Nature and Science

Research relating to Nature and Science. Undertaking research in this area supports the National Trust's ambition to improve the state of nature in the UK. Research in this area helps us understand what actions make the biggest difference to nature and create more joined up landscapes for wildlife. It will drive the best ways to revive and restore our woodlands, wildflower meadows and waterways.

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Current state of plant conservation translocations across Europe: motivations, challenges and outcomes
(2025-01-22)
Godefroid, Sandrine
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Lacquaye, Sam
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Ensslin, Andreas
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Dalrymple, Sarah
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Abeli, Thomas
Plant translocation is a conservation technique increasingly used around the world. In Europe, numerous unpublished initiatives have resulted in scattered information in grey literature that is difficult to access. This represents a major obstacle to the exchange of information and experience among scientists, practitioners and competent authorities. To help filling this gap, we launched a large-scale questionnaire survey with 39 questions relating to methods, motivations, problems encountered and outcomes, supplemented by a screening of scientific publications, grey literature and national/regional databases. We gathered data on 3211 plant translocations across the European continent carried out on 1166 taxa in 28 countries, which represents the largest dataset of its kind in the world to date. Target translocated species were mainly forbs from grassland habitats and had a conservation status of greater concern nationally than globally. Practitioners mainly used plug plants originating from a single source (the geographically closest to the target site). Weather events and plant diseases were the most often unanticipated problems noticed by respondents. Through monitoring, it was found that most populations flowered but often did not reproduce and could not persist for more than five years, showcasing the challenge that translocations still present for conservationists. This work will be useful in linking conservationists and enabling them to save time and resources by more easily identifying the best practices suited to their target species, with the ultimate aim of improving the science and practice of plant translocations in Europe and beyond.
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Effect of pasture cover and height on nutrient concentrations in diverse swards in the UK
(2020-11-23)
Bell, Matt J.
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J. Huggett, Zoà«
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Slinger, Kimberley R.
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Roos, Felicity
A total of 445 pasture samples were collected from six fields representing a wide range of dry grass content (0–100%), and grass, legume, herb, flower and weed species. Fields were located in the grassâ€ dominated and temperate regions of western UK and monitored monthly for 9 months during late summer, autumn and winter months. The pasture properties assessed included measurements of percentage of grass content, height (in centimeters), pasture cover (fresh weight (FW) and dry matter (DM) in kg /ha) and pasture density (FW and DM in kg ha cm ) and nutrient concentrations (DM, crude protein, acid detergent fiber (ADF), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), sugars, ash, digestible organic matter in the DM (DOMD), oil, nitrate nitrogen and metabolizable energy (ME)). This study showed that across the pastures studied, increasing both pasture height and DM cover brought a desirable increase in crude protein, sugars, DOMD, oil and ME for grazing systems. Seasonal changes in nutrient concentrations of diverse swards will occur; however, differences in nutrient concentrations among swards can be minimized by the grass species present and/or mix with broadleaf plants, and management of grass maturity.
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Comparative temporal response of toxicity for the neonicotinoid clothianidin and organophosphate dimethoate insecticides in two species of solitary bee (Osmia bicornis and Osmia cornuta)
(2025-02-04)
Hesketh, Helen
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Baas, Jan
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Lahive, Elma
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Robinson, Alexander G.
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Spurgeon, David J.
Solitary bees provide essential pollination services. Concerns for the decline of these wild bee species have led to calls for their inclusion in pesticide risk assessment. Solitary bees differ from honey bees in their physiology and ecology and this may affect how they respond to pesticide exposure. Here we investigate the life-time toxicity of two insecticides, the organophosphate dimethoate and neonicotinoid clothianidin, for two mason bee species, Osmia bicornis and O. cornuta using a toxicokinetic/toxicodynamic stochastic death model taken from Dynamic Energy Budget (DEBtox) theory. Both species showed concentration and exposure duration dependent effects for each chemical. LC50 values estimated from the model parameters at 48â€¯h were â‰¥â€¯14 fold and 6 fold those at 480â€¯h for dimethoate and clothianidin respectively. Survival modelling indicated greater sensitivity in O. bicornis than for O. cornuta to dimethoate, whilst for clothianidin, O. cornuta females but not males, were more sensitive than both sexes of O. bicornis. These sensitivity differences were not related to body size. Toxicokinetic and toxicodynamic traits derived from modelling indicated lower elimination rates in O. bicornis and higher killing rates for O. cornuta females for dimethoate and lower elimination rates for clothianidin in O. cornuta females that were related to sensitivity. This study shows the near life-time testing is possible for solitary bees and that combining adult life-time toxicity tests with toxicokinetic/toxicodynamic modelling provides a more mechanistic understanding of pesticide effects in solitary bee species.
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Co‐design of a citizen science study: Unlocking the potential of eDNA for volunteer freshwater monitoring
(2023-09-27)
Clarke, Stewart J.
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Long, Emily
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Biggs, Jeremy
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Bruce, Kat
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Weatherby, Anita
1. Citizen science is increasingly being promoted as a means of gathering more data to help inform the management of ecosystems. Involving the participants in the design of data collection activities is a form of co-design often proposed by those calling for a translational ecology. 2. In addition, novel monitoring approaches have the potential to improve the quality of data collected by citizen scientists. We explored the potential of environmental DNA (eDNA) for vertebrate (mainly fish) species monitoring through a co-designed catchment monitoring strategy. 3. Having been introduced to the potential of eDNA, citizen scientists designed and executed an eDNA-based survey of a small chalk stream catchment to explore questions of concern. 4. The eDNA survey provided data about fish and other vertebrate diversity in the catchment which would have otherwise required sampling approaches difficult for citizen scientists. These data give a preliminary answer to some of the citizen scientists' priority questions and are comparable to fish data collected through traditional electrofishing surveys. 5. Recommendations are offered for co-design and the use of novel research techniques by citizen scientists.
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The effect of grazing by cattle and sheep on diverse pastures
(2020-11)
Bell, Matt J.
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Huggett, Zoà« J.
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Slinger, Kimberley R.
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Roos, Felicity
The aim of this research was to assess differences in pasture properties associated with grazing diverse swards. A total of six fields were studied on commercial farms in the west of the UK, with three fields being permanent pastures (M1, V2 and M2) and three temporary ley pastures (V1, V3 and M3). Each field was monitored monthly for three months during the autumn when all fields were being grazed. Pastures included a diverse range of grass, legume, herb, flower and weed species. Pasture properties assessed included measurements of grass content, greenness (both %), height (in centimeters), pasture cover (fresh and dry matter in kg per hectare) and pasture density (fresh and dry matter in kg per hectare per centimeter) and nutrient concentrations. The nutrient concentrations measured were dry matter, crude protein, acid detergent fibre (ADF), neutral detergent fibre (NDF), sugars, ash, digestible organic matter in the dry matter (DOMD), oil, nitrate nitrogen, and metabolisable energy (ME). A linear mixed model was used to assess the effect of field, month of study and grazing on pasture properties. This study showed that across fields studied grazed swards were shorter with a higher grass content and fresh/dry herbage density compared to ungrazed swards. Across diverse pastures studied grazed swards had higher nutrient concentrations of dry matter, ADF, NDF and nitrate nitrogen, but lower concentrations of crude protein, sugars and ash. There was no difference in digestibility among grazed and ungrazed swards. While grazing may reduce pasture biomass and certain nutrient concentrations within a pasture, it appears to enhance the grass content and density of the sward, which may provide more sustainable grassland systems.
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Biological Flora of Britain and Ireland: Geranium pratense
(2023-12-06)
Jefferson, Richard G.
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Wagner, Markus
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Sullivan, Elizabeth
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Tatarenko, Irina
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Westbury, Duncan B.
This account presents information on all aspects of the biology of Geranium pratense L. (Meadow Crane's-Bill). The main topics are presented within the standard framework of the Biological Flora of Britain and Ireland : distribution, habitat, communities, responses to biotic factors, responses to environment, structure and physiology, phenology, floral and seed characters, herbivores and disease, history and conservation. Geranium pratense is a perennial gynodioecious forb of neutral grassland. In Britain and Ireland, it is particularly abundant on roadside verges, railway embankments, the margins of watercourses and woodland rides. It is generally intolerant of grazing and is absent or scarce in livestock-grazed grassland. Geranium pratense is widespread in England, Wales and Scotland but is scarce in Ireland. It has an extensive native range in Europe and Asia, extending eastwards to Russia, north-western China and Mongolia. It has been widely introduced to new sites within its native range and has been introduced to Canada, the USA and New Zealand. Geranium pratense usually occurs on free-draining soils but also infrequently where drainage is impeded. The soils are often nutrient-rich and weakly acidic to weakly alkaline. The underlying geology is usually non-acidic sedimentary rocks or superficial deposits. Geranium pratense is protandrous and is pollinated by various insects of the orders Hymenoptera, Diptera and Lepidoptera, particularly bumblebees, solitary bees, hoverflies and butterflies. Eleven species of phytophagous insect have been recorded on G. pratense in Britain and Ireland. Geranium pratense has little or no capacity for vegetative spread. Primary seed dispersal is ballistic and seeds may be flung over distances of up to several metres. The species has a transient seed bank, that is germination typically takes place in the winter and spring after seed production, after the physically dormant seeds have become permeable. Seedling establishment is higher in vegetation-free gaps than in undisturbed grassland vegetation. There has been no significant change in its distribution between the late 1950s and 2019, although since 2000, it has expanded its range, mainly via introductions, in northern and western Scotland, west Wales and in Ireland. Alien sites have increased markedly since the 1960s due to introductions from wildflower seed sowing and spread from gardens.
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Weather, climate and the administration of the visitor business at heritage properties
(2025-05-06)
Coles, Tim
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Jones, Keith
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Curry, Robert
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Frater, Clare
Little is known about how weather and climate feature in the business administration of heritage properties as visitor attractions. Adopting a qualitative research design to address this gap, this paper examines how weather and climate change appeared in the thinking and practice of general managers (GMs) at multiple properties operated by a large internationally-known heritage organisation. From detailed Thematic Analysis of 13 in-depth interviews conducted in 2022, three main themes emerged: weather was the principal focus; operational responses were paramount in managing for weather and climate; and climate change was mainly cast as presenting challenges. As a first contribution of its type, this paper argues for this vital group of actors to be afforded more regular attention in research on climate change and heritage tourism management. GMs are pivotal to integrated organisational responses through delivery at the local level. The paper also argues in favour of considering the impacts of weather and climate on the visitor business at heritage properties, not just on natural and cultural heritage assets. Finally, in view of considerable activity by the organisation since the data was collected, the paper points to temporal comparative research with GMs as a means of examining progress to adaptation.
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