We have also been obtaining species group atlases e.g., seed and leaf beetle which is now out of print and thus difficult to find. These books give additional details on a species such as their distribution via a map, habitat requirements, host plants, life cycle, parasitoids and parasites as well as predators when known. The distribution of a species is always checked against the NBN atlas or other known and trusted web sites giving up to date distribution maps as their distribution can change quite quickly.
These books are held within the office, but for some of the more important works, especially those used in the identification of species, individual invertebrate ecologists may often have their own copy at home. We’re lucky to have a superb second hand bookshop just round the corner in Cromford (Scarthin Books) to help us source rare or out of print volumes.
This year we have also added a few books on various habitat types – habitat creation and management where invertebrates are included or are the main aim at either stabilising and/or increasing their populations.
Without accurate identification of an invertebrate species and then finding out about its habitat requirements and hosts plants etc. it is difficult to make the appropriate management recommendations to enable the invertebrate to thrive.
Together, these resources play an essential role in supporting the quality and reliability of our work. By continually expanding and updating our reference library, our invertebrate specialists ensure they have access to the most comprehensive information available when identifying species and assessing their ecological requirements. This not only strengthens the accuracy of our surveys but also helps us provide well-informed, practical management recommendations that support the conservation and enhancement of invertebrate populations and the habitats they depend on.
The Baker Consultants team is highly experienced and we are passionate about what we do. If you need advice related to ecology, surveys or conservation, then please get in touch with us via our contact form on the website, or you can call us on +44 (0)1629 593958 or email us on info@bakerconsultants.co.uk.