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Bracken use

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Vanderklam View Drop Down
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    Posted: 06 Jun 2011 at 8:53pm
Hi all,
 
I am currently in the process of writing an article regarding the use of bracken by adders as a basking medium, yet can't for the life of me recall any previous evidence of this among other published studies. Does anybody have any recollections of such a paper? Even if it concerns other species?
 
 
Happy Herping Big smile
 
Vanderklam
Kevin Palmer

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AGILIS View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote AGILIS Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 07 Jun 2011 at 12:11pm
Perhaps the adders name should be changed to the bracken snake as its coat denotes keith
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Paul Hudson View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Paul Hudson Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 07 Jun 2011 at 2:26pm
A local adder hibernacula that became devoid of bracken also lost its adders!
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Robert V View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Robert V Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 09 Jun 2011 at 1:42pm
I don't think there can be many more uplifting sights than walking along a well trodden track in waist high bracken and seeing a plump female Adder curled up right in the middle of the path. Braken, much maligned and under rated. I've seen more slow worms in bracken than in any other surrounding.
 
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Vanderklam View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Vanderklam Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 09 Jun 2011 at 9:12pm
I know what you mean Rob, coming acrosss such a site is always aa welcoming one.
 
 
Kevin Palmer

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Suzy View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Suzy Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 09 Jun 2011 at 9:45pm
I think we've had a thread on this haven't we? I seem to remember I quoted Tony Phelps and I felt that their markings were so bracken-like it was no coincidence.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote GemmaJF Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 09 Jun 2011 at 10:27pm

One of the core issues to get across to land managers is the importance of bracken to reptiles though, so many seem entrenched with the idea that bracken is bad. When it has been there for many years and there are thick layers it is reptile heaven.
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Chris Monk View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Chris Monk Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 09 Jun 2011 at 11:42pm
We seem to be getting that message about bracken across to the land managers of the new Eastern Moors Partnership that has taken over the moorland from the Peak Park, where it is an important for hibernation sites and also gives the adders good cover during the summer.
At the public meetings last year about the proposals for management from the new Partnership there was a lot of antagonism from members of the public towards bracken, demanding that measures be taken to eradicate it. We did have support from the RSPB (lead partners in the partnership) who want it kept for the stonechats and other birds, from the previous site staff who said it hadn't increased in extent on the main moorland areas in the last 30 years and from the archaeologists who said pollen samples from prehistoric to early medieval sites on the moors had bracken spores present showing that it was an important component of the landscape centuries ago.
Unfortunately Kevin I don't know of any scientific papers that you could use/quote, although I expect there must be something out there.
Chris

Derbyshire Amphibian & Reptile Group

www.derbyshirearg.co.uk

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Vanderklam View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Vanderklam Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 11 Jun 2011 at 5:32pm
Hi Chris,
 
It appears to be one of these concepts that are becoming more widely acknowledged, but with little published scientific evidence to support it. I suspect this will be a job for one of my dissertation students this coming year!!! Big smile
 
Best
 
K
Kevin Palmer

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