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Last update12th June 2007 Quick links
Population estimates for British Mammals (2004) Useful websitesThe Mammal Society 2004 population estimates Proposals for Future Monitoring of British Mammals (Defra) |
Mammal populationsWhat's new on this page...
Over the past 100 years many native mammals have been detrimentally affected by habitat loss, agricultural intensification, persecution and competition from non-native species. However, some British mammals have benefited from human influences and have experienced significant population increases. The fact is though that there is not enough information to what what is happening to British mammal populations and (for the majority of species) there is no reliable information on population trends. Monitoring mammals in the UKMuch work has been carried out on the distribution and abundance of a number of UK mammal species. However, the JNCC (Joint Nature Conservation Committee) state that there is not the required information to make an ongoing assessment of the status of all mammal species. In order to improve the level of available information, the Tracking Mammals Partnership (launched in July 2003). This Partnership includes the majority of organisations in the UK with mammal interests (23 organisations). The Partnership is implementing the recommendations of two scoping studies (assisted by the experience of effective bird monitoring in the UK) gained over the last 30 years:
A number of research projects are also underway, including:
The state of British mammals 2005The State of Britain's Mammals 2005 report is the fourth in a series of annual updates following the publication of the Mammals Trust UK's 'Britain's Mammals: The Challenge for Conservation' in 2001. Monitoring trends in mammal populations is an essential part of the UK BAP (Biodiversity Action Plan) revision in 2005 - involving updating the priority list of species and habitats and the setting of targets. The original BAPs were published in 1995, and since then 427 UK action plans (31 for mammals) and 179 local BAPs have been produced. This report concentrates on one high profile BAP species - the water vole - and two less well-known priority species - bechstein's and barbastelle bats. Water volesThis report identifies the water vole as a contender for the UK's most rapidly declining mammal. Once widespread and common the water vole is now extinct in many English and Welsh rivers, with only a few strongholds scattered in England, Wales and Scotland. Find out more about water vole populations in the South West. The decline in water vole population is attributed to agricultural intensification, and predation by the American Mink. Initiatives to improve their numbers include National Key Sites, landscape-scale habitat restoration, raising public awarenss and potentially the full legal protection of the species. Bechstein's and barbastelle batsThere has been a sudden increase in records for these rare woodland species, which is mainly the result of new technologies. Priorities are to maintain and improve connectivity between woods, better adjust woodland management and improve roosting opportunities by retaining old trees and standing dead wood. The full report can be downloaded here Water voles in the South WestA national survey of water voles in 1989-90 failed to find signs of voles in 67% of sites where they were previously recorded and it is estimated that this will rise to 94% by the turn of the century. A recent population estimate based on the number of latrines found suggested a total GB pre-breeding population of 1,200,000 animals. As the lower reaches of rivers become unsuitable for habitation, the distribution of water voles becomes discontinuous and existing sites become isolated and vulnerable. There are few data available on the ecology or conservation requirements of this species as its former common status means that it has attracted little study (UK BAP, 2004) Water voles have declined dramatically across the South West, with 87% of all known sites lost in Devon and Cornwall and 49% in the rest of the region in just eight years (1990 - 1998, the last survey dates). The most recent survey was carried out during 2001 - 3003 in Dorset, the results of which confirm a 4.7% increase in positive occupation since 1998. The total number of positive sites in Dorset has reached 40.9%, which is only 3.5% short of the 2010 target. Overall, good progress is being made towards the National Biodiversity Target (to restore populations to their former widespread distribution, using the 1989 - 1990 survey results as a baseline), as populations on the Frome Catchment exceeded the target six years ago and continue to grow. The River Frome is now considered one of the best rivers for water voles in the country. The water vole species action plan is available here Population estimates for British mammals 2004 (revised)The first estimates of the numbers of each species of British mammal was conducted by The Mammal Society in 1995 (under contract to the Joint Nature Conservation Committee). These population estimates were made through a collaboration of most mammalogists in Britain. Revised population estimates have been published for 2004 and reveal a number of positive key national trends including:
However, it is estimated that a number of mammals have significantly declined, including the dormouse, water vole and wildcat.
The full Mammal Society results can also be downloaded in either Word or PDF Action to protect mammalsMammals (and their habitats) are protected by a number of international treaties, including:
For more information on the protection of mammals, visit the JNCC (Joint Nature Conservation Committee) website |
