The Kent Reptile and Amphibian Group database now holds over 17,500 records. The records are being used to identify important herpetofauna sites across the county. Over the past year, KRAG has used the database to help it identify and designate...
The Kent Reptile and Amphibian Group database now holds over 17,500 records. The records are being used to identify important herpetofauna sites across the county. Over the past year, KRAG has used the database to help it identify and designate 25 Key Amphibian Sites and 30 Key Reptile Sites.
KRAG are also able to undertake database search requests for those organisations and individuals who need access to this important information. Calumma Ecological Services now manages the database on behalf of KRAG. In recent weeks the database has been significantly updated so that searches can be undertaken more efficiently. Although a small charge is applied to each search, all proceeds go directly to KRAG and help to cover the group's running costs. Any surplus funds are channelled directly into KRAG's conservation activities.
Database search fees are rather modest. Standard fees are £60, with a 10% reduction available to Corporate Members. Conservation and educational organisations are able to request searches completely free of charge.
Calumma Ecological Services has produced a database search request form that can be downloaded as a pdf. The form can be completed within any pdf reader application (such as Adobe Acrobat or OS X Preview) and then emailed to Brionny for rapid processing. The form will soon be available on the KRAG and Calumma websites. In the meantime it can be downloaded from the following link:
As well as producing lists of species observations, the database also generates a summary. This can be particularly useful for listing all species recorded within any given area of search and for identifying the closest recorded great crested newt and reptile location (even if no records exist within the immediate area). See image below for an example.
The distance and direction information is also included in the record list. This data is particularly valuable in determining the relevance of specific observations. An example of the redesigned record list is shown below:
Any sites that appear in bold are Key Sites. In the example above Ham Street Woods is highlighted. Ham Street Woods has been designated a Key Amphibian Site.