About this book

 

This book is based largely on the information in the original edition, which was made available by the Cornish Biological Records Unit (CBRU), which closed in 1996. Since that time, wildlife recording in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly has been served by the Environmental Records Centre for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly (ERCCIS), which is the successor body to the CBRU. ERCCIS has supported this book by making information available. In addition, information has also come from ERICA (Environmental Recording In Cornwall Automated), which originated as the CBRU database created by Colin French in 1985 and supported by him since the CBRU closed down. ERICA now contains nearly two million records and is supported by ERCCIS. A number of other specialist group databases (referred to in the chapter introductions) have provided additional valuable information and we are grateful for access to these sources.

The book is in two main sections: the terrestrial/freshwater section and the marine section. Many of the main taxonomic groups are covered in this book although the Ephemoptera, Plecoptera, Neuroptera, Megaloptera and Mecoptera have been omitted from the insect section because of the scarcity of reliable data. New accounts include the sawflies whilst almost all other sections have been substantially updated and/or extended.

 The term “region” is used throughout the book to mean Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. The headings for the main species sections are:

 Range & Status = national and international distribution.

Regional Distribution = distribution within the region of Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.

Habitat & Ecology = notes on habitat and ecology, especially within the region.

Threats = degree and type of threat, where known.

Conservation = suggested conservation measures, presence in protected areas and statutory protection. Species with a Biodiversity Action Plan (2007) are highlighted under this heading.

The Isles of Scilly are technically within vice county (VC) 1, but the abbreviation IOS is used to distinguish between VC1 and the islands. The Sea Areas 18,19 and 20 are given where relevant. The marine division between Devon and Cornwall is deemed to run down the centre of the Tamar and records from Plymouth Sound could be from either Devon, Cornwall or both.

 The names of vascular plants throughout the book are according to Stace (1997).

 Abbreviations used throughout the text

AONB = Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty

BAP = Biodiversity Action Plan (JNCC, 2007)

BTCV = British Trust for Conservation Volunteers

CBRU = Cornish Biological Records Unit (Closed December 1996)

CRoW = Countryside & Rights of Way Act 2000, which covers England and Wales but not Scotland, see WCA

CWT = Cornwall Wildlife Trust

ELWS = extreme low water spring (tide)

ERICA = Environmental Recording In Cornwall Automated

ERCCIS = Environmental Records Centre for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly (established January 1997)

IUCN = International Union for Conservation of Nature

JNCC = Joint Nature Conservation Committee, Peterborough

MarLIN = The Marine Life Information Network for Britain & Ireland based at MBA

MBA = Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom, Plymouth

MHWN = mean high water neap (tide)

MOD = Ministry of Defence

MTL = mid-tide level

NBN = National Biodiversity Network

NFBR = National Federation for Biological Recorders

NNR = National Nature Reserve

NT = The National Trust

SAC = Special Area of Conservation

SAP = Species Action Plan (JNCC, 2007)

SPA = Special Protection Area

SSSI = Site(s) of Special Scientific Interest

VMCA = Voluntary Marine Conservation Area

WCA = Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 also Wildlife and Countryside (Amendment) Act 1991 (ref. sections 5 and 11). See also CRoW Act 2000

Conservation categories (unless stated in specific section) and location/area

RDB = Red Data Book

RDB1 = Endangered

RDB2 = Vulnerable

RDB3 = Rare

RDBK = RDB insufficiently known

RDBI = RDB indeterminate

N = (Nationally) Notable

Na = Nationally Notable A

Nb = Nationally Notable B

NS = Nationally Scarce

LS = Locally Scarce

p (as in pRDB, pNS) = provisionally adopted in this book as a candidate RDB species

VC1 = vice county 1

VC2 = vice county 2

IOS = Isles of Scilly

SA18 = Sea Area 18 = Plymouth (West Channel) -Start Point to Lands End

SA19 = Sea Area 19 = Scilly Isles

SA20 = Sea Area 20 = North Cornwall-Lands End to Hartland

Other abbreviations e.g. NU - Nationally Uncommon (dragonflies) are given where necessary in each chapter.