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Weekly News

Surface erosion on a bare peat flat

One of our active projects involves measuring rates of surface erosion on a bare peat flat in the Highlands. We are using modified version of Gerlach Troughs for this work, and re-visited them for the first time recently to quantify the flux of peat sediment. We were amazed to see how much peat had washed off the surface, so much in fact that they exceeded the design limit we had…
November 27, 2014
Facts & Figures

Interactions between Capercaillie and woodland deer

As part of a major deer abundance survey in northern Scotland, we have been asked to assess Capercaillie distribution. The work involves counting Capercaillie droppings on the same plots we are using the measure deer dung accumulation rates. We are now almost finished the first phase of the work, and have been surprised by the number of Capercaillie we have seen active in the forest. One almost flew into the…
October 3, 2014
Facts & Figures

Displacement culls of deer

Deer management on windfarm sites is increasingly becoming an issue. We were recently asked by a client to help estimate deer abundance in a woodland in south Scotland in advance of being deforested for turbine construction. We then helped the client prepare a Deer Management Statement which was based on a model to calculate the size of displacement deer cull required. Such culls are needed to minimise adverse impacts arising…
September 16, 2014
Facts & Figures

Quantifying rates of peatland erosion

One of our current study sites is located at very high altitude in the Highlands on an eroding blanket bog. A key aim has been to quantify surface erosion rates arising due to weathering, to help develop a better understanding of the factors limiting recolonisation of plants on bare peat. We have recently installed a range of instruments to measure fluxes on the site, which has been interesting as we…
August 10, 2014