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Are rare species rare or just overlooked? Assessing the distribution of the freshwater bryozoan, Lophopus crystallinus |
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| Authors: | Samantha LL Hill |
| Institution: | a School of Biological Sciences, University of Reading, Philip Lyle Building, Whiteknights, Reading RG6 6AJ, United Kingdom b Environmental Change Research Centre, University College London, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, United Kingdom c Department of Entomology, The Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London SW7 3BD, United Kingdom |
| Abstract: | Given the widespread degradation of freshwater habitats, assessing the distributions of species that may be negatively or positively impacted should be of general interest. However, determining distributions of freshwater organisms that are small and patchily distributed and attached or sedentary is particularly problematic, as it is time consuming, inaccurate, and nearly impossible when the focal species is rare. Here we illustrate the use of indirect sampling approaches to survey the distribution of the rare freshwater bryozoan Lophopus crystallinus, a priority species in the UK Biodiversity Action Plan Anonymous, 1999. UK Biodiversity Group Tranche 2 Action Plans. Invertebrates, vol. 4. Environment Agency, Peterborough, pp. 437-439.]. By utilising two complementary methods for sampling bryozoan propagules (statoblasts), namely the collection of debris samples and sediment cores, we achieved an efficient and integrative sampling of habitats across spatial and temporal scales. Analysis of 154 debris samples, encompassing 62 rivers and lakes, identified at least 16 new populations while analysis of 26 sediment cores provided evidence of current or very recent (in the last 10-20 years) occurrence in a further six localities. These results represent a more than 10-fold increase in the current recorded distribution of the species in the UK. Logistic regression analysis provided evidence that L. crystallinus is generally found in lowland sites and is tolerant of eutrophication. Our study exemplifies how integrative and indirect sampling approaches can greatly aid in assessing the conservation status of rare aquatic species and reveals, in this case, that the focal species is less rare than previously appreciated. |
| Keywords: | Conservation Statoblast Debris sampling Sediment cores |
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