Issues with altitude - how to survey upland 10km squares

As the project has progressed it has become apparent that randomly selected 10km squares, which are in upland areas will require a different survey approach to those at lower altitudes.

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Issues with altitude - how to survey upland 10km squares

Not only can there be a lack of accessibility but we have been helped by additional input from Martin Greenland who regularly surveys these habitat areas and knows that the species will not be found at the higher altitude in his area in northern England at least (even if elm is present).

We are therefore giving different guidance instructions on habitat and white-letter surveying in these specific squares.

We suggest that for upland areas you look at the 10km level first, using the most promising habitat, which is likely to be in a river valley, as far downstream as possible. If you find white-letter, then you could move on up the valley to look at squares closer to the target 1km or 2km squares and then finally to the target area. This is a reverse of the standard instructions. (People who are developing their surveying skills in lowlands may also want to start at the 10km level before trying their skills at the 1km or 2km level!)

We would still be interested to know whether elm is present at the higher altitude and whether this was searched for either eggs or adults, but priority is given to finding the species first at the lower altitude. This might involve several visits and a result might take more than one year to achieve. Progress updates would be appreciated.

Randomly selected 10km squares set against the topography of the UK Reference: Asher et al., 2001, The Millennium Atlas of Butterflies in Britain and Ireland, Oxford University Press.