Conservation Studies
Scientific studies take place at Porton Down to determine the wildlife
present on the site, the effects of management on the wildlife and any
changes, detrimental or otherwise, occurring
within populations.
A CCTV camera is being used to study the activities of nesting stone
curlew at Dstl Porton Down.
The images gained will help us to better understand this rare bird.
As the stone curlew is active at night the camera has infra-red capability
that will enable nocturnal study.
Beetles and spiders are studied for a number of reasons including monitoring
the validity of vegetation quality assessments.
Droppings present on transects situated on open grassland and in woodland
are counted.
These counts enable comparison between years and give a measure of
change in the rabbit population and the effect this is likely to have
on vegetation.
Pitfall trapping of carabid beetles within the Environmental Change
Network (ECN) project is one of a range of assessments being carried
out to determine any effects due to, for example, climatic change.
Rabbit populations are monitored in the spring and autumn of each
year in the ECN.
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