Invertebrates – Out of sight, out of mind
“If we and the rest of the back-boned animals were to disappear overnight, the rest of the world would get on pretty well. But if the invertebrates were to disappear, the world’s ecosystems would collapse” Sir David Attenborough. Invertebrates include an extraordinarily wide range of animals, including insects, spiders, snails and worms. Over 65% of all species on the planet are invertebrates and there are more than 32,000 terrestrial and freshwater species in the UK alone – more than all of the UK’s animal and plant species combined. Invertebrates provide many crucial ‘ecosystem functions’, including plant pollination and nutrient cycling, as well as proving vital food resources for many species of mammals and birds. British bats for example feed exclusively on invertebrates. Why survey for invertebrates?Invertebrates have often been ignored at the baseline survey stage in the past, but the advent of a new ‘best practice’ publication from Natural England entitled ‘Surveying Terrestrial and Freshwater Invertebrates for Conservation Evaluation’ (Natural England Research Information Note RIN005) and recent policy changes may alter this. Crucially, Planning and Policy Statement 9 highlights the need for local planning authorities to take National and Local Biodiversity Action Plan species and habitats into account when making decisions on planning applications. Currently, only a small number (69) of invertebrate species are protected by the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, but over 240 species are listed on the UK Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) and many local plans have their own target lists. Invertebrate surveys may therefore be expected to be requested by local authorities and by the statutory agencies more frequently than in the past, especially on many ‘brownfield’ sites which can harbour a significant invertebrate interest. The need for expert adviceThe sheer number and variety of invertebrate species means there is no single survey method and advice from an expert is crucial if a survey is requested pre-planning. At AMA we have our own in-house invertebrate specialist and are well placed to undertake specialist terrestrial and aquatic invertebrate studies in line with the new guidance.
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