The Project Mission Statement is: To identify stag beetle key vulnerabilities in Richmond Park and surrounding areas, then target those that we can influence.

How we will do that: By working with local people and national experts to more clearly understand relationships between species and ecosystems to help ensure a sustainable environment for the stag beetle and associated saproxylic species.

What Quality Issues have been Identified: Data Acquisition (Consistency & Relevance) , Data Recording (Accuracy), Data Review (Automatic, Adaptable, Multilevel), Volunteer Commitment (Response to Reviews Questionnaire & Missed Attendance)

Ownership of Data: It was agreed that the data arising from the project would be owned by the project, that is, jointly by those contributing to it: the Royal Parks, Wimbledon Common, Royal Holloway University of London and local conservationists. Royal Holloway representatives expressed reservations as academic rules required original work for theses. After discussion it was agreed that data would be shared on the understanding that, those engaged in Ph.D. and similar work could ask that publication of specific aspects or conclusions arising from that work, be delayed until they had published it. The Steering Group should be sent detail of issue that require protection and these recorded in circulated notes like this set.

Preliminary List of variables required by Deborah Harvey: for any stag beetles found/trapped in Richmond Park & for Larvae For any larvae found : Wood in which they were found Depth below ground Location Total number of larvae found Any other species found with the larvae. Any evidence of adults present NO ANATOMICAL MEASUREMENTS AS I ASSUME THEY WILL BE PASSED ON TO ME AS AGREED (Agreed to pass on only where it was not clear if stags or lessers and on understanding they would be returned, in most cases after identification, to the Park to be returned to suitable nesting boxes in the area they were found.) Where this is not possible, a head capsule width and weight.

Adults i) Adults found outside traps: Sex of beetle Length of beetle (in the case of males both including and not including the length of the mandibles) Any signs of damage Location spotted What the beetle was doing Any recorded markings on the beetle ii) Beetles found inside traps : Markings on beetles Location of trap Whether beetle has been trapped before Sex of beetle Length of beetle as above Any damage to beetle as above iii) Corpses: Where possible, any part of whole specimens should be sent to me as soon immediately, wrapped in a piece of absorbent paper, such as kitchen roll. I have a method for determining whole beetle size from parts found, therefore any parts are useful Information regarding location etc of beetle parts is as above.

Quality of Training Volunteers

Should we issue certificates of training or simply keep records and should we have exams or require one person to decide if any have not reached the required standard?

Control of Sensitive Information

It is most important that detailed information about sites where beetles have been found is not released to the general public to limit the possibility of such release increasing the activities of collectors or people who might destroy them. Clearly, there is a balance to be struck in encouraging public awareness and support for dead wood species but maps and grid references should not be released.

Key Initial Information for volunteers