Thursday 16 January 2014

More atlas planning stuff

The map below shows the number of species recorded in each 10km square (according to my copy on MapMate at the moment) since 2004. I've highlighted six squares in red as to me these figures seem on the low side, and could be useful areas to look at trapping for the purposes of square bashing.

Incidentally, I did not mean to imply that I did not think the squares on our northern boundaries were not worth trapping, merely that without checking with Norman how well these squares are covered from his side of the boundary. I suspect not very well, but you never know!



In spite of what I said in my comment below, I've looked at the SEWBReC database and updated the outlier figures:



This so SO11 is as much need of further recording compared to some of our more central squares - but don't let that stop you getting out to them if the mood takes you!

And following George's request for macros only:



This is taken solely from the SEWBReC database, which should be up to date, but there may be some slight discrepancies from a MapMate produced equivalent. It still seems to indicate the same areas are not well recorded, but perhaps the SS99 and ST09 are not as badly off as first appeared!

20 comments:

  1. Incidentally, according to NBN Gateway there are 96 moth species recorded from SO11, but this does not include the NMRS dataset as this has very restricted access on Gateway.

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  2. More importantly, the SEWBReC database has 418 moth species in this square (SO11) since 2004. I need to do some work now, but I'll take a look at the other northern squares to see if any of them are generally under-recorded in this period.

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  3. Could you do the same for macro-moths only, as that is what the Atlas will be, or is that too much of a pain?

    George

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  4. It's okay, Dave, I realised that, and if I seemed a bit put out in my reply, I wasn't and didn't intend to come across as such.

    Hopefully, when I finally get around to syncing with you (soon I promise), there may be a few more macros for SN90 (the VC42 bit) and perhaps one or two of the VC41 squares too. It would be a help to know at what scale the atlas will be recording. I assume by the scale used in the provisional atlas and the discussions here, it will be to ten kilometre square level.

    One thing I really hope for is dry, mild weather every single weekend from March to December ;¬)

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  5. I take it that 2004 is a 10 year period.
    SO11 - the section that is VC41 from what I remember, The border - follow the Rhymney (a stream) up to the small reservoir (which is in VC41) and a small grass area, also VC41. That's it. We usually trapped by the house next to the stream further down - ask permission from house owner.
    Mike & I intend to do some trapping at odd sites this year. You know us, have trap will travel!

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  6. Yes I picked 2004 as it seemed to be a reasonable cut-off to see where we've been (or not been) in recent years. It isn't something that BC have asked for particularly!

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  7. Just a thought - would it make sense to at least notionally assign the under-recorded squares to individuals (obviously without stopping anyone recording wherever they like!)? That way we could ensure that all squares are covered in the time available? It would seem to make sense for me to do some trapping in SS96 given the proximity to home!

    Has anyone trapped at Atlantic College (which is in SS96) before? The habitat looks promising on Google Earth and might be an opportunity to get the students involved...

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  8. I makes sense to me, Adam. I will try and concentrate as much as possible on SN90, ST09 and if I can find a suitable trapping site, SS99.

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  9. Adam, The GMRG did a evening at AC 7/06/2008 and trapped 25 species, best being Clay Triple-lines. SS96 has had a lot of coverage over the years: Nash, Cwm Col-huw, Summerhouse Point, St. Donat's to name a few. Although Summerhouse Pt. is better in autumn and ivy blossom, esp. with a southerly airflow: Mike & I have had Cosmopolitan, White-speck, Delicate and many good residents there too. Good luck.

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  10. I was thinking of targeting ST08 but Dave tells me there's a chap in Creigiau who's started trapping in his garden, so I'll aim for SS98 instead. The latter appears to be the most under-recorded 'entire' 10km square in terms of macro-moths.

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  11. Thanks Jake - I will approach Atlantic College for permission in a month or two. Thinking back I've already trapped at Cwm Col-huw (with George and Paul and few others last year if I remember right) and we had a good catch!

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  12. The Cwm Colhuw trapping was on 26th July and we totalled 126 species, mustn't grumble...

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  13. The head groundsman at Atlantic College (Mike Webb) was intending to build his own trap and start trapping. We trapped there as part of a bioblitz a few years back, but the weather wasn't great. I'll send you Mike's contact details.

    I wouldn't rule out trapping in any of the under recorded squares - after all Creigiau is only in one corner of the square so if there are other interesting sites around Tonyrefal, Llantrisant, Pontyclun then feel free!

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  14. If you've got a contact at the College that would be good, thanks Dave. George, if you are trapping those squares, they're not to far away from home either so I could potentially tag along too if that's OK!

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  15. Adam, of course you're always welcome to come along to any trapping sessions, as is anyone else, though I do tend to organise things at the last minute to try and catch the best weather.

    In ST09, Llantrisant Common might be good as grazing is lighter than it used to be. I haven't identified anywhere in SS99 yet.

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  16. Wayne Morris contacted me to suggest trapping at Graig Pont Rhondda SSSI/Glyncornel (SS991941), which might be an idea. I was hoping to maybe access the very N. East corner of SS99, at Cwmaman, in the Cynon valley, but in addition, Wayne's suggestion sound interesting. Regarding ST09, I hope to trap at Pwll Waun Cynon (Peace Park) WT nature reserve and that I can arrange something with the warden, Carys Solman. I trapped there a couple of timed about ten years ago and I think it would be worth doing again.

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  17. I got my numbers wrong in the last comment, I meant ST08 and SS98. Maybe there's somewhere suitable on Cefn Hirgoed in the latter square?

    George

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  18. SS98 includes the lovely upload oak wood Allt-y-Rhiw that Chris & I trapped for the Coity Wallia Commons blitz. Also Brwn Garw Country Park would be an easy site to trap, and has interesting looking woodland.

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