SNH Invertebrate Site Condition Monitoring of Beetle Assemblage Features 2015: Fannich Hills SSSI

Quality Control

We have a very high level of confidence in this dataset. The recorder and/or determiner is a highly experienced ecologist. Where necessary, rare specimens were compared against reference collections, those held in the National Museums Scotland collection and identities confirmed with experts.

Method steps

1. Surveys targeted the beetle assemblage feature of Fannich Hills SSSI and involved a combination of active searches and pitfall traps. Habitats preferred by the target species were selected for surveys, including areas abundant with montane willows and dwarf shrubs and upland heaths with Racomitrium. Active searches were completed at a total of seven locations with appropriate microhabitats on 30/06/2015, 01/07/2015 and 15/07/2015. This involved ‘grubbing’ in the ground layer by hand, overturning stones, and using a range of equipment such as a^??pootersa^?? as appropriate. Two transects of five pitfall traps (with traps set 2 m apart) were installed on 30/06/2015. Each pitfall trap consisted of a plastic cup dug into the ground so that the lip was flush with the substrate surface. Chicken-wire was attached to cover traps in order to exclude small vertebrates. A mixture of 70% propylene glycol antifreeze and 30% water was added to a depth of 2.5 cm in each trap, and a drop of washing-up liquid was added to break surface tension. Traps were left in situ until 15/07/2015 when they were reset and left in situ for a further two weeks. Traps were then collected and removed on 15/07/2015.

Fannich Hills SSSI