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Pied Flycatcher
Contents
Application (all invertebrate guidelines)
Identification of sites on the basis of their invertebrate animal species should take account of the needs of many invertebrates for habitat and structural diversity, both at the 'macro' and 'micro' scales. Small-scale habitats of particular importance to some invertebrates, such as dead wood or small patches of bare ground, occur and indeed may shift their position over time within large scale habitats e.g. woodland or grassland, on which the invertebrates also depend. Moreover the larval and adult phases of the same species often need quite different habitats. Invertebrates generally have annual life cycles, and their survival on a site depends on the continued availability of the right mixture of habitats at the right time of year - every year. Such factors should be taken into account when determining site boundaries.
Species lists, especially for less well-recorded groups of invertebrates, should be regarded as tentative. They include species recorded in Lancashire since 1950, those not recorded since 1978 being shown with an asterisk, or other notation.
It should be noted that the category 'nationally scarce', referring to species believed to occur between 16 and 100 10km squares of the National Grid, is sometimes subdivided in relation to invertebrate groups into 'Notable A' and 'Notable B'. This subdivision has not been recognised in the following guidelines.
Justification
In Lancashire, as elsewhere, there are more species of invertebrate animals than of all plants and other animals combined. Many invertebrate groups and species have declined dramatically in recent decades, and their conservation is a matter of widespread concern in Europe. Until recently, it was thought that if sites were selected (and managed) on the basis of their botanical interest, then the invertebrates would automatically be catered for too. This is not so: it is important that due regard is paid to the contribution that invertebrates make to biodiversity, and of their habitat needs, in their own right, insofar as available information allows.
With such a large number of invertebrate groups, and the relative lack of knowledge about many of these, it is impossible to develop individual sets of guidelines for every species-group at the present time. Where there is an adequate database for a particular species-group relating to Lancashire, specific guidelines have been devised and appear below. For the remainder, there is a single, 'catch all', section which follows the standard approach adopted throughout the species section.
Application (all butterfly and moth guidelines)
For the purposes of these guidelines acceptable evidence of breeding by butterfly and moth species includes the presence of eggs, or larvae, or pupae, or repeated sightings of adults in suitable habitats. It should be noted that the lists of moth species are incomplete and, for certain guidelines, not yet available.
Justification (all butterfly and moth guidelines)
Butterflies are popular and conspicuous insects, and are relatively well-recorded. Moths are much more numerous in terms of species, and less well-recorded. Each species requires not only the right foodplant and habitat for its larvae but also suitable habitat and nectar-producing flowers for the adults. More than 20% of all British butterfly species are regarded as threatened in a national context.
Le1 Any site which regularly supports a breeding population of a species of butterfly or moth included in British Red Data Books: 2. Insects. (1)
Application
The species to which this guideline applies include:
High Brown Fritillary
Justification
The species in the above category are threatened or rare in Britain and there is a national responsibility for their conservation. The high brown fritillary, in particular, has suffered a dramatic decline in Britain since 1950. There is an urgent national need to conserve its few remaining populations, some of the most important of which are in Lancashire.
Le2 Any site which regularly supports a breeding population of a 'nationally scarce' species of butterfly or moth.
Application
The species to which this guideline applies include:
Justification
Nationally scarce species are recorded only from 16-100 10km squares (inclusive) in Britain; there is a national responsibility to ensure their conservation.
Le3 Any site which regularly supports a breeding population of a species of butterfly or moth which occurs at 3 or fewer localities in Lancashire.
Application
All sites for species in the above category which are not included in Guidelines Le1 or Le2 should be considered.
The species to which this guideline applies include:
Justification
Although more widespread nationally than those species listed under Guidelines Le1 and Le2, this species is very rare in Lancashire.
Le4 Any site which regularly supports a breeding population of a species of butterfly or moth which is recorded from more than three localities in Lancashire, but which could be at risk because of small populations, habitat loss or change, or is at the edge of its British range, where such populations contribute significantly to the distribution pattern or the total population size of that species in the County.
Application
Sites for butterflies and moths in the above categories (not included under Guidelines Le1 or Le2) may be considered for inclusion where they significantly extend the geographical range of the species in Lancashire, or support a significant proportion of the estimated total County population of that species. The species to which the guideline applies include:
Justification
Species included here, whilst not as rare in Lancashire as those under Guidelines Le1, Le2 or Le3, are nevertheless either of very restricted distribution or exist only as small scattered populations in the County.
Le5 Any site which regularly supports breeding populations of 9 or more butterfly species (excluding those species which are migratory or are largely associated with cultivated plants).
Brimstone
Application
The following species are relevant for the purposes of this guideline:
Justification
The purpose of this guideline is to identify sites with significant habitat and structural diversity, not involving crop or cultivated plants, which support notable assemblages of breeding butterflies.
(1)
Shirt (1987)
* Last recorded 1950-1977