It’s been a long time since I last posted any blogs! From now on, I intend to write something on here every month or so. I think that’s a realistic target for the new year.
Two years ago at the start of 2019, I decided to set myself a target for each pan-species listing taxon for the upcoming year. I think I failed to reach about as many targets as I reached, but my overall species increase was about as predicted! In setting these targets, I am essentially trying to predict my own interests for the next year, which can be quite difficult! For some groups (Beetles, maybe Vascular Plants, etc.) I feel that I’m fairly likely to achieve my targets, but with many other taxa, my focus shifts and intensifies depending on season, geographical location, and whatever piques my interest at the time.
So, without expectation that I will reach many, here are my PSL targets for 2021. I’ll be trying to add at least 1 species per group, except for Reptiles and Amphibians. I’m moving to the Highlands in the near future for most of the year, so I won’t be seeing any new species in those two taxa!
| Group | 2021 Start | 2021 Target |
| Algae | 86 | 90 |
| Slime Moulds | 3 | 4 |
| Protists | 0 | 1 |
| Lichens | 128 | 150 |
| Fungi | 366 | 400 |
| Bryophytes | 351 | 400 |
| Vascular Plants | 1247 | 1300 |
| Sponges | 6 | 7 |
| Comb-jellies | 2 | 3 |
| Cnidarians | 17 | 18 |
| Molluscs | 133 | 140 |
| Bryozoans | 7 | 8 |
| Annelid Worms | 24 | 25 |
| Platyhelminth Worms | 4 | 5 |
| Sea-spiders | 1 | 2 |
| Arachnids | 205 | 230 |
| Myriapods | 61 | 63 |
| Crustaceans | 71 | 75 |
| Springtails etc. | 37 | 55 |
| 3-tailed Bristletails | 3 | 4 |
| Odonata | 38 | 40 |
| Orthopteroids | 26 | 27 |
| Hemipteroids | 456 | 500 |
| Hymenoptera | 256 | 275 |
| Coleoptera | 1111 | 1300 |
| Diptera | 377 | 450 |
| Butterflies | 45 | 46 |
| Moths | 846 | 900 |
| Remaining Insect Orders | 80 | 90 |
| Echinoderms | 10 | 11 |
| Tunicates | 3 | 4 |
| Fish | 59 | 60 |
| Reptiles | 6 | 6 |
| Amphibians | 7 | 7 |
| Birds | 315 | 320 |
| Mammals | 44 | 45 |
| Other Animals | 1 | 2 |
| Overall | 6432 | 7056 |
I find it hard to gauge whether moving to the Highlands will be beneficial for my PSL or not. On one hand, there are many specialist species I haven’t seen, in habitats I’ve only spent one previous year exploring. On the other hand, the invertebrate season is short, with many species occurring at very low densities. I also want to expand my Sphagnum knowledge, and continue photographing the relatively few species I haven’t yet come across. This won’t add many new species, and will take a lot of time! There will be some fairly serious hiking involved in tracking down some of the bog-moss species I’ve yet to see.
Anyway, here’s to 2021 being a better year…
Calum Urquhart Ecology 