NatureScot Commissioned Report 677: CSM monitoring of designated aquatic invertebrate features at Woodhall Loch, Buckstruther Moss, Firth of Forth, Lochs of Harray & Stenness and Rannoch Moor SSSIs

This survey was carried out in 2013 to assess aquatic invertebrate features at 5 SSSIs. Each SSSI was visited for a single day with sampling conducted at a minimum of four locations. The main findings were:

Woodhall Loch: a single A. brevipennis larva was recorded at a site within the fen complex at the southern end of the loch where suitable habitat was present in abundance. Assessment: favourable-maintained.

Buckstruther Moss: A. canaliculatus was recorded at two sites. Donacia aquatica was not recorded and may no longer be present. Overall the aquatic beetle assemblage was considered in favourable-maintained condition.

Firth of Forth: D. nitidulus and H. pulchella were not recorded but overall the aquatic beetle assemblage was in favourable-maintained condition.

Lochs of Harray and Stenness: Theodoxus was found and this feature was thus in favourable-maintained condition. Ylodes reuteri larvae were not recorded. It is difficult to assess whether the species is no longer present but it would appear that this feature is now in unfavourable-declining condition. Nebrioporus depressus and Hygrotus novemlineatus were recorded.

Rannoch Moor: The diversity and condition of the water beetle habitats visited appeared to be in good condition, suggesting that the assemblage is in favourable-maintained condition.

Pages: 80
Published: 2014

NatureScot Commissioned Report 677