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The Predatory Bird Monitoring Scheme (PBMS) is a long term (>40 y), UK-wide, exposure monitoring scheme that determines the concentration of selected pesticides and pollutants in the livers and eggs of predatory birds. This paper describes how the PBMS works, and in particular highlights some of the key scientific and policy drivers for monitoring contaminants in predatory birds and describes the specific aims, scope, and methods of the PBMS. We also present previously unpublished data that illustrates how the PBMS has been used to demonstrate the success of mitigation measures in reversing chemical-mediated impacts; identify and evaluate chemical threats to species of high conservation value; and finally to inform and refine monitoring methodologies. In addition, we discuss how such schemes can also address wider conservation needs.

The body temperature (T ) of free-living alpine marmots rose with activity; the higher the effective environmental temperature (T), the higher the rise. Maximum T of 40° C was reached at the time of greatest activity in late afternoon or evening. The activity pattern was strongly influenced by the microclimate. Up to an Tof 25° C the animals spent more time above ground and were more active the higher T was, but above 25° C this trend was reversed, and the animals withdrew increasingly into their burrows. On warm days the activity pattern was therefore bimodal and above ground presence was reduced, in contrast to cool days. Hence behavioural thermoregulation limits the available time for above ground activity on days with high Tin this strictly diurnal species. We suggest that the alpine marmots' preference for south oriented slopes is due to the better conditions for hibernation there, the microclimate during summer is more favourable on northerly slopes. Thermoregulatory constraints could also keep alpine marmots away from lower elevations.

Article (refereed) -postprintBroughton, Richard K.; Shore, Richard F.; Heard, Matthew S.; Amy, Sam R.; Meek, William R.; Redhead, John W.; Turk, Anthony; Pywell, Richard F. 2014. Agri-environment scheme enhances small mammal diversity and abundance at the farm-scale.Contact CEH NORA team at noraceh@ceh.ac.ukThe NERC and CEH trademarks and logos ('the Trademarks') are registered trademarks of NERC in the UK and other countries, and may not be used without the prior written consent of the Trademark owner. of cropped land was converted to wildlife habitats. Results were compared with those from field margins on a second, experimental treatment (ELS Extra: ELSX) in which 5% of cropped land was taken out of production, and also field margins on a conventionally-farmed control treatment ('cross compliance': CC). Species richness and abundance of small mammals showed a significant increase on all treatments in spring and autumn. Many increases were greater on ELS and ELSX field margins compared to the CC controls, but there was little evidence that ELSX was more beneficial than ELS, and there were speciesspecific differences. Voles were not detected on any treatment in the initial sampling period but bank voles Myodes glareolus rapidly became abundant thereafter, particularly on ELS and ELSX field margins, and field voles Microtus agrestis also colonised. Wood miceApodemus sylvaticus were present on all treatments in all sampling periods, but spring abundance declined as vole abundance increased.These results suggest that the Entry Level Scheme tier of the English agri-environment scheme is effective in enhancing small mammal communities on arable farmland, with potential benefits for higher trophic levels via their predators.

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