2016 Participants
Giorgia Perri
This project investigates community ecology of invertebrates (hoverflies and spiders). Communities consist of biotic factors, interactions between same and different species and environmental abiotic factors for example, weather conditions and vegetation. The study was in Northumberland on National Nature Reserve land in a rare and isolated, calcareous (containing calcium carbonate) habitat called Newham Fen. Fens are neutral or alkaline wetlands and mires, consisting of mineral-rich ground or surface water. They are mainly found in the southern UK. Hoverfly and spider communities were surveyed between June to August to determine if vegetation management impacted the community structure. The hypothesis was that vegetation types and site moisture will predict the species within each site. This may be due to the presence of optimal conditions to enhance an individual’s survival or competitive exclusion whereby dominant species outcompete others. Findings will aid reserve management (grazing and vegetation cutting) to help conserve current species.
Funding source: Newcastle University
Supervisor: Prof Stephen Rushton