Assessment of Marsh Fritillary (Euphydryas aurinia) Habitat Quality on Castlemartin Range Pembrokeshire (2015)
Asesiad o Ansawdd Cynefin Britheg y Gors (Euphydryas aurinia) ar Faes Tanio Castellmartin, Sir Benfro (2015)

  • English
  • wel
  • All

The marsh fritillary Euphydryas aurinia is an Annex II species of European conservation importance and a primary feature of Castlemartin Range Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) in south Pembrokeshire. The Castlemartin metapopulation was discovered in 2003 and, although identified too late for inclusion in the Limestone Coast of South West Wales Special Area of Conservation (SAC), is recognised as a key SSSI feature within the SAC Core Management Plan. As marsh fritillary populations function as metapopulations, with local extinctions and recolonisations occurring naturally over time, the availability of an extensive network of suitable habitat is essential for their long-term persistence. This survey was undertaken to identify and assess potential marsh fritillary habitat across the Castlemartin Training Area and to determine the extent and condition of habitat available to support the metapopulation. The survey area covered approximately 360 hectares of grassland and heathland within the Castlemartin Range SSSI, the majority of which lies within the Limestone Cliffs of South West Wales SAC.

Identification

Dynodydd
Identifier
NRW_DS116492
Teitl Amgen
Alternative Title
Laith Metadata
Metadata Language
English
Lineage

Natural Resources Wales supplied an outline map identifying approximately 360 hectares of grassland and heathland considered capable of supporting marsh fritillary populations within the Castlemartin Training Area. Habitat surveys were undertaken using the standard NRW marsh fritillary habitat assessment methodology. Survey areas were classified into six habitat categories based on the presence and abundance of devil's-bit scabious Succisa pratensis, the principal larval foodplant of the marsh fritillary.


During habitat assessment, incidental records of marsh fritillary larval webs were collected where encountered. Due to time constraints, systematic transect surveys were not undertaken and these records should therefore be regarded as casual observations rather than comprehensive population data. Habitat quality assessments also considered vegetation structure, particularly the presence of tussocky swards, which provide shelter, overwintering habitat and spring basking sites for larvae and are characteristic of many Welsh marsh fritillary sites, especially on damp rhos pasture. Results were used to assess the extent, distribution and condition of habitat capable of supporting the Castlemartin marsh fritillary metapopulation.
Dyddiad cyfeirnod y set ddata (Cyhoeddiad)
Dataset Reference Date (Publication)
2015-10-04

Temporal Extent

Begin date
2015-08-28
End date
2015-10-04
 
Categori pwnc
Topic category
  • Biota
    Biota
Perchennog
Owner
  Natural Resources Wales (NRW) -
Maes-y-Ffynnon, Penrhosgarnedd, Bangor, Gwynedd, LL57 2DW, Wales
http://naturalresources.wales/?lang=en
Cychwynnwr
Originator
  Natural Resources Wales (NRW) -
Maes-y-Ffynnon, Penrhosgarnedd, Bangor, Gwynedd, LL57 2DW, Wales
http://naturalresources.wales/?lang=en
 

Extent

Extent

Hyd
Geographic Extent
SIR BENFRO - PEMBROKESHIRE
Hyd
Geographic Extent
Wales (WLS)
N
W
E
S
Map representing the geographic extent of the dataset


 
 

Distribution

Dosbarthiad
Distribution

Fformat - Math a Disgrifiad
Format Type and Description
  • Database ( Unknown )

    Specification

    Species records on Welsh Invertebrate Database

  • Documents ( Unknown )

    Specification

    Report as pdf format

 

Quality

Ansawdd Data
Data quality

Cwmpas Ansawdd
Quality Scope
Dataset
Dataset
Cydymffurfiad
Conformity
Commission Regulation (EU) No 1089/2010 of 23 November 2010 implementing Directive 2007/2/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards interoperability of spatial data sets and services
Explanation

This dataset has not been assessed for conformance to the referenced INSPIRE regulation.
Degree
false
Lineage

Natural Resources Wales supplied an outline map identifying approximately 360 hectares of grassland and heathland considered capable of supporting marsh fritillary populations within the Castlemartin Training Area. Habitat surveys were undertaken using the standard NRW marsh fritillary habitat assessment methodology. Survey areas were classified into six habitat categories based on the presence and abundance of devil's-bit scabious Succisa pratensis, the principal larval foodplant of the marsh fritillary.


During habitat assessment, incidental records of marsh fritillary larval webs were collected where encountered. Due to time constraints, systematic transect surveys were not undertaken and these records should therefore be regarded as casual observations rather than comprehensive population data. Habitat quality assessments also considered vegetation structure, particularly the presence of tussocky swards, which provide shelter, overwintering habitat and spring basking sites for larvae and are characteristic of many Welsh marsh fritillary sites, especially on damp rhos pasture. Results were used to assess the extent, distribution and condition of habitat capable of supporting the Castlemartin marsh fritillary metapopulation.
 

Keywords

Allweddair
Keywords

GEMET - INSPIRE themes, version 1.0
Math
Type
Theme
Theme

Dyfyniad
Citation

Dyddiad (Cyhoeddiad)
Date (Publication)
2008-06-01
Code
geonetwork.thesaurus.external.theme.httpinspireeceuropaeutheme-theme

Allweddair
Keywords

NRW Thesaurus
  • marsh fritillary butterfly
  • eurodryas aurinia (Euphydryas aurinia)
Math
Type
Theme
Theme

Dyfyniad
Citation

Dyddiad (Cyhoeddiad)
Date (Publication)
2026-08-27
Code
geonetwork.thesaurus.local.theme.converted_nrw-keywords
 

Spatial Reference System

Code
British National Grid (EPSG::27700)
 

Content

Gwybodaeth Cynnwys
Content Information

Proffil CNC
NRW Profile

Elfennau CNC
Custom Elements

NRW Related Title

Assessment of marsh fritillary habitat quality on Castlemartin Range Pembrokshire in 2015
 

Constraints

Constraints

Limitations on Public Access and Use

Math o Gyfyngiad
Restriction type
Other restrictions
Other restrictions
 

Access Constraints Directive

Limitations
no limitations
 

Access Constraints Text

Other constraints

There are no access restrictions on this data. NRW may release, publish or disseminate it freely.
 

Use Constraints

Cyfyngiadau Defnyddio
Use constraints type
Other restrictions
Other restrictions
Other constraints

© CNC/NRW Data may be re-used under the terms of the Open Government Licence providing it is done so, acknowledging both the source and NRW's copyright. It is the recipient's responsibility to ensure the data is fit for the intended purpose.
 

Attribution Statement

Other constraints

Contains Natural Resources Wales information © Natural Resources Wales and Database Right. All rights Reserved.
 

Licence

Other constraints
Open Government Licence
 
 
 

Metadata

Metadata

Dynodydd Ffeil
File Identifier
4f4c4942-4343-5764-6473-313136343932 XML
Laith Metadata
Metadata Language
English
Math o adnodd
Resource type
Dataset
Dataset
Dyddiad Metadata
Metadata Date
2026-10-07T15:08:06.595Z
Enw Safonol Metadata
Metadata Standard Name
NRW
Fersiwn Metadata
Metadata Standard Version

1.0

Pwynt Cyswllt
pointOfContact
  Natural Resources Wales (NRW) -
Maes-y-Ffynnon, Penrhosgarnedd, Bangor, Gwynedd, LL57 2DW, Wales
http://naturalresources.wales/?lang=en
 
 

Publishing Body

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