MSc Biodiversity and Conservation student films with BBC Wales
Biosciences Associate Professor Dr Wendy Harris and MSc Global Biodiversity and Conservation student Chris Davies recently had the opportunity to film with BBC Wales and Iolo Williams for his new series, due to air in September.
Chris’s MSc research focuses on the Strandline beetle (Eurynebria complanata), a rare species that was once found along coastlines throughout the UK but is now restricted to just three sites, all of them in Wales. The species has experienced significant population declines, largely because of the loss of beach habitat and the removal of driftwood, which it relies on for shelter during the day. As a result, the Strandline beetle is currently classified as Endangered on the GB IUCN Red List, which assesses the extinction risk of species in England, Scotland and Wales using internationally recognised criteria developed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.
The project aims to improve understanding of the Strandline beetle’s ecology and life history. One particularly important question is what happens to the beetles after they disappear from beaches at the end of July, as their destination remains unknown. To investigate this, Chris is attaching small radio-frequency identification (RFID) tags to individual beetles in an attempt to track their movements away from the beach.
The knowledge gained from this research will help build a clearer picture of the species’ habitat requirements, supporting both its conservation and potential reintroduction to sites where it has been lost. The project has received funding from Carmarthenshire County Council through the Welsh Government’s Nature Networks Fund Round 5, delivered in partnership with the National Lottery Heritage Fund.
