The Ecological Importance of the Trees and Shrubs of Sandall Beat.
by Peter Skidmore, Doncaster Museum & Arts Service

Forward
A large body of data has now been accumulated on the flora and fauna of Sandal Beat Nature Reserve by Doncaster Museum and Art Gallery, and it is now possible to provide information which could be of value in the formation pf an ecologically sympathetic Management Strategy for the woodland. This document deals with the trees and shrubs occurring within the reserve area, and those invertebrates associated with them, and takes the form of three ranked listings.

The majority of invertebrates which feed on plant material are non-specific in that they attack more than one plant species (indeed, many are highly polyphagous) and consequently will have more invertebrate associates than specifics. In general, this means that most animal communities can survive some changes in species composition of their vegetational environment.

There are, however, many organisms which are dependant solely upon one plant species (or species group) and these “specifics” cannot survive such changes. It is these which must be borne in mind if woodland management is not to seriously affect the integrity of the site.

Many of the insects occurring in Sandall Beat are regionally or even nationally uncommon or rare. Some which have a southern distribution in Britain are at the northern limit of their range here, whilst others may be known from only a handful of localities throughout Britain.

These species are also of importance in formulating a woodland management strategy as attempts should be made to retain these more uncommon elements. Often the reasons for their uncommon status are unknown – whilst some may be ‘specific’ in choice of foodplant, many are polyphagous.

The Lists
The listings are under three headings
a. Total recorded associates
b. Total recorded specifics
c. Total notable species

And under each heading the tree / shrub species recorded from the reserve area are listed according to the number of invertebrate species recorded from the area under each category. Note that Scots Pine comes sixth in ‘total number of recorded associates’ (97), fifth in ‘total recorded specifics’ (13), but third in ‘total notable species’ (15).
Note here that the number of ‘notables’ exceeds the umber of ‘specifics’; this arises because some of the latter will feed on other conifers (e.g. larch and/or alien species).

A more extreme example is seen in the case of Beech – fifth in ‘associates, (107) , fourteenth in ‘specifics’ (5), and fourth in ‘notables’ (13). Beech is very unusual in that it is of primary importance for its dead wood fauna – the foliage is attacked by extremely few organisms which do not feed on other tree foliage. There are, however, more fungal associates of beech than of any other tree and they support a very rich invertebrate fauna.

Application for Management Strategy
This listing should provide guidelines in developing a management strategy in that an hierarchical order can be devised in thining / felling schedules. Clearly a tree species appearing higher in the listing should be retained in preference to one lower down, especially if the former is native to the site (or area) and the later os not (e.g. Scots Pine as against alien pine).

This document does not take fully into account the importance of many trees / shrubs as sources of nectar for floricolous insects as no detailed information is available. Species known to be of importance in this regard are merely underlined.

It will be seen from the listings that alder ranks highly in all three columns (9th) although it does not now occur within the Reserve itself. This arises because it was a former component of the wood, where it grew in some quantity in the Fen, and it survives still in nearby Ox Carr Wood. In any planting schemes, Alder (Alnus glutinosa) should be a high priority.

Herbaceous Plants
Herbaceous plants are outside the brief of this document, but a few general guidelines could be drawn.
The most important single community in terms of species richness and number of notable species is the fenland part, which is largely dominated by reedmaces (Typha) and common Reed (Phragmites australis). These two plants support outstanding communities.

Very many insects are polyphagous on low-growing plants, but amongst the important plants for more specialised feeders are bedstraws (Galium), nettle (Urtica), and thistles (Cirsium & Carduus). Thistles are also of great importance as nectar sources, as also are umbels (especially Hogweeds, Angelica, Earthnut and Cow Parsley), Hardheads (Centaurea nigra), buttercups (Ranunculus), etc. Bracken also supports a surprising fauna and provides valuable shelter for shade / humidity loving organisms.

List of tree and shrub species in Sandall Beat area ranked in terms of associated insects.

Spruce used to occur in Wheatley Wood with 15 associates.

Species known to be of importance as sources of nectar for floricolous insects are underlined.

Total recorded associates

1	Oak (Quercus robur / Q. pedunculate)	276
2	Birch (Betula pendula / B. pubescens)	225
3	Sallows (Salix aurita / S. caprea / S. cinerea)	148
4	Hawthorn	128
5	Beech	107*
6	Scots Pine	97
7	Hazel	97
8	Elm (Ulmus montana / U. procera)	85
9	Alder (Alnus glutinosa)	75
10	Bramble (Rubus fruticosus)	74
11	Grey Poplar / Aspen	71
12	Apple	70
13	Blackthorn	69
14	Willows (Salix alba / fragilis)	69
15	Ash	67
16	Black Poplar agg.	51
17	Larch	46
18	Wild Rose	38
19	Lime	36
20	Sycamore	32
21	Alien Pines	31
22	Hornbeam	30
23	Broom	26
24	Rowan	26
25	Honeysuckle	25
26	Wild Cherry	24
27	Whitebeam	19
28	Elder	18
29	Sweet Chestnut	17
30	Gorse	14
31	Privet	14
32	Holly	13
33	Field Maple	13
34	Ivy	11
35	Heather	10
36	Rhododendron	7
37	Horse Chestnut	6
38	Guelder Rose	5
39	Buckthorn (both spp.)	4
40	Yew	3
41	Laburnum / Senna / Robina	2
42	Petty Whin	2
43	Spindle	1
44	Turkey Oak	1
45	Dogwood	1

 

 Total recorded specifics

1	Oak (Quercus robur / Q. pedunculate)	54
2	Birch (Betula pendula / B. pubescens)	33
3	Sallows (Salix aurita / S. caprea / S. cinerea)	15
4	Bramble (Rubus fruticosus)	14
5	Scots Pine	13
6	Hawthorn	12
7	Wild Rose	11
8	Elm (Ulmus montana / U. procera)	10
9	Alder (Alnus glutinosa)	9
10	Larch	7
11	Grey Poplar / Aspen	6
12	Hazel	6
13	Honeysuckle	6
14	Beech	5
15	Willows (Salix alba / fragilis)	5
16	Broom	5
17	Apple	4
18	Blackthorn	3
19	Ash	2
20	Black Poplar agg.	2
21	Rowan	2
22	Elder	2
23	Heather	2
24	Guelder Rose	2
25	Lime	1
26	Sycamore	1
27	Hornbeam	1
28	Wild Cherry	1
29	Whitebeam	1
30	Holly	1
31	Rhododendron	1
32	Buckthorn (both spp.)	1
33	Spindle	1

 

Total notable species

1	Oak (Quercus robur / Q. pedunculate)	40
2	Birch (Betula pendula / B. pubescens)	23
3	Scots Pine	15
4	Beech	13
5	Sallows (Salix aurita / S. caprea / S. cinerea)	11
6	Willows (Salix alba / fragilis)
7	Hazel	10
8	Elm (Ulmus montana / U. procera)	9
9	Alder (Alnus glutinosa)	7
10	Grey Poplar / Aspen	7
11	Hawthorn	7
12	Black Poplar agg.	7
13	Apple	6
14	Blackthorn	6
15	Bramble (Rubus fruticosus)	5
16	Larch	5
17	Honeysuckle	4
18	Wild Rose	3
19	Hornbeam	3
20	alien Pines	3
21	Buckthorn (both spp.)	3
22	Guelder Rose	3
23	Ash	2
24	Lime	2
25	Sycamore	2
26	Sweet Chestnut	2
27	Field Maple	2
28	Broom	1
29	Rowan	1
30	Wild Cherry	1
31	Rhododendron	1
32	Yew	1
33	Spindle	1