Survey of the terrestrial habitats and vegetation of Shetland, 1974 – a framework for long-term ecological monitoring

A survey of the natural environment was undertaken in Shetland in 1974, after concern was expressed that large-scale development from the new oil industry could threaten the natural features of the islands. A framework was constructed by the Institute of Terrestrial Ecology on which to select sample...

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Main Authors: C. M. Wood, R. G. H. Bunce
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Copernicus Publications 2016-02-01
Series:Earth System Science Data
Online Access:http://www.earth-syst-sci-data.net/8/89/2016/essd-8-89-2016.pdf
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author C. M. Wood
R. G. H. Bunce
author_facet C. M. Wood
R. G. H. Bunce
author_sort C. M. Wood
collection DOAJ
description A survey of the natural environment was undertaken in Shetland in 1974, after concern was expressed that large-scale development from the new oil industry could threaten the natural features of the islands. A framework was constructed by the Institute of Terrestrial Ecology on which to select samples for the survey. The vegetation and habitat data that were collected, along with the sampling framework, have recently been made public via the following <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.5285/06fc0b8c-cc4a-4ea8-b4be-f8bd7ee25342" target="_blank">doi:10.5285/06fc0b8c-cc4a-4ea8-b4be-f8bd7ee25342</a> (Terrestrial habitat, vegetation and soil data from Shetland, 1974) and <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.5285/f1b3179e-b446-473d-a5fb-4166668da146" target="_blank">doi:10.5285/f1b3179e-b446-473d-a5fb-4166668da146</a> (Land Classification of Shetland 1974). In addition to providing valuable information about the state of the natural environment of Shetland, the repeatable and statistically robust methods developed in the survey were used to underpin the Countryside Survey, Great Britain's national long-term integrated environmental monitoring programme. The demonstration of the effectiveness of the methodology indicates that a repeat of the Shetland survey would yield statistics about ecological changes in the islands, such as those arising from the impacts of the oil industry, a range of socio-economic impacts, and perhaps climate change. Currently no such figures are available, although there is much information on the sociological impacts, as well as changes in agriculture.
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spelling doaj.art-2906ab6b07e54780bde6191c9784f7132022-12-21T18:32:53ZengCopernicus PublicationsEarth System Science Data1866-35081866-35162016-02-01818910310.5194/essd-8-89-2016Survey of the terrestrial habitats and vegetation of Shetland, 1974 – a framework for long-term ecological monitoringC. M. Wood0R. G. H. Bunce1Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Lancaster Environment Centre, Bailrigg, Lancaster, LA1 4AP, UKEstonian University of Life Sciences, Kreuzwaldi 5, 51014 Tartu, EstoniaA survey of the natural environment was undertaken in Shetland in 1974, after concern was expressed that large-scale development from the new oil industry could threaten the natural features of the islands. A framework was constructed by the Institute of Terrestrial Ecology on which to select samples for the survey. The vegetation and habitat data that were collected, along with the sampling framework, have recently been made public via the following <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.5285/06fc0b8c-cc4a-4ea8-b4be-f8bd7ee25342" target="_blank">doi:10.5285/06fc0b8c-cc4a-4ea8-b4be-f8bd7ee25342</a> (Terrestrial habitat, vegetation and soil data from Shetland, 1974) and <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.5285/f1b3179e-b446-473d-a5fb-4166668da146" target="_blank">doi:10.5285/f1b3179e-b446-473d-a5fb-4166668da146</a> (Land Classification of Shetland 1974). In addition to providing valuable information about the state of the natural environment of Shetland, the repeatable and statistically robust methods developed in the survey were used to underpin the Countryside Survey, Great Britain's national long-term integrated environmental monitoring programme. The demonstration of the effectiveness of the methodology indicates that a repeat of the Shetland survey would yield statistics about ecological changes in the islands, such as those arising from the impacts of the oil industry, a range of socio-economic impacts, and perhaps climate change. Currently no such figures are available, although there is much information on the sociological impacts, as well as changes in agriculture.http://www.earth-syst-sci-data.net/8/89/2016/essd-8-89-2016.pdf
spellingShingle C. M. Wood
R. G. H. Bunce
Survey of the terrestrial habitats and vegetation of Shetland, 1974 – a framework for long-term ecological monitoring
Earth System Science Data
title Survey of the terrestrial habitats and vegetation of Shetland, 1974 – a framework for long-term ecological monitoring
title_full Survey of the terrestrial habitats and vegetation of Shetland, 1974 – a framework for long-term ecological monitoring
title_fullStr Survey of the terrestrial habitats and vegetation of Shetland, 1974 – a framework for long-term ecological monitoring
title_full_unstemmed Survey of the terrestrial habitats and vegetation of Shetland, 1974 – a framework for long-term ecological monitoring
title_short Survey of the terrestrial habitats and vegetation of Shetland, 1974 – a framework for long-term ecological monitoring
title_sort survey of the terrestrial habitats and vegetation of shetland 1974 a framework for long term ecological monitoring
url http://www.earth-syst-sci-data.net/8/89/2016/essd-8-89-2016.pdf
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