Island Life Magazine Ltd February/March 2010 | Page 64

life

COUNTRYSIDE, WILDLIFE & FARMING

February/March 2010

increased water quality and increases in

declining mammal, we managed to attach

wildlife important for a wider society such as

tracking devices to a number of the harbour

pollinating insects.

seals that live in our area. These devices

Our nature reserves provide a haven for

provide accurate location information, showing

rare wildlife such as red squirrels, butterflies

where the seals are resting, and also data on

and wild flowers which in turn provide a

their feeding behaviour, such as how deep they

better experience for people looking for quiet

have been diving to catch food and for how

relaxation and enjoyment. Whilst we often

long.

may not think about our work in terms of

These tags have now all dropped off, as they

ecosystems services, we do in fact make a

are designed to do when the animals moult,

significant contribution to an economically,

and the data they have been able to provide

socially and environmentally sustainable future.

has been a real window on their world. We

Perhaps ecosystem services will become less a

knew virtually nothing before the tags went

piece of jargon, more the raison d’etre for the

on but now we know where the seals’ main

Trust.

resting sites are and have been able to identify
about ten sites around the Solent that the seals

What is an ecosystem?
An ecosystem is the web of interactions

frequently visit to feed.
These important foraging grounds include

between animals, plants, micro-organisms and

areas off Selsey Bill in Sussex, Bembridge

the non-living environment that supports them.

and Ryde on the Isle of Wight, Portsmouth

Ecosystems can exist on many scales –

Langstone and Chichester Harbours and even

the Pacific Ocean, the cork-oak forests of

up the busy Southampton Water and River

the Mediterranean, the Solent or a single

Hamble. One seal even went over to Worthing

woodland. Humans evolved as integral parts of

on an extended foraging trip, sleeping at sea

ecosystems, but as societies developed many

and diving down to depths of 60m. Some seals

have moved away from being part of nature to

have been holding their breath for over 14

trying to control aspects of it.

minutes when looking for food.

Seal Tagging Update

The aim of the project is to identify the areas
that are most important for the success of the
seals. After that we can seek to have these

By Jolyon Chesworth, Hampshire and
Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust

sites recognised in relevant management and
conservation plans to ensure they are still
capable of supporting a healthy population of

As part of the Seal Tagging Project, designed

seals.

to improve our understanding of this nationally
Photo right:
Harbour
seals by Chas
Spradberry

64

Visit our new website - www.visitislandlife.com