Colin Bull – BES, University of Stirling Talk provided for the annual Scottish Fisheries Co-ordination Centre Meeting. Held at the Scottish Centre for Ecology and the Natural Environment, Loch Lomond. 4th-5th Feb 2015

1. Colin Bull – BES, University of Stirling
1. PhD project: Linkages between riparian invasive
plants, hydromorphology and salmonid fish in Scottish
rivers
Alex Seeney*1, Colin Bull, Nigel
Willby, Philip Boon
alex.seeney@stir.ac.uk
Aims :
Identify the mechanisms underpinning changes in
channel morphology, macroinvertebrate and salmonid
populations and link these to the presence of RIPs where
applicable.
Identify the influence of RIPs on the abundance, age
structure and persistence of native juvenile salmonid
populations.
Outcomes:
Demonstrate linkages between RIP presence and suitable
habitat availability for salmonids.
Demonstrate effect on salmonid feeding, growth and
production
Inform future RIP removal treatment programmes.

2. Colin Bull – BES, University of Stirling
1. PhD project - Stream Site
Requirements
• Channels small enough to quantitatively electrofish
• Plentiful populations of Brown trout and Atlantic salmon, no
physical barriers to migration.
• Dense stands of Invasive plant species (Himalayan balsam or
Japanese knotweed) on banks
• Sites with past/current data sets would also be ideal.
• Ideally quite close to Stirling to minimise travel time / costs
alex.seeney@stir.ac.uk

3. Colin Bull – BES, University of Stirling
2. Refining the WFD 111 Riverine barrier
rapid assessment method : version 1.2
• The inclusion of an end-user friendly Excel spreadsheet for
inputting recorded values and output using traffic light system.
• Using I(Impassable), H (High impact), L (Low impact) and P
(Passable) to replace 1.0, 0.6, 0.3 and 0.0.
• Refining the guilds
• Modifications to the various recording tables to include gap sizes
and changes to recorded features of relevance.
• Changes to the Passability assessment tables to reflect updated
information on swimming competencies and feedback from experts
relating to passage across a variety of features and flow conditions.
• Currently in discussion with SEPA

4. Colin Bull – BES, University of Stirling
3. Lampreys : suck ‘em up and spit ‘em
out
• Calibration and testing of methods to sample
deep water riverine habitats = air lift sampler
and suction pump
• Drifting larvae sampling and non-lethal
identification methods for of sub 15mm TL
larvae