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Alderney's key habitats and species identified

News imagePA Media Three puffins stood next to each other looking off to the right. They all have an orange tip on their beaks, and are white and black.PA Media
The list mentions species, including puffins, and habitats in Alderney that are important to the island and its waters

A wildlife trust has published its first list of key habitats and species as part of a nature project.

Alderney Wildlife Trustpublished the list to highlight important species and habitats for the island and its waters.

The list - created by drawing on global and regional conservation lists, long-term biological records and feedback from the local community - mentions those that are either valuable, vulnerable or harmful.

Dr Tara Cox, senior ecologist at the trust, said the list would help shape "where to direct our effort, resources and monitoring and work together to look after Alderney's nature for the future".

The trust said the list would be used to guide an ecological survey programme that would help track changes in species populations and habitat conditions over time.

A spokesperson said it would also help inform the management of Alderney's nature reserves to identify conservation priorities and key pressures.

News imagePA Media A gannet with a piece of seaweed in its mouth in mid-flight.PA Media
Gannets live on a rock off Alderney from February to September

The list is part of the wider Alderney State of Nature project, a three-year initiative funded by the Social Investment Fund Guernsey.

The Very Reverend Tim Barker, Social Investment Fund chair, said the fund "places great emphasis on the impact that our grants make".

He said: "It's clear that the work we have supported will have a long-lasting legacy for conservation management in Alderney."

The trust said "the next phase of the project will assess patterns of change in the key habitats and species identified, and whether they are currently in favourable conservation status".

News imageAlderney Wildlife Trust A grey seal on a rock it has slightly lighter markings on its chest and neck, its head is looking to the right. There is an ocean behind it.Alderney Wildlife Trust
Seals are on the list of species in Alderney

What is included in the list?

The list includes animal and plant species identified as key for Alderney. Here are a few mentioned:

  • Birds such as the Atlantic puffin, Dartford warbler and northern gannet
  • Fish like the European plaice, lesser sand eel and tope
  • Reptiles and amphibians like the common frog and the slow worm
  • Marine invertibrates including the brown crab, European spiny lobster and the green ormer
  • Marine mammals such as the common bottlenose dolphin and the grey seal

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