research & development

ECUS ecology has earned a well-deserved reputation for pioneering research and innovative work. Our staff have lead research in the fields of both terrestrial and aquatic ecology and have authored a number of papers and reports on topics such as the control of invasive species and the conservation of rare species. ECUS ecology has contributed to projects across the UK and also overseas.

Examples of ECUS ecology research projects:

• Vegetation monitoring to investigate the possible increase in nitrogen deposition on statutory designated lowland dry/wet/humid heath communities - Bournemouth Airport
Vegetation monitoring to investigate the effect on vegetation, particularly sphagnum by increasing the water table to restore active blanket bog, in Wales – RSPB
• Species action plan and translocation methodology for Potamogeton compressus – Natural England
• Prioritising sites at risk from diffuse agricultural pollution. Identification of high priority water-dependent sites and preparation of case studies to support Natural England’s application for DEFRA funding – Natural England
• Restoration of damaged peatlands. ECUS was commissioned by the Department of the Environment to produce national guideline on the restoration of lowland raised bogs affected by peat extraction – DEFRA
• As part of the Darwin Initiative, experts from Sheffield have been working closely with experts from Universidad de Cordoba, Argentina, on monitoring, conserving and managing two vulnerable habitats, the dry chacos and high mountain grasslands of the Andes. Both are under pressure from grazing and farming.

Published papers and reports:

• Birkinshaw, N; Kemp, E. and Clarke, S. (In Press) Ecology of grass-wrack pondweed
  Potamogeton compressus: a review and translocation protocol. Natural England
  
• Clarke, S; Lansdown, R. and Birkinshaw, N. (2009) Determining the main variability
  components for macrophytes communities in rivers: JNCC and LEAFPACS
  macrophytes surveys on the River Dee. Technical report for the Countryside
  Council for Wales.
• Kemp, E; Birkinshaw, N; Peay, S. & Hiley, P.D. (2003). Reintroducing the White-clawed
  Crayfish Austropotamobius pallipes. Conserving Natura 2000 Rivers Conservation
  Techniques Series No. 1. English Nature, Peterborough.