macrophyte ecology

The ECUS Aquatic Ecology Team combines considerable experience of macrophyte identification and field survey over a range of UK waterbodies with expertise in macrophyte ecology including protection of rare macrophyte species and management of non-native invasive species.

Senior ECUS staff sit on the national SAP steering groups for both Luronium natans and Potamogeton compressus, having been central to development of protocols for translocation of L. natans, and hold licenses to survey and handle this rare species. ECUS have also produced a Species Profile and translocation protocol for P. compressus on behalf of Natural England.

ECUS have been involved in a range of macrophyte related projects including developing and implementing control strategies for the non-native invasive macrophyte species Crassula helmsii at several SSSI and SAC sites in the UK on behalf of Natural England and Scottish Natural Heritage; survey, impact assessment and mitigation for a number of high profile canal restoration projects; review and development of river macrophyte survey methodologies for the LIFE in UK Rivers Project and canal macrophyte survey methodologies for Natural England and freshwater SSSI and SAC condition monitoring.

In addition to work undertaken directly by ECUS, our team members also have a broad range of individual skills and experience and are practiced in the latest survey methodologies such as LEAFPACs river surveys and the protocols for Common Standards Monitoring. ECUS staff also regularly undertake impact assessment of the effect of abstraction regimes, restoration projects and waterside development on aquatic plant communities.

• Macrophyte Ecology
• Biological Analysis
• Water Resources
• Water Quality & Eco-System management
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