Research

Research

Plain English Summaries

Our work draws on decades of experience and unique long-term monitoring that provides the scientific framework for best practice farming and wildlife management. In this section you will find plain English summaries of our latest published scientific reports, distilling the science into digestible features.

Farmland Ecology PES spacer

Bare ground provides nesting habitat for ground-nesting solitary bees
Bare ground provides nesting habitat for ground-nesting solitary bees
Do non-native harlequin ladybirds interfere with how native species feed?
Do non-native harlequin ladybirds interfere with how native species feed?
Does too little pollination reduce crop yields?
Does too little pollination reduce crop yields?
Examining the benefits of flower seed mixes to solitary bees
Examining the benefits of flower seed mixes to solitary bees
Feeding barn swallows: Grass or flowers?
Feeding barn swallows: Grass or flowers?
How do yellowhammers use areas planted for conservation on farmland?
How do yellowhammers use areas planted for conservation on farmland?
How is the activity of bats affected by agri-environment schemes?
How is the activity of bats affected by agri-environment schemes?
How well do EFAs support pollinators?
How well do EFAs support pollinators?
The importance of different crops for supporting bird life
The importance of different crops for supporting bird life
Is prescribed burning really that bad? A view from lowland heathland
Is prescribed burning really that bad? A view from lowland heathland
Long-term Sussex Study shows insect abundance in arable fields has declined by 37% since 1970
Long-term Sussex Study shows insect abundance in arable fields has declined by 37% since 1970
Managing pesticide contamination in surface water
Managing pesticide contamination in surface water
Measuring natural pest management
Measuring natural pest management
Ponds are good for biodiversity
Ponds are good for biodiversity
Predation of artificial songbird nests by magpies on UK farmland
Predation of artificial songbird nests by magpies on UK farmland
Research-based wildflower seed mix is more attractive to pollinating insects than standard mixes
Research-based wildflower seed mix is more attractive to pollinating insects than standard mixes
Weeds in arable fields could help declining insect populations
Weeds in arable fields could help declining insect populations
Which field margins are good for wild bees?
Which field margins are good for wild bees?
What habitat features are important to breeding yellowhammer?
What habitat features are important to breeding yellowhammer?
Which flowers are best for wild bees?
Which flowers are best for wild bees?

Fisheries PES spacer

Does capturing and tagging wild salmon smolts affect their survival at sea?
Does capturing and tagging wild salmon smolts affect their survival at sea?
How a changing environment affects grayling at different life stages
How a changing environment affects grayling at different life stages
How does river flow and temperature affect survival of young grayling?
How does river flow and temperature affect survival of young grayling?
How does water crowfoot benefit young salmon and trout?
How does water crowfoot benefit young salmon and trout?
How water flow in rivers affects where salmon spawn
How water flow in rivers affects where salmon spawn
Salmon survival in the sea: Bigger is better
Salmon survival in the sea: Bigger is better
Salmon survival at sea: Is bigger really better?
Salmon survival at sea: Is bigger really better?
Studying the survival of seaward-migrating fish in estuaries
Studying the survival of seaward-migrating fish in estuaries
Were there fewer young salmon and trout in 2016 and if so, why?
Were there fewer young salmon and trout in 2016 and if so, why?
What effect do beaver dams have on brown trout?
What effect do beaver dams have on brown trout?
Which river characteristics provide better habitat for young salmon and trout?
Which river characteristics provide better habitat for young salmon and trout?
The winter ecology of brown trout
The winter ecology of brown trout

Lowland Game PES spacer

Conservation for wild red-legged partridges in Spain
Conservation for wild red-legged partridges in Spain
Do released pheasants affect invertebrates in woodland?
Do released pheasants affect invertebrates in woodland?
The effect of game management on the conservation value of woodland rides
The effect of game management on the conservation value of woodland rides
The effect of predator control on survival of pheasants released on lowland farmland
The effect of predator control on survival of pheasants released on lowland farmland
Fox control on shooting estates: How good is it?
Fox control on shooting estates: How good is it?
The impact of pheasant release at Exmoor shooting estates
The impact of pheasant release at Exmoor shooting estates
The long-term effects of pheasants on the plant community
The long-term effects of pheasants on the plant community
Do winter game plots benefit hedgerow-dwelling songbirds in spring?
Do winter game plots benefit hedgerow-dwelling songbirds in spring?

Uplands

Our uplands work also encompasses the Langholm Moor Demonstration Project, whose paper summaries have a separate category below.

Can complex long-term data help to identify what influences red grouse numbers?
Can complex long-term data help to identify what influences red grouse numbers?
Distribution of mountain hare populations in Scotland across 20 years
Distribution of mountain hare populations in Scotland across 20 years
Does treating sheep for ticks reduce red grouse tick burdens?
Does treating sheep for ticks reduce red grouse tick burdens?
The effects of predator control on breeding moorland birds
The effects of predator control on breeding moorland birds
Ground-nesting birds in south west Scotland
Ground-nesting birds in south west Scotland
Habitat use and chick diet of grey partridge living on Pennine hill farms
Habitat use and chick diet of grey partridge living on Pennine hill farms
Heather burning on blanket bog: The long-term effects for vegetation
Heather burning on blanket bog: The long-term effects for vegetation
How did the removal of grouse moor management in Berwyn SPA affect other birds?
How did the removal of grouse moor management in Berwyn SPA affect other birds?
How does peatland vegetation respond to prescribed burns?
How does peatland vegetation respond to prescribed burns?
How many capercaillie are left in Scotland?
How many capercaillie are left in Scotland?
The importance of moorland habitat for black grouse in southern Scotland
The importance of moorland habitat for black grouse in southern Scotland
Increasing black grouse range by translocation
Increasing black grouse range by translocation
Response to the viewpoint paper ‘Environmental impact of grouse shooting’
Response to the viewpoint paper ‘Environmental impact of grouse shooting’
What do black grouse chicks eat?
What do black grouse chicks eat?
What effect does heather cutting have on mosses?
What effect does heather cutting have on mosses?

Waders

We have also summarised a number of papers from external researchers on the subject of waders, which can be found under a separate category.

Predator control is key to maintaining curlew productivity and halting population decline
Predator control is key to maintaining curlew productivity and halting population decline
Where do woodcock breed in the UK?
Where do woodcock breed in the UK?
Woodcock in winter: How do they cope in the cold?
Woodcock in winter: How do they cope in the cold?

Langholm Project

Between 2008 and 2018, the GWCT was a partner (along with Buccleuch Estates, Scottish Natural Heritage, the RSPB and Natural England) in the Langholm Moor Demonstration Project. We have summarised some of the resulting scientific literature here.

Buzzard response to prey abundance on a Scottish grouse moor
Buzzard response to prey abundance on a Scottish grouse moor
Comparing the methods used to assess the diet of common buzzard chicks
Comparing the methods used to assess the diet of common buzzard chicks
Diversionary feeding and nestling diet of hen harriers
Diversionary feeding and nestling diet of hen harriers
Do fluctuations in field vole abundance indirectly influence red grouse?
Do fluctuations in field vole abundance indirectly influence red grouse?
The effects of grouse moor management on raptors and ravens
The effects of grouse moor management on raptors and ravens
The effect of sheep grazing on heather cover and red grouse numbers
The effect of sheep grazing on heather cover and red grouse numbers
How does an increase in heather cover affect the red grouse population?
How does an increase in heather cover affect the red grouse population?
How does grouse moor management affect the abundance of red grouse and hen harriers?
How does grouse moor management affect the abundance of red grouse and hen harriers?
Grouse moor management can help support breeding waders
Grouse moor management can help support breeding waders
Measuring buzzard diet: Their collective impact on grouse
Measuring buzzard diet: Their collective impact on grouse
Which red grouse life stages have the largest impact on grouse population change?
Which red grouse life stages have the largest impact on grouse population change?
Winter diet of common buzzards on a Scottish grouse moor
Winter diet of common buzzards on a Scottish grouse moor

External summaries

We will occasionally provide summaries to scientific publications not published by GWCT scientists to help our members and the wider public to see a broader perspective on the scientific literature.

Does predation limit bird populations in the UK?
Does predation limit bird populations in the UK?
The effect of predator control for lapwing breeding on wet grassland nature reserves
The effect of predator control for lapwing breeding on wet grassland nature reserves
EU Habitat Action Plan 4030: Maintaining and restoring European dry heaths
EU Habitat Action Plan 4030: Maintaining and restoring European dry heaths
Falling numbers of waders on lowland wet grasslands, 1982-2002
Falling numbers of waders on lowland wet grasslands, 1982-2002
Heather burning: Its impacts on peat formation and carbon storage
Heather burning: Its impacts on peat formation and carbon storage
Is there more wildlife on gamebird release sites?
Is there more wildlife on gamebird release sites?
Low-severity fires can improve carbon storage in peatlands
Low-severity fires can improve carbon storage in peatlands
Managing water levels on wet grasslands to improve food supply for lapwing
Managing water levels on wet grasslands to improve food supply for lapwing
Planting trees doesn’t always increase carbon removal from the atmosphere over time
Planting trees doesn’t always increase carbon removal from the atmosphere over time

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