Aquatic insects and climate change make BBC News	04th May 2007
	Aquatic insects and climate change make BBC News – an excellent report on new science Today the BBC is covering Cardiff University Prof Steve Ormerod and Isabelle Durance’s research on the effects of climate change on stream insects as published in Global Change Biology: Link to news story: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/6619379.stm Anything you could do to disseminate interest in the BBC news item would help raise its profile (for example, send this email or the link to friends and/or write a comment in ‘Have your say’). Insects are the backbone of the aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. Changes to insect populations and their health is important news. What else to do to help riverflies? Find out more in the S&TA Spring Gamefisher magazine (see attached) Prof Steve Ormerod offers hope and concern when he asks, Can we climate-proof our rivers? Observe aquatic invertebrates hatching, and report your results using the S&TA National 2007 River Fly Abundance Study survey form www.salmon-trout.org/issues_fly_life.asp#Survey The results shows trends in populations. The most recent Abundance Study report on the decline of Iron Blue has resulted in its inclusion in the current list of (candidate) Biodiversity Action Plan species. Anglers ignited the concern for aquatic invertebrates after their combined observations showed the dramatic decline in aquatic riverflies. This spurred the Riverfly Partnership coordinated action for Riverflies. Join the work of the Riverfly Partnership, chaired by S&TA, on www.riverflies.org. After June 1st, the presentations from the March 2007 2nd Riverfly conference, How Good is Your River, will be up on the website. These presentations have more specific suggestions on what to do to help riverflies. The conference launched the Angling Monitoring Initiative for riverfly nymphs. And, new aquatic insect identification guides have just been created and published with the angler in mind. Participate in a 2007 certified Riverfly Workshops for groups of anglers wanting to monitor riverfly nymphs in rivers in order to detect pollution incidents that would otherwise be missed. Or, organise and register your interest for a 2008 certified Riverfly Workshop. This monitoring is an excellent way to discover and have the evidence necessary to press for the resolution of pollution problems on your river. The Angler Monitoring Initiative is fully supported by the Environment Agency and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency right from the Chief Executive to the staff working on the waterside. More information in Riverfly Partnership member publications. Also, this month angling magazines support and explain the launch of the Angler Monitoring Initiative. 2007 Riverfly Workshops for Anglers Monitoring Initiative Salmon and Trout Association Wiltshire Workshop Friday 20 April Tutor: Cyril Bennett. EA: Rachel Jacobs EA Thames Region – West Area, South West Region - Wessex N & S Area Underwritten by regional S&TA office with funding application to Wessex Watermark South Cumbria Rivers Trust (SCRT) Workshops Saturday 21 April, Sunday 22 April Tutor: David Pryce. EA: Brian Ingersent EA North West Region - North Area Underwritten by SCRT. Funding applications submitted to Friends of the Lake District & Cumbria Biodiversity Partnership. Application to be submitted to Local Strategic Partnership of South Cumbria District Council Wiltshire Wildlife Trust Workshops Saturday 21 April, Sunday 22 April Tutor: Cyril Bennett. EA: Glen Meadows / Mitch Perkins EA Thames Region – West Area, South West Region - Wessex N & S Area Funded by HLF Living River Project with funding application to Wessex Watermark for equipment John Spedan Lewis Trust Workshops Saturday 23, Sunday 24 June, Saturday 7, Sunday 8th July EA Southern Region - Hants & Isle of Wight Area Tutors: Warren Gilchrist / Cyril Bennett / Peter Francis EA: Claire Gladdy River Taff Workshop Wedsneday 25, Thursday 26 July Tutor: Steve Brooks. EA: Andy Robinson EA Welsh Region – South East Area Yorkshire Dales Rivers Trust Date to be confirmed Tutor: tbc EA: Richard Jenkins EA North East Region – Dales Area Tyne Rivers Trust Date to be confirmed Tutor: possibly Ian Wallace EA: John Shelley EA North East Region – Northumbria Area Rossett & Gresford FFC Workshop Date to be confirmed Tutor: Ian Wallace EA: Claire Liversage EA Welsh Region – North Area