New Atlas shows changing distribution of Britain’s mammals

New Atlas shows changing distribution of Britain’s mammals - Mammal Society

Mammals are notoriously difficult to record and British ones are no exception. Yet knowing where species are, and how they are doing, is critical for wildlife conservation.

A new book, which has just been published by British wildlife charity the Mammal Society, maps the distribution of both terrestrial and marine species, and assesses how things have changed over the last 30 years.

Fiona Mathews, Professor of Environmental Biology at University of Sussex and Chair of the Mammal Society says “Britain’s mammals face many problems, ranging from habitat loss, change in land management practices, and climate change. Our Atlas shows how iconic species such as the harvest mouse, water vole and red squirrel have undergone marked declines in distribution over the last 30 years, whilst others — including roe deer, polecat, and the non-native grey squirrel have become more widespread. Bats too have seen changes to their distribution, with Nathusius’ pipistrelle now regularly found in Britain, possibly as a result of climate change. For the first time, the Atlas also tells us about the distribution of Britain’s whales and dolphins, including rarities such as beluga and fin whales.”

Colin Harrower, of the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, which contributed to the atlas, says “This atlas is a fantastic resource, not only for the conservation and management of mammals, but also for researchers to better understand the status of this iconic group of animals. When used alongside the wealth of similar data for thousands of plant and insect species from dedicated wildlife enthusiasts, it can help identify the factors, such as climate change and habitat loss, that are leading some species to decline while others expand.”