A comparison of ecosystem services delivered by eleven long-term monitoring sites in the UK Environmental Change Network. Presented by Jan Dick at the "Perth II: Global Change and the World's Mountains" conference in Perth, Scotland in September 2010.

1. A comparison of ecosystem services delivered by eleven long-
term monitoring sites in the UK Environmental Change Network
Jan. Dicka, Chris Andrewsa, Deborah A. Beaumontb, Sue Benham c , David R. Brooks d, Stewart
Corbette, Dylan Lloydf, Simon McMillang, Don T. Monteithh, Emma S.Pilgrimb, Rob Rose h, Andy Scott h,
Tony Scott d, Rognvald.I. Smitha, Carol Taylori, Michele Taylorj Alex Turnerf, Helen. Watsoni
18
a Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Edinburgh
b North Wyke Research,
c Forest Research, Alice Holt ,
d Rothamsted Research,
e Porton Down,
f Countryside Council for Wales,
g ADAS UK Ltd., c/o Newcastle University,
h Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Lancaster,
i Macaulay Institute,
j Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Wallingford,
7
Network sponsers:
10

2. Outline
Characteristics of ecosystem services of 11 UK sites
Distinction of mountain sites
Biodiversity
Urban usage
Ecosystem dis-service

3. Eleven long-term monitoring sites cover upland and lowland, agricultural and conservation landscapes in
mainland UK
Glensaugh (GLE)
Allt a'Mharcaidh (CAI)
Moor House (MOO) CAI
GLE Wytham
Snowdon (SNO) Sourhope (SOU)
SOU Drayton
MOO (DRA)
SNO DRA
WHT
ROT
NOR ALI
POR Wytham (WHT)
North Wyke (NOR) Porton Down (POR)
Rothamsted (ROT) Alice Holt (ALI)

4. Three types of data were used in the analysis of ecosystem
services at each ECN site
(i) Data collected for the ECN to standard ECN protocol
(http://www.ecn.ac.uk/protocols/index.asp),
(ii) Data obtained by site managers from a wide variety of other sources and
(iii) Expert knowledge of site managers

5. Our approach was to numerate the components of the sites and
compare sites using similarity and multivariate analysis
Provision services Regulating services Cultural services
Air quality Cultural diversity
Food Climate regulation Spiritual and religious
Fibre Water regulation Knowledge system X
Fuel Erosion regulation Educational values
Genetic resources Water purification Inspiration X
Biochemical Disease regulation Aesthetic values
Ornamental services Pest regulation Social relations
Fresh water Pollination Sense of place X
Natural hazard Cultural heritage values
Recreation and ecotourism
X
Supporting services
Soil formation Photosynthesis Primary production
Nutrient cycling Water cycling
X It was not possible to estimate these parameters

6. Minimum spanning trees and biplot of
the eleven ECN sites and 73 variabales
Shaded areas indicate clustering of sites
with similar land use;
mountain sites (Cairngorm, Moorhouse
and Snowdon).
substantial forests (Alice Holt and
Wytham),
primarily productive livestock farmland
(Glensaugh, Sourhope and North Wyke),
The ‘mixed use’ sites (Drayton,
Rothamsted and Porton Down) were not
so highly clustered.

7. PCP biplot (68.34%)
0
0
-1
ROT
5
50
0
DRA
10
C_N_CarabidSpp
1
100
30
C_N_BirdSpp
15
SOU
2
25
30
POR
150
C_N_MothSpp
CAI
150 C_N_ButterflySpp
MOO 125 20 25
10 15
0
220
20
5 100
75
3
10
15 GLE
200
25
NOR
4
WYT
Vegetation 10
SNO
ALI
28%
250
30
5
C_N_CVS_classesC_N_Spp_Baseline C_N_BatSpp
PC-1 (40.32%) Invertebrate
40%

8. Species richness
Birds 300 Spp in baseline survey
30
Species richness
Species richness
250
200
20
150
Number of cultural activities 10 100
50
0 0
8
250 Total ECN spp richness
Bats
Species richness
Species richness
6 200
150
4
100
2
50
0 0
200 Moths 30
CVS classes
Number of classes
Species richness
150
20
100
10
50
0 0
I T I T
40
Carabidae ALW Y GLE OU OR CA OO NO RA O POR
S N M S D R
Species richness
30 X Data
20
10
0
30 Butterflies
Species richness
Mountain 20
Forest Farm Mixed use 10
0
R
O
SO E
A
NOU
W I
M I
R
YT
O
PO T
AL
CA
RO
DR
L
O
SN
G

12. Biodiversity and human use
MAY Grey Band =Median time spent in catchment August

13. Urban use of the Cairngorms is not a new activity
“……..At that point the rain abated leaving everything fresh and sparkling in the
consequent bright sunshine. One could not but experience an exhilarating feeling of ‘joie
de vivre', fitness, and sublime content with the scent of pine wood in one's nostrils and
the fragrance of honeysuckle, bell heather, fox gloves and bracken all around.”
Written ‘en route’ by James Nicoll Kerr Henderson (1908-1989) Edited and word-processed
from the original by his son John Henderson in April, 2000
http://www.electricscotland.com/travel/tours/pics/ACairngormDiaryIllustrated24July1932.pdf

14. Footfall data
Allt Ruadh
140
120
Ecosystem dis-services
Total footfall
100
“Then the forest gives way to moorland, swept
80
by a refreshing hill wind, which dispels our
60
extraordinary following of flies - troublesome
40
20
brutes”
January March June Sept Decemeber
18000
0
16000 2008
14000
12000
10000
Total Count
8000
6000
1000
Weekly
midgie
count
0
80000 2009
Kingussie
60000
Total Count
40000
20000
5000
4000
3000
2000
1000
0 http://www.electricscotland.com/travel/tours/pics/ACairngormDiaryIllustrated24July1932.pdf
0 0 0 0 0 0
00 00 00 00 00 00
/09 /09
5/0
9 /09 /09 /09
/01 /03 /0 /07 /09 /11
01 01 01 01 01 01
Date
Dr Alison Blackwell, Advanced Pest Solutions, midgie data from Kingnusses
Working with CEH colleagues Kate Searle and Beth Purse who are studying potential for disease transmission

15. “Really these hills and glens are gripping with their foregrounds of
placid lochs, plunging waterfalls, rushing torrents and delicate tints
adding their influence to the constantly changing scenic tones
caused by the subtle effects of sun, mist and cloud. All within a
background of rugged grandeur - absolutely invincible!” James
James Nicoll Kerr Henderson (1908-1989)