A Long-term Ecological Study of a Shetland Serpentine Site

	PROJECT DESCRIPTION A Site of Special Scientific Interest, the Keen of Hamar, Shetland (OS grid HP645098), which offers one of the best examples of serpentine habitat in Europe, has been studied from 1978 (ongoing), building on the organiser's previous research. The site has been mapped and the populations of the rare plant species, changes in vegetation cover, erosion and the effects of nutrient addition have been monitored.	AREAS OF SCIENCE Astronomy Chemistry Computing Engineering / Technology Environment Interdisciplinary Life Science / Medicine Physics	WHERE School Other institution Field / Expedition WHEN In curriculum Extra curricular Work experience	SCHOOL TYPE Primary Secondary to 16 Post 16 Independent Maintained Sixth Form College Further Education
	PROJECT ORGANISERS Dr David Slingsby and Mrs D M Kendall, Wakefield Girls' High School; Dr S P Carter (Historic Scotland, formerly Ripon Grammar School); Dr John Proctor, University of Stirling; Scottish Natural Heritage (Lerwick office).

Project Participants

Various teams of students mostly A Level Biologists in Year 12 upwards from Ripon Grammar School (1978-80), the former Pate's Grammar School for Girls, Cheltenham (1980-86) and Wakefield Girls' High School (1986 onwards). Expeditions have also included undergraduates some of whom had participated in previous expeditions whilst at school. Projects are extra curricular, being undertaken in the Summer holidays.

Science Programme

The tasks were well within the potential of the work force and included simple surveying, systematic counting, plant identification, point quadrating, mapping and data recording. Serpentine is an ultra-basic rock, which weathers to form an unusual soil, supporting a restricted, distinctive flora, wherever the rock outcrops in the world. The Shetland site is internationally noted for its large expanses of open debris habitat with rare species including Cerastium nigrescens ssp nigrescens (endemic), Arenaria norvegica and a local form of Rubus saxatilis. The grid, established in 1978, was used to map the numbers and distribution of these species throughout the whole 50 ha site, by counting the numbers in each of the two hundred 50 x 50 m grid squares. This was repeated in 1993. Regular detailed recording of a system of permanent quadrats (by point quadrat 100 points m2) and monitoring of eroding edges revealed that changes on the site are much slower than had been previously thought (Slingsby, Carter and Kendall, 1993). Point quadrating of nutrient addition plots established in 1980 have lead to an understanding of the effects of eutrophication, a serious threat to the habitat. When part of the site was damaged by a eutrophication (1980-83) the team were uniquely placed to evaluate the effects and make informed recommendations to Scottish National Heritage (Slingsby and Carter 1986; Carter, Proctor and Slingsby, 1988).

Personal Development

Pupils at work with a quadrat There was no explicit educational agenda, yet most participants benefited a great deal from being part of a team working in a remote place on a task which they felt mattered and whose objectives they soon came to understand. The level of commitment was high as was the quality of the data. The 1992 team produced a poster which was exhibited at the subsequent BES Winter Meeting where it was awarded a prize of £100. The experience strengthened many participants their interest in plant ecology and several have been keen to return. Dr Stephen Carter, who first went as a Year 12 pupil in 1978 and masterminded the grid system which is still used, has become a major collaborator in the project.

Outcomes

The work has lead to a series of reports to the Nature Conservancy Council/Scottish Natural Heritage and several published papers including the current major paper on the site (Carter, Proctor and Slingsby 1987). As a result of the study, the extent of the site enjoying full protection has been extended. Long term studies of this type are important in the management of such an important conservation site and as a base line against which to judge the effect of climatic change. A paper was presented about this work at the First International Serpentine Conference in Davis, California. The study lead to the establishment of a CASE studentship to study population dynamics on the site under the supervision of Dr John Proctor (University of Stirling), assisted by Dr David Slingsby, Honorary Research Fellow of the University of Stirling.

Project Origin

The project grew out of David Slingsby's PhD research (Slingsby 1991), his liking for Shetland and his satisfaction in sharing an interest in his favourite place with others.

Resources

The expeditions have been supported by the Nature Conservancy/Scottish Natural Heritage. The British Ecological Society has provided Small Ecological Project Grants and, in 1992, a student expedition grant of £1000.

Contact

Dr David Slingsby, The Girls' High School, Wentworth Street, Wakfield WF1 3RS.
Tel: +44 (0) 1924 372490.