Marine Recording
NATIONAL MARINE RECORDER: JANICE LIGHT Ph.D.
Contact address: 88 Peperharow Road Godalming Surrey GU7 2PN
Email:
I joined the Conchological Society of Great Britain & Ireland in 1981 and took up the post of Marine Recorder in 1991. I have served a term as President of the Society.
Background to Recording:
Marine mollusc recording in the Society began in the 1920s with the foundation by Ronald Winckworth of a basemap for the British Isles and surrounding waters, divided into Census Areas. These remain the administrative areas for the recording scheme to the present day. Since its inception the Census Area system has evolved through two distributional atlases to encompass the continental European coast. The current area for distributional mapping consists of 52 Sea Areas with records for ca. 750 marine mollusc species.
A large archive of records exists, some of which have been entered into a computer database in Recorder 6. Many more await input.
Why Record?
Why do we gather molluscs records? Nowadays, amongst many, three motives might be curiosity, conservation interest, or research. Whatever the driving force, the data generated are important for supporting conservation biology and environmental management. It is part of the Society’s policy that the data for which it is custodian should be released (with the permission of the originator of such data) and made freely available, except species that may be subject to commercial exploitation. A copy of the Society’s marine database is also held by the NBN where records are available on the Internet to download via the NBN Gateway.
What to Record?
For records to be of use certain details are essential: species identification, full name of locality, lat/long coordinates or grid reference, live or dead status, date of collection and the name of the recorder. Other useful information includes abundance, additional notes on shore type, habitat, associated species, state of the tide – anything that seems to enhance the value of the record.
How to submit records
These can be sent in using the Society’s bespoke marine recording cards (available on request), or in other formats including electronic ones. Please consult us beforehand if you are considering using an electronic spreadsheet template so we can recommend a compatible format. The current card is undergoing modification and reprinting. It is intended to place an electronic version of the new card on this website in the future.
Depending on the experience and knowledge of the person recording it may be necessary to check records against specimens, either live or dead shells. Whilst the indiscriminate collection of living molluscs is not desirable, there are species which prove difficult for some workers to identify accurately. These may need to be submitted to the Marine Recorder who will either confirm them herself, or send them, with the recorder’s permission, to an acknowledged specialist in that molluscan group. If in doubt, it is better, if possible, to collect a small number of adults or a single specimen if few individuals are evident and get them correctly identified rather than, tentatively, name then wrongly. Dead shells in good condition can also be checked.
Posting material for checking.
PLEASE NOTE - It is an offence to send live material by post, all material should be preserved and/or dried prior to posting. The Conchological Society of Great Britain & Ireland does not accept responsibility if an offence is committed.
Dead shells may be sent within the UK without restrictions. However ensure specimens are dry and odour-free.
- Please make contact prior to sending any material to ensure that it can be received without any undue delay.
- Due to the high cost of postage, senders may be asked to reimburse return postage costs. The easiest method is to enclose some postage stamps when submitting the material.
- If appropriate the Marine Recorder may wish to send the specimens to a specialist for a second opinion. Permission from the originator will be sought before this is done.
Selection of literature which may help in Identification
Photos of members at a marine recording field meeting