E. Croose et al (2021) Assessing the detectability of the Irish stoat Mustela erminea hibernica using two camera trap‑based survey methods

The Irish stoat M. erminea hibernica is a subspecies endemic to Ireland and the Isle of Man but, despite being widespread in Ireland, no information exists on its population status due to the difficulty of detection. This study compared the efficacy of two camera trap methods (the Mostela, a modified camera trapping device, and an external camera trap outside the Mostela) to detect Irish stoats in counties Mayo and Galway, Republic of Ireland. It also evaluates the potential applicability of both methods for future work to assess the population and conservation status of this little-studied species.

Photo: Irish stoat ©Carrie Crowley (Crossing the Line Films)

P. G. R. Wright et al. (2021) Characterising the relationship between suitable habitat and gene flow for Myotis bechsteinii and Eptesicus serotinus in Britain

Habitat suitability models (HSM) have been used to understand the impacts of landscape-scale habitat connectivity and gene flow mostly by assuming a regular decrease in the cost of movement as habitat improves. Yet, habitat selection and gene flow are governed by different behavioural processes which may limit the reliability of this approach. This study aimed to identify the optimal relationship between gene flow and HSMs for two bat species (Myotis bechsteinii and Eptesicus serotinus) in Britain in order to inform future bat conservation studies.

Photo: ©Frank Greenaway

Annual Report and Financial Statements — 31 December 2020

Vincent Wildlife Trust has just published its Annual Report for 2020. This report gives an overview of the past year’s highlights, its projects, its partners and its audited financial statements.

Long-term strategic recovery plan for pine martens in Britain (Jenny MacPherson and Patrick Wright, June 2021)

The aim of this document is to set out a strategic, long-term recovery plan for pine martens in Britain. It follows on from a previous strategy produced in 2011 (Jordan, 2011), which outlined the practical work and research needed to restore and secure the future of pine marten populations in England and Wales up until 2020.

We present a summary of what has been achieved so far and set out a continuing recovery plan for pine martens across Britain that maintains this strategic approach, while emphasising the importance of conserving recovering populations in Scotland.

Photo: ©Robert Cruickshanks/ootmahoosewindae.com

Finch, D. et al. (2020) Implications of Endectocide Residues on the Survival of Aphodiine Dung Beetles: A Meta‐Analysis

This quantitative meta-analysis of 22 studies documents the non-target effects of endectocide residues on dung-dwelling organisms,  such as the Aphodiine dung beetle and provides evidence on the consequences of different application methods, and the need for standardised methodological techniques in future studies.

Photo: Aphodius fossor @British Scarabs CC BY-NC-ND

Pine Martens Return to Wales project leaflet (bilingual – updated 2020)

Vincent Wildlife Trust’s Pine Marten Recovery Project leaflet has been updated to give a more recent summary of this innovative project and its outcomes.

Photo: ©A. Achterberg

Wright, P. G. R. et al (2021) Can effective population size estimates be used to monitor population trends of woodland bats? A case study of Myotis bechsteinii.

This paper uses a case study on  the elusive woodland bat Bechstein’s bat (Myotis bechsteinii) to explore the effectiveness of genetic approaches as a way to monitor elusive long-lived species.

Photo: Bechstein’s bat ©Henry Schofield

Croose, E. et al (2019) Comparing the efficacy and cost-effectiveness of sampling methods for estimating population abundance and density of a recovering carnivore: the European pine marten (Martes martes)

This paper compares the efficacy of three survey methods (live trapping, hair tubes and scats) for estimating abundance and population density of the European pine marten (Martes martes) in Galloway Forest, Scotland.

Photo: ©Robert Cruickshanks/ootmahoosewindae.com

Croose, E. et al (2016) Sample diversity adds value to non-invasive genetic assessment of a pine marten (Martes martes) population in Galloway Forest, southwest Scotland

This paper looks at how including both hair and scat samples improves the detection of individual pine martens in non-invasive studies.

Photo: ©Robert Cruickshanks/Ootmahosewindae.com

Using Circuitscape to identify potential landscape corridors for the lesser horseshoe bat in Ireland

This report presents the results of a modelling study funded by National Parks and Wildlife Service during 2020. The study investigates the gaps in the distribution of the lesser horseshoe bat in Ireland over its entire range, incorporating datasets on land cover, roads, linear habitat features and density of artificial lighting, to produce a baseline map of potential ecological corridors to connect lesser horseshoe bat sub-populations.