Eco Monitoring Matters

We are Monitoring Officers at the Environment Agency SW protecting the local area for one and all. Have a look at what we are up to... All views our own.

[Eco Monitoring Matters @EAEcologySW]

The #EnvironmentAgency have just completed an inter-tidal #seagrass survey on the #Tamar estuary & are pleased to report it is thriving! #environmental #Monitoring @Peter_S_Long @BruceNewport1

[Eco Monitoring Matters @EAEcologySW]

It’s nearly that time of year again when our mysterious #eels embark on their epic journey across the #Atlantic to the #Sargasso Sea to spawn & never return #monitoring on #RiverFowey contributing to #research on this #endangered species @EAEcologySW @BruceNewport1 @Peter_S_Long

[Eco Monitoring Matters @EAEcologySW]

Red Vent Syndrome is a condition of wild #Atlantic #salmon that develops at sea & is believed to be caused by a #parasitic #worm Our trapping team on #river #Tamar are helping to #monitor the incidence of RVS in England @EAEcologySW @BruceNewport1 @Peter_S_Long

[Eco Monitoring Matters @EAEcologySW]

#Tamar catches contributing to the international effort to investigate Red Skin Disease which affects #salmonids around the world #monitoring @EAEcologySW @Peter_S_Long @BruceNewport1

[Eco Monitoring Matters @EAEcologySW]

#pinksalmon are native to the pacific but were introduced to Russian #rivers in the 60’s & have slowly spread west. This is the first record of one caught on the #Tamar Environment Agency urge any sightings to be reported #monitoring @EAEcologySW @Peter_S_Long @BruceNewport1

[Eco Monitoring Matters @EAEcologySW]

#macrophytes (plants incl. moss, liverwort & algae) are identified by direct observation & help us to #monitor #nutrient levels in our #rivers & indicate a variety of pressures on our #waterways Great to be collecting #environmental #data@Peter_S_Long @EAEcologySW @BruceNewport1

[Eco Monitoring Matters @EAEcologySW]

Met this beauty while surveying around #Pendeen, #Adders (Vipera berus) are ovoviviparous, giving birth to live young, whilst timid in nature they can also deliver a #venomous bite from their hinged #fangs @Peter_S_Long @BruceNewport1 #Cornwall

[Adrian Langdon @maxshearwater]

Female kingfisher with brook lamprey this am. Fem KF's seem to specialise in lampreys! #wildcornwall @CBWPS1 @CornwallBrdNews @CwallWildlife @camelbirder @BobBosisto @Kernowringer @BTO_Cornwall @BBCSpringwatch @EcofactEcology @CarolynCadman

[Jack Perks @JackPerksPhoto]

I've never seen so many lamprey as yesterday! These are river lamprey the rarest of the three species and one of our rarest freshwater fish. I imagine many rivers would of had this site before so many barriers were erected blocking their migration.
#lamprey #rivers

[Eco Monitoring Matters @EAEcologySW]

A chattering of Choughs! Part of a flock of 30 seen in West #Cornwall recently. This represents a large percentage of the Cornish population #Chough @CwallWildlife

[Environment AgencySW @EnvAgencySW]

Invertebrates - tiny but very important. We can use them to track pollution and measure how much damage has been done to a river or stream. It's #environmentalincidentsweek #evidenceled #EAlaboratory

[Eco Monitoring Matters @EAEcologySW]

Lovely female #Emperor #dragonfly Anax imperator often regarded as largest dragonfly in UK reaching over 50mm long. Enjoys still water habitats & are highly predatory. With a 10cm wingspan they can be seen between May & September #wildlife

[Eco Monitoring Matters @EAEcologySW]

Whilst #environmental #monitoring in #Tamar catchment we found Purple toothwort, Lathraea clandestina is a parasitic plant with no photosynthetic parts. It hijacks the roots of Alder, Willow & Poplar for the nutrients it needs. It is also semi- carnivorous! ⁦@BruceNewport1⁩

[Eco Monitoring Matters @EAEcologySW]

Who'd have thought that this unexpected fountain of #water could have this much impact to the #river downstream?! #environmental #monitoring #catchment #walkover #survey Happy to say issue all resolved @BruceNewport1 @EnvAgencySW

[Eco Monitoring Matters @EAEcologySW]

Great example of bank #erosion whilst carrying out walkover #surveys today in #Tamar catchment #environmental #monitoring

[Eco Monitoring Matters @EAEcologySW]

This unusual specimen had us looking for confirmation from the National #Caddis expert @NML_Muse #invertebrate #identification 🔬 It is likely a Potamophylax cingulatus however some features are atypical for this species

[Eco Monitoring Matters @EAEcologySW]

Wow! Privileged to see this #Chough whilst walking the #Coastpath. Its #cornish name is Palores meaning Digger

[Eco Monitoring Matters @EAEcologySW]

Take a peek at how our #environmental #monitoring in this #InternationalYearoftheSalmon contributes to this great snapshot of life on the #River #Tamar - https://t.co/4x4IH4MFv0 @BruceNewport1 @Peter_S_Long @EnvAgencySW

[Eco Monitoring Matters @EAEcologySW]

Demonstrating kick sampling for #invertebrates in Upper #Tamar catchment. Great #partnership working #environmental #monitoring @EnvAgencySW @BruceNewport1

[Eco Monitoring Matters @EAEcologySW]

Even the #Diptera #larvae here at the #lab are supporting #Movember2019 Prodiamesinae is a member of the #Chironomidae family (Non-biting #Midges) #Taxonomy #Identification @EnvAgency @BruceNewport1