Conservation
Houbara Bustard
The Houbara Bustard is a game
bird which occurs in the United
Arab Emirates. Populations are
declining because it is shot for
sport, and the National Avian
Centre, Abu Dhabi is undertaking
detailed studies on the species with
a view to its conservation.
Museum scientists have
investigated Iice and other
ectoparasites on the birds for the
NAC.
Coral Reefs in Borneo
Discovery of the magnificent coral
reefs of the island of Sipadan off
the coast of Borneo has led to a
boom of diving tourism and
concern about damage to the
reefs.
The Museum, with the Marine
Conservation Society and the
University of Singapore was
commissioned by the World Wide
Fund for Nature (Malaysia) and the
Sabah Ministry of Tourism and
Environmental Development to
investigate the reef's biodiversity
and to set up permanent
monitoring sites. A conservation
management plan was produced
for the island with particular
emphasis on ecotourism.
Lichens
The Museum has long had
experience of using lichens to
monitor changes in atmospheric
quality. In 1993 lichen monitoring
was undertaken on Skomer (an
SSSI and marine nature reserve),
and at Ty Canol Woods (an SSSI
and National Nature Reserve) for
the Countryside Council for Wales
(CCW). Nearer to London, lichen
communities in another SSSI, an
area of ancient beech woodland
(Burnham Beeches) are being
investigated for the Corporation of
London to evaluate the effects of
dust and chemicals from a nearby
quarry.
Molluscs
His Highness Sheikh Hamad bin
Mohammed al Sharqi, Ruler of
Fujairah, United Arab Emirates,
commissioned a study of the
recent nearshore molluscan fauna
found in Fujairah bordering the
Arabian Sea. Several new species
were described and named after
towns in Fujairah.
Forestry
Suitable use
International organisations,
Governments and Conservation
groups are voicing great concern
about the destruction of the
world's tropical rainforests. The
Overseas Development Agency
(ODA) commissioned the Museum
to advise the Government of
Malaysia on the conservation of
rainforest biodiversity, and to
design and implement an
programme of research. A
particular emphasis of the work is
on the species richness of epiphytic
plant communities. NHM staff
assisted Malaysian colleagues with
the identification of ferns and
mosses and with training in lichen
taxonomy.
Cameroon Plantations
In collaboration with the Institute
of Terrestrial Ecology, the Museum
has undertaken a consultancy
project for the ODA and ONADEF
(Office National de Dévélopement
Forets, Cameroon) to assess the
impact of different silviculture
methods on insect pests and
diversity. The work was carried out
in the Mbalmayo Forest Reserve.
One result showed shoot-borers to
be a serious pest of the idigbo tree
(Terminalia ivorensis).
Water Quality
Norfolk long-sea outfall
Four years of baseline monitoring
of intertidal and subtidal plant and
animal communities to assess
variation with time was completed
in 1993 for Anglian Water Services
Ltd prior to installation of a new
long sewage outfall. Following
construction and installation
further monitoring will evaluate
any effects on marine
communities.
The Museum operates a
team of HSE registered
diver biologists fully
supported by boats,
position fixing and echo-
location facilities
enabling investigation of
shallow marine
ecosystems at first hand.
Is sewage good for plants ?
Walthamstow Marshes local nature
reserve in the Lee Valley Regional
Park is the nearest SSSI to central
London. It was formerly an area of
grazing marsh and contains
interesting plant communities and
locally rare species. A sewerage
main which runs along the edge of
the reserve has burst on several
occasions. Thames Water Utilities
commissioned the Botany
Department to evaluate
disturbance effects. A shift in
balance of abundance and
distribution of some species was
detected and may have been brought
about by the sewage spills; other
changes identified were natural.
Formation water and coral reefs
Qatar in the Arabian Gulf has a
major oil extraction, storage and
refining facility on Halul Island.
Hypersaline formation water
presently discharged from the
island may be affecting the coral
reefs in its vicinity. The Museum is
participating in a pilot project with
the University of Qatar on behalf
of the National Oil Company to
determine the effects of the
discharge. Video film, plankton and
water samples have been analysed.
What's it all about - algae ?
Diatoms, microscopically small
unicellular algae, are vulnerable
indicators of water quality.
Different species assemblages
show whether or not a water
course is clean, nutrient enriched,
eutrophic or grossly polluted. The
Museum is currently undertaking
eutriphication studies in the Rivers
Nar, Nene and Great Ouse for the
Anglian Region of the NRA.
Nuisance algal blooms
are of increasing concern
to the National Rivers
Authority and Water
Companies. Museum
phycologists and
colleagues at the
University of Durham
run training courses for
NRA staff in algal
identification.
Food Contamination
The Museum's science
departments offer an unrivalled
identification and advisory service.
During the past year many
identifications have been
undertaken for analytical
laboratories, major foodstores such
as Marks & Spencer, Sainsbury and
Waitrose and the environmental
services departments of local
authorities. Our staff have
identified silverfish in milk, wasps
in jam, beetles in salad, spiders,
scorpions and cockroaches in
bananas and reptilian and
mammalian bones and teeth in
other food products.
Identification
Qualifications (IdQs)
The Natural History
Museum has established a
new accreditation scheme
for vocational skills in animal
and plant identification.
Certificates known as IdQs
are awarded by examination.
The examination Units cover
a wide range of habitats as
well as animal and plant
groups. These qualifications
are for biologists, ecologists
and environmentalists who
undertake identification of
fauna and flora for habitat
surveys, biological impact
assessments and
conservation studies.
If you carry out
identification work or
commission such work from
others, this scheme is for
you. For further details
phone 0171 938 9261 or
fax 0171 938 9189.
Veterinary and Public
Health
Pesticides in the countryside
Pesticides are used in the UK to
protect plants against the ravages
of pests. One of the problems
associated with their use is that
non-target organisms such as
earthworms, bees, birds, mammals
and aquatic organisms can also be
affected. The Natural History
Museum has carried out, for the
Pesticides Safety Directorate of the
Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries
and Food, evaluation of data on
non-target wildlife provided by
manufacturers and searched the
scientific literature for other
relevant work. The Museum has
reported the effects of four
pesticides, Isopturon,
Chlorfenvinpho Metaldehyde and
Methiocarb.
Cetacea strandings
Since 1990 the UK Department of
the Environment has been funding
investigations into the biology and
ecology of cetacean populations
around Britain as part of its co-
ordinated program me of North Sea
research. The Museum has set up a
database of cetacean strandings
and has analysed data back to
1967. Staff also visit selected
strandings to collect carcasses for
detailed post-mortem examination
at the Institute of Zoology in
London. The Welsh Office
commissioned the Museum to
investigate the age of stranded
toothed whales by examination of
their teeth.
Analysis of stomach contents has
given valuable information on the
food preferences of different
species. Parasites present in body
tissues have been examined in
relation to mortality.
Advisory Services
Seveso silver treasure
Analysis of soil samples recovered
from the Seveso Silver Treasures
allegedly showed evidence of
provenance from a locality in
Hungary. The Museum was asked
to comment on this report.
Examination revealed a number of
anomalies in the presentation of
scanning eiectron microscopy and
analytical and x-ray diffraction
data. The Museum prepared
electron micrographs of diatoms
and analytical data relating to
some mineral grains to
demonstrate that they occur
worldwide and are not restricted to
specific locality in Hungary. The
Museum's report provided
valuable court evidence which led
to the rejection of the Hungarian
report.
Gemstone market
One client commissioned a study
to assess the market for certain
precious stones and decorative
stones from a producer in Eurasia
who was interested in exploiting
the western marketplace.
Information on product quality,
market pricing and established
markets for the stones was
researched and reported on using
Museum contacts.
Oil and Gas
Irish Sea Gas
The `dash for gas' has meant a
need for new plant and pipelines.
In 1992 the Museum was
contracted by British Gas
Exploration and Production Ltd to
assess the possible effects of laying
a new gas pipeline across a
wetland area of scientific
importance. The South Walney and
Piel Sands Site of Special Scientific
Interest (SSSI) lies by Morecambe
Bay, internationally important
because of its birdlife. In 1993 we
began monitoring the effects of
engineering works.
Of concern was disturbance to
saltmarshes, intertidal eel-grass
(Zostera) beds, intertidal
invertebrate populations, bird
populations and the nearby Roa
Island site of regional marine
biological importance.
Yemen
Working for an international oil
company, museum
palaeontologists carried out a
biostratigraphic study of Jurassic
rock formations over a wide area
of eastern Yemen. Bivalves,
brachiopods, echinoids and
ammonites were collected; the
latter were especially valuable for
accurate biostratigraphical work in
the upper Jurassic sequence.
Some ammonites, for example,
have never been described from
Yemen before and these specimens
will be the basis for dating and
naming a new formation.
Sites of mineralisation
A detailed inventory of significant
mine sites in Wales and an
assessment of mineralogical,
metallogenic and historical/
archaeological importance was
undertaken for the Countryside
Commission for Wales. This
involved appraisal of sites at risk
from development and those cited
in the Geological Conservation
Review (GCR).
Mining and the
Environment
Malaysia
The NHM is a partner in an ODA
sponsored project in Malaysia to
examine the impact of mining
operations on the environment.
Museum earth scientists have
undertaken sulphide
characterisation, soil and mine
tailings mineralogy, the mineralogy
of stream soil sediments, and water
chemistry. Museum life scientists
investigated the aquatic
environment tor algae, protozoa
and invertebrates likely to be key
indicators of pollution and
disturbance.
Belize prospecting
A baseline survey of tropical
rainforest habitats in the Maya
Mountains part of southwest Belize
was undertaken for BHP Minerals
Inc. who are prospecting in the
area.
A team of Museum botanists,
entomologists and mineraiogists
undertook the survey during the
April dry season. The Museum's
long experience in the area close
contacts with Belizean forestry
staff, and the nearby NHM Belize
research station provided
invaluable support.
Raw Materials Programme
The Museum's expertise in mineral
analysis, carbonatites and alkaline
rocks has enabled the successful
completion of a major EC-funded
project. In collaboration with an
industrial partner (Gesellschaft fur
Elektrometallurgie) and academic
partners in France and Belgium, it
has been possible to produce a
comprehensive model of a deposit
of the rare metal, niobium, mined
in weathered carbonatite at
Lueshe, Zaire.
The Museum's contribution was to
produce over 2000 electron probe
analyses of the pyrochlore ore
minerals and associated phases in
order to define the complex
processes and mineral intergrowths
that occur during weathering.
A second part of the project
involved geological mapping,
petrology and preliminary analysis
of nearby deposits.
Library and Information Services
To support their work, our scientists are able to call on the worlds premier natural history libraries.
Unique historical and up to date modern collections of books, serials, maps, CD-ROMS and art
combined with an unrivalled staff expertise provide an information service that can also be
available to you. For your free information pack contact The External Services Manager,
Department of Library and Information Services, The Natural History Museum, on 0171 938 9306
of Fax: 0171 938 9290.
Museum Plus
The Natural History Museum is one of the World's foremost institutes for the study and
classification of animals, plants and minerals. Its staff have unrivalled natural history expertise and
the Museum holds collections and libraries without equal in the world. The Museum of London
offers the largest professional archaeological service in Europe (MOLAS). It represents the
culmination of over 20 years archaeological experience in London and beyond. In collaboration,
the two Museums can provide comprehensive services in life, earth and archaeological sciences.
Staff in both Museums are internationally acknowledged experts accustomed to meetinf tight
deadlines.
For further information contact either:
The Science Marketing Office
The Natural History Museum
Cromwell Road
London SW7 5BD
Tel: 0171 938 9261
Fex: 0171 938 9189
The Marketing Office
The Museum of London
Number One
London Wall
London EC2Y 5EA
Tel: 0171 972 9111
fax: 0171 972 9112