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Yellow-striped Bear Spider found at Havergate Island
Near to Chillesford, at the edge of the Butley Creek branch of the Alde-Ore Estuary, there was barely a remnant of the previously healthy population at the investigated sites found in 2008.
On the other hand, along the southern edge of the Blyth Estuary, a healthy population of narrow-mouthed whorl snail was recorded in the transitional grassland where they were previously found in 2002. Interestingly, at this site the snail was recorded higher up the transition zone and further from the edge of the saltmarsh.
Despite a lack of more consistent monitoring of the populations of narrow-mouthed whorl snail on the Suffolk coast, this brief investigation indicated changes in the size and distribution of populations. There were reductions in populations within transitional grassland habitats particularly at the lower elevations, which suggests that the snail has been affected by the increasing frequency and magnitude of inundation.
This little snail cannot claim to be an ecosystem engineer or provide our coastlines with notable and quantifiable ecosystem services. However, it is part of fragile ecosystems on the Suffolk coastlines which are under pressure from rising sea levels and, in many places, a lack of adjacent habitat in which to take refuge. Work is on-going to establish the presence and extent of populations in estuary ‘hinterland’ which may become suitable for the snail in the future.
Yellow-striped Bear Spider found at Orford Ness
Duncan Allen
The Priority Species Yellow-striped Bear Spider Arctosa fulvolineata was found during a survey on Havergate Island in May 2013. During a night search, a single female was found on exposed shingle on the eastern shore of the island. The species is a saltmarsh specialist and has been recorded from Hampshire, north Kent, Essex, Suffolk and Norfolk.
