Saproxylic Quality Index

The Saproxylic Quality Index (Fowles, A.P., Alexander, K.N.A. & Key, R.S. 1999. The Saproxylic Quality Index: evaluating wooded habitats for the conservation of dead-wood Coleoptera. The Coleopterist, 8: 121-141) is a scoring system designed to assist with the evaluation of the conservation significance of wooded habitats in Great Britain for saproxylic Coleoptera. For this purpose saproxylic beetles were defined as species "dependent upon microhabitats associated largely with the processes of damage and decay in the bark and wood of trees and larger woody shrubs and climbers. This includes sap runs, fungal hyphae or fruiting bodies, rot holes, etc.". The Index is calculated against a standard list of 598* saproxylic species (published in Fowles et al., 1999) for which rarity scores, based on their known distribution, have been assigned. [*Note that these calculations exclude Anoplodera livida (Cerambycidae) which was included in the published list in error]. The sum of these rarity scores for a site list gives the Species Quality Score (SQS) and the Index (SQI) is derived by dividing SQS by the number of contributing species. SQI provides a method for reducing the bias of observer effort but is dependent upon surveys recording information on all saproxylic species, not just the rarer elements. A threshold of 40 qualifying species is required before SQI can be calculated to minimise the impact of recording a rare species in a small sample.

Ideally SQI should be calculated from recent site lists, but an appropriate period for collated inventories is considered to be post-1980. The list below has been compiled from published information and from site lists kindly contributed by many British coleopterists. However, in most cases the site lists do not distinguish between recent and historic data and, in the case of sites with a long history of recording, SQI may have declined below that presented. The IEC (Index of Ecological Continuity - see Harding, P.T. & Alexander, K.N.A. 1994. The use of saproxylic invertebrates in the selection and evaluation of areas of relic forest in pasture-woodlands. British Journal of Entomology and Natural History, 7: 21-26) is also presented for each site list. Links to regional rankings are presented below.

	SITE	REGION	SPP.	SQS	SQI	IEC	SURVEY DATES
1	NEW FOREST, HANTS.	SOUTH	326	2792	856.4	210	-2000
2	WINDSOR, BERKS.	SOUTH	364	3084	847.3	266	-1997
3	LANGLEY PARK, BUCKS.	SOUTH	125	947	757.6	103	1979-2006
4	RICHMOND PARK (post 1950), SURREY	SOUTH	254	1790	704.7	161	1950-2006
5	SILWOOD PARK, BERKS.	SOUTH	159	1090	685.5	103	1998-1999
6	MOCCAS PARK, HEREFS.	MID	241	1545	638.4	136	-1997
7	CROOME PARK, WORCS.	MID	111	692	623.4	64	1995-1997
8	LONGDON MARSH, WORCS.	MID	87	533	612.6	50	2000-2004
9	HATFIELD FOREST (Post 1980), ESSEX	SOUTH	174	1063	610.9	99	1986-2005
10	BREDON HILL, WORCS.	MID	274	1660	605.8	126	-2004
11	EPPING FOREST, ESSEX	SOUTH	256	1531	598	128	-1979
12	ABERNETHY FOREST, E. INVERNESS	SCOT	144	852	591.7	21	-1994
13	ASHTEAD COMMON, SURREY	SOUTH	221	1292	584.6	101	-1997
14	WIMPOLE ESTATE, CAMBS.	SOUTH	177	1019	575.7	86	1976-2007
15	SHERWOOD FOREST, NOTTS.	MID	166	935	563.3	105	1960-2003
16	COTSWOLD OAK, WORCS.	MID	74	416	562.2	42	1988-2004
17	SHRUBLAND ESTATE, E. SUFFOLK	SOUTH	77	429	557.1	34	1975-2005
18	VIRGINIA WATER, BERKS.	SOUTH	73	404	553.4	54	2002-2003
19	ARUNDEL PARK, W. SUSSEX	SOUTH	131	710	542	62	-1999
20	BOOKHAM COMMON (Total), SURREY	SOUTH	210	1136	541	88	-2001
21	ICKLINGHAM PLAINS, W. SUFFOLK	SOUTH	77	416	540.3	34	1976-97
22	KEMERTON ESTATE, WORCS.	MID	196	1049	535.2	76	-2004
23	MONKS WOOD NNR (Total), HUNTS.	MID	221	1180	533.9	84	-2003
24	BOX HILL, SURREY	SOUTH	226	1193	527.9	76	-1997
25	ESHER COMMONS (Total), SURREY	SOUTH	236	1245	527.5	98	-2002
26	MONKS WOOD NNR (post 1950), HUNTS.	MID	215	1114	518.1	72	1953-2003
27	BLACK WOOD OF RANNOCH, MID PERTH	SCOT	75	385	513.3	10	-1990
28	FOREST OF BERE, HANTS.	SOUTH	109	551	505.5	46	-1975
29	HATCHLANDS PARK, SURREY	SOUTH	165	831	503.6	86	1998-2001
30	PARHAM PARK (Post 1980), W. SUSSEX	SOUTH	63	314	498.4	32	1983-1996
31	BOOKHAM COMMON (Post 1980), SURREY	SOUTH	177	881	497.7	76	1980-2001
32	ICKWORTH PARK, WEST SUFFOLK	SOUTH	114	567	497.4	47	1986-2004
33	PIPERS HILL, WORCS.	MID	43	212	493	79	2003
34	PAMBER FOREST & SILCHESTER COMMON, HANTS.	SOUTH	54	266	492.6	29	1988-2005
35	MERSHAM HATCH ESTATE, KENT	SOUTH	115	562	488.7	48	??-1998
36	LULLINGSTONE PARK, KENT	SOUTH	105	511	486.7	52	-1977
37	SAVERNAKE FOREST, WILTSHIRE	S-WEST	111	538	484.7	59	-2004
38	STAVERTON PARK, SUFFOLK	SOUTH	106	502	473.6	48	1956-1986
39	CLUMBER PARK, NOTTS.	MID	153	708	462.8	85	1991-2005
40	CALKE PARK, DERBYS.	MID	167	768	459.9	77	1984-2004
41	STANFORD PTA, NORFOLK	SOUTH	159	722	454.1	66	1980-2005
42	DONINGTON PARK, LEICS.	MID	80	358	447.5	43	1983-1991
43	BUDDON WOOD (Total), LEICS.	MID	125	556	444.8	47	-1998
44	HAINAULT FOREST, S. ESSEX	SOUTH	95	422	444.2	47	1970-2007
45	DUNCOMBE PARK NNR, YORKS.	NORTH	96	423	440.6	39	??-2000
46	FOREST OF DEAN, GLOUCS.	MID	89	390	439.2	31	1965-1998
47	PETWORTH PARK, W. SUSSEX	SOUTH	142	621	437.3	56	1988-2002
48	GLEN AFFRIC	SCOT	69	301	436.2	10	2004-05
49	SYDENHAM HILL & DULWICH WOODS, SURREY	SOUTH	53	229	430.1	23	1993-200
50	WICKEN FEN, CAMBS.	SOUTH	96	412	429.7	19	1978-2007
51	LANGLEY WOOD, WILTS.	S-WEST	68	292	429.4	30	1980-2005
52	BUXTED PARK, W. SUSSEX	SOUTH	136	572	420.6	43	1971-1998
53	PANSHANGER PARK (Total), HERTS,	SOUTH	65	271	416.9	26	1951-2004
54	SWANTON NOVERS, NORFOLK	SOUTH	80	333	416.3	30	1981-2006
55	CHIDDINGFOLD WOODS, SURREY	SOUTH	165	686	415.8	54	1900-2003
56	HIGHGATE WOOD, MIDDLESEX	SOUTH	108	445	412	40	1998-2001
57	THURSLEY COMMON NNR, SURREY	SOUTH	124	505	407.3	40	1990-2000
58	PANSHANGER PARK (Post 1980), HERTS.	SOUTH	56	228	407.1	23	1980-2004
59	COBHAM PARK, KENT	SOUTH	89	361	405.6	42	1998
60	OYSTER WOOD, SURREY	SOUTH	117	474	405.1	23	1989-1992
61	ESHER COMMONS (post 1980), SURREY	SOUTH	173	699	404.5	70	1980-2002
62	KEDLESTON PARK, DERBYS.	MID	144	580	402.8	59	1987-2004
63	GIBSIDE, NORTHUMBERLAND	NORTH	84	331	394	15	-1992
64	ASHRIDGE ESTATE, HERTS.	SOUTH	93	366	393.6	45	1992-1999
65	BLICKLING PARK, E. NORFOLK	SOUTH	44	173	393.2	21	1982-2005
66	STUDLEY PARK, YORKS.	NORTH	41	160	390.2	14	1991
67	GRIMSTHORPE PARK, LINCS.	MID	99	384	387.9	39	-1998
68	POWIS CASTLE, MONTS.	WALES	172	667	387.8	65	1990-1998
69	GREAT RIDGE, WILTSHIRE	S-WEST	47	182	387.2	16	1980-2204
70	RYTON/WAPPENBURY, WARWKS.	MID	68	263	386.8	19	??-1999
71	BRADGATE PARK (Post 1980), LEICS.	MID	56	216	385.7	20	1980-1998
72	BEDFORD PURLIEUS NNR	MID	68	262	385.3	17	1970-1995
73	CENTRAL LINCS. LIMEWOODS	MID	123	473	384.6	20	-1998
74	CHIRK CASTLE, DENBIGHS.	WALES	174	665	382.2	68	1993-2003
75	BOWCASTLE FARM ORCHARDS, WORCS.	MID	50	191	382.0	10	2005
76	DINEFWR ESTATE, CARMS.	WALES	157	598	380.9	59	1986-2002
77	TRENT VALLEY, NOTTS.	MID	82	311	379.3	26	1997-2007
78	FELBRIGG GT. WOOD, E. NORFOLK	SOUTH	116	438	377.6	45	1982-2003
79	ST. FAGAN'S, GLAM.	WALES	60	226	376.7	15	1994-1998
80	NUPEND WOOD, HEREFS.	MID	46	173	376.1	16	2002-2003
81	GROVELY WOOD, WILTSHIRE	S-WEST	108	406	375.9	41	1980-2004
82	BLACKMOOR COPSE, WILTS.	S-WEST	60	223	371.7	20	1994-2005
83	ATTINGHAM PARK, SALOP	MID	88	324	368.2	34	1985-1991
84	HARDWICK PARK, DERBYS,/NOTTS.	MID	116	426	367.2	42	1984-2004
85	BRAMSHOTT COMMON & CHASE, HANTS.	SOUTH	120	439	365.8	39	-2002
86	BRAMSHOTT CHASE, SURREY	SOUTH	139	508	365.5	45	1998-2003
87	CRANBORNE CHASE, WILTSHIRE	S-WEST	45	163	362.2	10	1994-2004
88	RIVER SOAR, LEICS.	MID	67	242	361.2	12	1983-1998
89	SHORT & STANDISH WOODS, GLOUCS.	MID	46	166	360.9	19	1985-2002
90	ASH RANGES, SURREY	SOUTH	122	440	360.7	39	1997-2003
91	BRADGATE PARK (Total), LEICS.	MID	85	306	360	25	-1998
92	CARN GAFALLT, RADNOR	WALES	58	207	356.9	15	1986-2004
93	DOWNHAM WALK, WEST KENT	SOUTH	46	163	354.4	18	1999-2002
94	BROWNSEA ISLAND NT, DORSET	S-WEST	42	147	350	8	2005-2007
95	KENNET FLOODPLAIN, BERKS.	SOUTH	125	434	347.2	28	2003
96	CLYTHA PARK, MONMS.	WALES	49	170	346.9	17	2002
97	RYTON WOOD, WARWKS.	MID	55	190	345.5	15	??-1999
98	ROTHERFIELD PARK, HANTS.	SOUTH	121	416	343.8	35	2002
99	CHETWYND PARK, SALOP	MID	51	175	343.1	23	1988
100	ERIDGE PARK, EAST SUSSEX	SOUTH	81	277	342	31	1984-1993
101	LLANOVER PARK, MONMS.	WALES	119	407	342	41	1994-1996
102	SHORT WOOD, NORTHANTS.	MID	93	318	342	15	1975-1998
103	DEVENISH RESERVE, WILTSHIRE	S-WEST	75	256	341.3	18	1994-2004
104	PIERCEFIELD PARK, MONMS.	WALES	44	149	338.9	15	1994-1999
105	DUNSTER DEER PARK, SOM.	S-WEST	43	144	334.9	20	1995-1998
106	DUNHAM PARK (POST 1950), CHESHIRE	MID	94	314	334	35	1950-1977
107	HAREWOOD FOREST, HANTS.	SOUTH	64	213	332.8	24	-1975
108	LONGLEAT, WILTSHIRE	S-WEST	46	153	332.6	17	1994-2004
109	WOOLMER FOREST, N. HANTS	SOUTH	97	322	332	28	1950-2003
110	BLEAN WOODS COMPLEX, KENT	SOUTH	51	169	331.4	14	1965-1991
111	NETTLECOMBE PARK, SOM.	S-WEST	43	141	327.9	23	1988-1990
112	ALLT-YR-ESGAIR, BRECS.	WALES	58	190	327.6	19	1996-1998
113	BUDDON WOOD (Post 1980), LEICS.	MID	80	261	326.3	21	1983-1998
114	SCADBURY PARK, WEST KENT	SOUTH	71	230	323.9	21	-1984
115	WHITE ROCKS, HEREFS.	MID	44	141	320.5	9	2002-2003
116	ASHTON COURT, SOM.	S-WEST	80	255	318.8	27	1991-2001
117	BENTLEY PARK WOOD, WARWKS.	MID	63	198	314.2	17	1994-1998
118	ERDDIG, DENBIGHS.	WALES	68	213	313.2	19	1990-2002
119	HYLANDS PARK, ESSEX	SOUTH	61	191	313.1	14	2000-03
120	DUNHAM MASSEY, CHESHIRE	MID	85	266	313	27	1992
121	BROCTON COPPICE, STAFFS.	MID	89	277	311.2	32
122	CIRENCESTER PARK, GLOUCS.	MID	76	235	309.2	32	1980-1995
123	ASHENBANK WOOD, KENT	SOUTH	58	179	308.6	17	1998
124	BRILLEY GREEN DINGLE, HEREFS.	MID	62	191	308.6	16	2002-2003
125	CLAY VALLETT WOOD, HEREFS.	MID	60	182	308.5	16	2002-2003
126	HENWOOD/CHAPPETTS COPSE, HANTS.	SOUTH	68	208	305.8	15	-2002
127	SANDALL BEAT, YORKS.	NORTH	64	194	303.1	14	-2000
128	LAWN/TORTOISESHELL WOODS, LINCS.	MID	49	148	302	13	-1998
129	THORNE MOORS, YORKS,/LINCS.	MID	86	256	297.7	21	-1985
130	OAKWOOD PASTURES, STAFFS.	MID	69	205	297.1	19
131	CROFT CASTLE, HEREFS.	MID	62	178	287.1	21	1991
132	BURLEY WOOD, LEICS.	MID	73	209	286.3	18	??-1998
133	COED GWAENYDD BACH, GLAM.	WALES	43	123	286	19	1986-1994
134	LEA & PAGETS WOOD, HEREFS.	MID	55	157	285.4	2	2002-03
135	PILTON WOOD, N. DEVON	S-WEST	43	121	281.4	10	1980-1999
136	STOUR FLOODPLAIN, DORSET	S-WEST	49	136	277.6	8	2002
137	CROXTON PARK, LEICS.	MID	52	144	276.9	14	??-1998
138	THE OAKS, KINGSTON LACY, DORSET	S-WEST	72	199	276.4	11	2000-2001
139	DULVERTON WOODS, SOM.	S-WEST	52	142	273.1	13	1995-2002
140	OLD CILGWYN, CARDS.	WALES	65	173	266.2	15	1988-1997
141	TILE HILL WOOD, WARWKS.	MID	92	244	265.2	??	??-1999
142	NORTON PRIORY, WEST SUSSEX	SOUTH	54	143	264.8	5	2003
143	COOMBE ABBEY COUNTRY PARK, WARWKS.	MID	51	133	260.8	??	??-1999
144	SUTTON PARK, WARWKS.	MID	66	172	260.6	14	1904-98
145	PARC PONT-FAEN, CARDS.	WALES	46	118	256.5	12	1992-2002
146	SNELSMORE COMMON, BERKS.	SOUTH	72	184	255.6	15	2003
147	SANDWELL VALLEY CP, STAFFS.	MID	50	126	252	12	1982-2001
148	PARC NANTEOS, CARDS.	WALES	46	115	250	10	1991-1994
149	BEDWYN BRAIL, WILTSHIRE	S-WEST	40	98	245	5	2000-2004
150	SHARPENHOE NT, BEDS.	SOUTH	41	98	239	9	1986-2005
151	GREGYNOG, MONTS.	WALES	71	168	236.6	16	1987-1994
152	LOCKHAUGH BANK, DURHAM	NORTH	46	106	230.4	3	1990
153	RUG, MERIONETH.	WALES	48	108	225	6	-1994
154	ULVERSCROFT, LEICS.	MID	47	105	223.4	12	1983-1998
155	COED NANT LLOLWYN, CARDS.	WALES	47	102	217.5	5	1987-1991
156	SUTTON PARK, WARWKS.	MID	42	90	214.3	7	1993-98
157	MELTON WOOD, YORKS.	NORTH	49	95	193.9	5	??-2000

Biogeographical differences in species composition make it less meaningful to compare the quality of sites from different parts of the country. Evaluation should ideally be considered on a regional scale, but this will require the submission of many more site lists before SQI can be used effectively at regional level throughout the country. However, information continues to be collated from across Britain and for central and southern England there are now 53 & 59 sites assessed, respectively. Fewer sites in western and northern Britain have been assessed (3 in Scotland, 6 in northern England, 17 in south-west England and 17 in Wales) and information from these areas would be especially welcome.

To add sites to this list, or to update information for sites presented above, please send details to a.fowles@btinternet.com. A spreadsheet for automatically calculating site data (as an Excel file) can be downloaded here 2SAPEVAL.xls. A provisional list of beetle species associated with Exposed Riverine Sediments (ERS) can be found at http://thasos.users.btopenworld.com/ersqi.htm.