considered as a possible way of reducing the chronic contamination that was experienced using axial buds.

Hedgerows have been a feature of the British countryside for many centuries and their value to wildlife particularly in farmed areas is long acknowledged. But farmland hedgerows experienced dramatic decline in the 20th century and efforts to halt this decline have been a focal point for agri-environmental activities, with hedge planting and management amongst the most popular options amongst farmers. Despite restoration of many thousands of kilometre of hedgerow under environmental stewardship, the rate of hedgerow loss exceeds the current rate of replacement. Information regarding the ‘performance’ of hedgerows as habitat for a range of wildlife is not lacking, although there is less current information regarding the biodiversity of the woody hedgerow itself as opposed to the grassy hedge bottom; I examine both elements of the hedgerow. There is less current information regarding invertebrates than for birds, plants or mammals. A lack of general monitoring has produced a deficit of knowledge of the role farmland hedgerows currently play in maintaining invertebrate biodiversity and what agri-environmental options have achieved. My objective was to compare and contrast the invertebrate faunas of hedgerows relatively newly-planted under agri-environmental schemes with existing hedgerow stock in order to investigate the biodiversity gains achieved by creation of new habitat. While it was true that overall the diversity of mature hedgerows was greater than that of new hedgerows, for some taxa newer hedges were ‘preferred’. There was evidence for the value of even relatively immature (~10 year-old) hedgerow habitats to overall invertebrate diversity. I did not use a single taxonomic group such as butterflies to ‘indicate’ diversity, but instead chose to take a view of the broad spectrum of invertebrates collected from both the hedge bottom and hedge top based on higher taxon approaches (notably order), which have been proposed as an adequate means of rapidly assessing the diversity of agricultural land. A suite of habitat variables including botanical diversity at hedge bottom and top, structural features including the height, width and density of vegetation, as well as weather data were recorded. While weather will always have the ultimate decisive influence on invertebrate activity, structural elements such as the sward height at hedge bottom and the density of the canopy are important to the invertebrate assemblage. As hedgerow conservation and management become increasingly important in the light of continuing declines, the ability to evidence the effects of interventions efficiently will be crucial. This research underscores the ongoing need for monitoring of hedgerow creation in order to verify whether biodiversity gains are achieved.

No description available.

No description available.

No description available.

In this study set-aside development was monitored (1989-1992) at Aldroughty Farm, Morayshire as part of an integrated project looking at plant and animal dynamics in set-aside, crop and semi-natural habitats. The vegetation, seed bank and seed rain were monitored in adjacent set-aside, semi natural and cropped areas. Initially set-aside vegetation consisted of annual arable species, but wind dispersed species and longer-lived perennials invaded rapidly. This process was more rapid on smaller plots and ingress of perennials occurred more quickly closer to the field margin. There was little invasion from adjacent semi-natural habitats and the field margin was the most important source of colonising species. Cropped areas were not significantly affected by adjacent set-aside. Seed banks were analysed using germination and extraction techniques which gave different estimates. Highest densities were found on set-aside land indicating the problems associated with returning set-aside to agricultural production. Changes in the seed bank were less apparent than in the vegetation, but within-year variation was great and carryover of seeds from October to March was low. The seed rain was monitored using gravel traps. Densities were highest on set-aside and lowest in the crop and wood. Individual species exhibited different phenologies in seed shedding, but peak deposition coincided with cutting. Dispersal from the set-aside into the crop was very low and dispersal distances were small. Vegetation and seed rain were similar in species composition in the set-aside areas. Although the seed rain was similar to seed bank samples taken immediately after seed shed, a large proportion of seeds did not enter the seed bank. Set-aside land did not develop into semi-natural habitat, however species diversity increased and the land provided a food source and an undisturbed habitat for animals. The real concern is the return of set-aside land to agricultural production, because of increased seed bank densities.

1. A phosphorus budget was calculated for the Loch of Strathbeg from 24/4/1978--24/4/1980. The loch is on an exposed site in the north-east corner of Scotland, has 2 an area of 2.01 km2 and a mean depth of 0.75 m. The loch is 'L' shaped and conveniently divided into long and short arms: the former draining to the sea. The catchment of 55.7 km2, is glacial ground moraine over-lying metamorphic rocks, on which grazing and arable fanning is carried out. There was no major human sewage input to the loch. 2. From October April an average of 1760 Grey Lag and 2740 Pink-footed Geese roosted on the loch. Each night a single Grey Lag deposited a mean of 332 mg P after feeding on barley grain and 211 mg P after feeding on grass, while a Pink-foot deposited 234 mg P and 172 mg P respectively. Extrapolations related to body weight were made to the less common species feeding on similar food. Published measurements of phosphorus input by gulls were discussed and new predictions were made from published energetic equations. The mean phosphorus input to the loch from birds totalled only 295 kg P yr-1 or 5.7% of the total input, However faeces probably fell directly to the sediment, where they were responsible for about 16% of the phosphorus loading. 3. There are five streams draining into the loch and a few small areas drained by groundwater. 83% of the area drains into the shallow short arm causing accelerated flushing and uneven loading. Separate phosphorus predictions were made for each stream, groundwater, rainfall and tidal input. Of these 90% (4,386 kg P yr-1) entered the short arm. 97% was from the catchment, 0.4% from rainfall and 2.3% from tides. The long arm had no direct tidal input, and of the total (482 kg P yr-1), 93% was from the catchment and 7% from direct rainfall. 4. The loch was shown to be a net sink for both reactive and non-reactive phosphorus. The output of reactive phosphorus as a percentage of the input varied from 3% in the summer to 34% in the winter and total phosphorus 55% to 60% respectively. The loch was also a sink for monomeric silica and total oxidised nitrogen. Ammonium was generated within the loch during the autumn, and the concentration of major ions was related to marine influence. 7. Microcosm experiments investigated the change in concentration of dissolved nutrients in the presence of sediments and primary producers. Winter conditions were simulated and showed that reactive phosphorus and oxidised nitrogen were removed from solution but that ammonium and silicate increased in concentration. Simulated summer conditions with growths of rooted macrophytes in the light resulted in a rapid removal of all the above mentioned nutrients from solution. This showed the effect of primary producers in stripping nutrients from solution and maintaining low concentrations throughout the summer. 8. After a spring bloom of the diatom Tabellaria fenestra, the water column cleared and most of the loch sediment was covered by growths of rooted macrophytes. The submerged vegetation was surveyed and mapped. Generally the less rich long arm was covered by Chara whilst the short arm held a more diverse flora. During August 1979 the macrophytes in the long arm had a significantly higher biomass and lower phosphorus concentration than the short arm. This reflected the water depth, the availability of reactive phosphorus in the sediment and in the water column. Mid-summer water concentrations of high dissolved oxygen and low carbon indicated intense photosynthesis, with the possibility of temporary carbon limitation. Between mid-August and January, avian herbivores consumed about 75 T dry weight of macrophytes (47% of August standing-crop). About 2 T was washed onto the banks, and the remaining 83 T decomposed in the loch. Reactive phosphorus released quickly became bound. 9. Total phosphorus results from this study were tested using published nutrient budget models. The parameters theta (theta = mpm/lp) and O (O = z/ℓ ) were devised. A relationship between the two was derived using data from this study and published sources. Assuming that the mean depth, rate of flushing, and mean spring concentration were known, the loading could be predicted. From a known, increase or decrease in loading, the ultimate spring concentration and the number of years taken to reach that concentration could be calculated. 13. It is concluded that an increase in summer phosphorus loading will largely destroy the macrophyte community especially Chara. This would prove detrimental to macroinvertebrates, the trout fishery and waterfowl feeding within the loch.

Aspects of the ecology and ontogeny of cephalopod juveniles found in Scottish and adjacent waters were investigated, including their species composition, distribution, abundance, and seasonality of occurrence. Cephalopod specimens were collected from a variety of sources including inshore and offshore plankton surveys, beam trawling surveys, demersal trawling surveys, pelagic surveys of the Rockall Trough (SMBA 1973-1978), Continuous Plankton Recorder Survey, and historical collections of Cephalopoda in the Royal Scottish Museum Edinburgh. The area of coverage extended from 53°30°N-64°N, and from 8°E-15°W. The neritic cephalopods obtained consisted of Sepia elegans, Rossia macrosoma, Sepietta oweniana, Sepiola atlantica, Sepiola aurantiaca, Loligo forbesi, Alloteuthis subulata, Todaropsis eblanae, and Eledone cirrhosa. Oceanic species obtained from the Rockall Trough included Brachioteuthis riisei, Teuthowenia megalops, Gonatus steenstrupi, Galiteuthis armata, Chiroteuthis veranyi, Histioteuthis bonnellii, Histioteuthis reversa, and "Cirroteuthis" massyae. Peak abundances of these oceanic paralarvae occurred in May-June. Juveniles of neritic species (i.e. Sepiolinae and Eledone cirrhosa) were also found over the Rockall Trough and were believed to have been advected by offshore currents. Rossia macrosoma and Sepietta oweniana were more common along the west coast, S. oweniana in particular, was found in large numbers in the Minch and egg masses of this species were recorded in Raasay Sound during January-March. Sepiola atlantica was a widespread and common neritic species, though it was more abundant along the east coast and in the North Sea. Beam trawling surveys were carried out to determine the population biology and ecology of this species from Loch Ewe (west coast). Sepiola aurantiaca was less common although also widespread in distribution. Sepiolinae juveniles were often obtained in plankton hauls during most months of sampling. Eledone cirrhosa juveniles occurred in the plankton between January-September, with settlement probably occurring at 8.6mm DML.

The effects of wet-deposited acid and ammonium-N on the soil solution chemistry and growth of conifer seedling were investigated in two pot experiments run concurrently outdoors in Aberdeen. Seedlings of Scots pine growth in a range of four Scottish upland mineral soils, covering a range of expected sensitivity to acidification, were exposed to simulated acid rain (H2SO4) and nitrogen ((NH4)2SO4) treatments for 2-3 growing seasons. At the end of the main experiments, germination and early growth of Scots pine and an understorey grass species were examined in one of the polluted soils. Both acid and ammonium deposition caused significant changes in soil solution chemistry, including acidification and short-term cation mobilisation. It was shown that ammonium sulphate may cause more acidification than a corresponding amount of sulphuric acid in soils such as the limestone in the present study, due to a high nitrification rate. The direct and rapid pH reduction induced by mobile anion effects was strongly evident from the experiments, and this eventually will lead to long-term soil acidification. It was clear from the experiments that ammonium at concentrations exceeding critical load could produce similar cation displacement effects to those of more direct acid inputs. These need to be considered when setting critical loads for deposition of reduced N species. Study of the effects on plant growth revealed that acid or ammonium deposition may have site-specific effects on plants, depending on soil parent material and evolutionary state, as reflected by enhanced growth in the nutrient-rich limestone soil but poor growth in the acidic base-poor soils. This flags the need to somehow encompass overall soil nutrient status when setting critical loads. The two types of pollutant used in the experiments had similar effects on most of the studies aspects of growth of Scots pine because the overriding effect of both was that of soil acidification, and no persistent fertilizer effect on the excess N deposition on growth was evident.