1. Watershrew’s and wetland habitat quality Dawn Scott & Fran Southgate

2. Project background 2002-2005 Partnership – SROP & UOB MPhil – Fran Southgate 27 study sites over 3 catchments Cuckmere, Ouse and Pevensey Levels Monitoring: Summer and Winter for 3 years

3. Map Data Copyright Collins Bartholomew 2003Collins Bartholomew

4. What is a water shrew? Noemys fodiens Largest UK shrew: 13g Dark, usually silver pale underside Fringed tail and feet Ecology: Breeding peak May & June (2 or < litters/season) Life span 14-19 months Aquatic/Riparian (but can be found away from water) Insectivore: Diet 50: 50 terrestrial/aquatic invertebrates

5. Why focus on this species? Limited data on habitat requirements and distribution Conservation status? W&C act 1987 Predominantly feeds on aquatic prey Intolerant to poor water quality ??? Potential bio-indicator of water quality ??

7. Project aims Assess presence & abundance of water shrews across the 3 catchments and monitor these seasonally Assess habitat characteristics and habitat quality Assess presence and abundance of invertebrate prey base Record indicators of water quality

8. Methods Shrew scat tubes: P/A and relative abundance Wetland features: Bank slope, water body Plant diversity: Bank and in-stream Water quality: Temp,DO, pH, NH 4, P, N Habitat assessment: Composition and structure Invertebrates: Diversity, BMWP, ASPT

10. Habitat VariableWs relative abundance rsP Herb forb % cover-0.2360.038 Grass % cover0.0440.700 Sedge % cover0.2300.038 Reed % cover0.2400.034 Litter % cover0.2150.058 Bare ground % cover0.1020.376 Shrub % cover0.0080.943 Rush % cover-0.0040.969 Grass height (m)0.2570.023 Litter height (m)-0.0130.910 Us/ds % tree cover-0.1450.205 Us/ds % shrub cover-0.0710.534 Us/ds tree density-0.1000.385 Us/ds shrub density-0.0320.781

11. Water parameters PH, temp. & DO showed no significant effect on water shrew presence over all sample seasons Only DO in summer ’03 showed a significant effect on water shrew presence where higher DO = higher abundance Higher water temperature was associated with lower water shrew presence in Summer 03 and Winter 04 Data for phosphate, nitrates and ammonia showed no statistically significant relationships with water shrew abundance

12. Invertebrates Positive correlations between invertebrate diversity and richness scores and seasonal water shrew relative abundance in Summer 03, Winter 03 and Summer 04 However, statistical analysis confirmed that neither water shrew presence nor relative abundance were associated with any of the derived BMWP and ASPT scores.

13. FamilyCommon NameU valueP Value Calopterigidae (unknown)Damselfly larvae844.50.002 ChironomidaeBiting Midge larvae986.00.011 EcdyonuridaeFlattened mayfly nymph1020.00.038 Hydrobiidae (2)Snail968.00.019 Hydrobiidae (3)Snail986.00.011 LeptoceridaeCaddis917.50.037 LymnaeidaePond snail1020.00.038 Mollannidae (1)Caddis986.00.011 PhilopotamidaeCaddis986.00.011 PhysidaeAquatic snail769.50.011 PolycentopaidaeCaddis1100.50.037 Coleoptera (Unidentified)Water beetle1020.00.038 Tricoptera (unknown)Caddis1100.50.037 Ephemoptera (Unidentified)Mayfly nymph244.00.032 HydracarinaWater flea218.00.049