: Casgliadau ac Ymchwil

The Recolonisation of Invertebrates on Restored Grassland:

I’m Alyson, a Professional Training Year placement year student from Cardiff University (School of Biosciences), currently working within the Entomology department at National Museum Cardiff under the supervision of Dr Michael R Wilson (researchgate.net). My interest in ecology, conservation and zoology ultimately led me here, and with no prior specialist knowledge in entomology (the study of insects) I jumped in at the deep end. Within a few months I was sampling in the field and identifying leaf- and planthopper species from Ffos-y-Fran (an open cast colliery site near Merthyr Tydfil). This  is currently undergoing the process of restoration so that it is converted from a colliery site to reseeded grassland.

Identifying and analysing over four years of invertebrate samples, involved looking at 195 samples.  This took a fair amount of time but allows the rate of recolonisation over a 5-year period, total species diversity, richness, and population dynamics within the fields across the years and seasons to be calculated. Leaf- and planthoppers (Hemiptera: Auchenorrhyncha) were chosen as models within this study as they are frequently common within grassland environments and can be used as an indicator of recolonisation progress on man-restored environments and ex-colliery spoil sites. Colliery sites are a common landscape visible across the UK, especially in the south Wales valleys. Their ecological importance and possible biodiversity are often overlooked, however work by Liam Olds (formerly Natural Talent apprentice at Amgueddfa Cymru), continues to highlight this through the Colliery Spoil Biodiversity Initiative (https://www.collieryspoil.com/about).

I am currently in the process of analysing this huge data set and creating a report to show the findings. However, in summary, the data has shown a trend of increasing diversity of hopper species within the field since it was reseeded. In total, 33 species were identified from the site – highlighting the ecological importance these habitats hold. Interestingly, grassland species generally uncommon to the area such as the planthopper Xanthodelphax flaveola and the leafhopper Anoscopus histrionicus, were abundant across the site leading to interesting discussion points as to why this environment encourages their colonisation. Other observations and discussions have also arisen from different wing-morphologies (shapes) seen in specimens of the same species. For example, the discovery of long-winged females of Doratura impudica, which are commonly a brachypterous species (short or rudimentary wings) encourages thought on arrival and colonisation methods of certain species, which could potentially help analyse other environments under recolonisation and ‘rewilding’ programmes. 

Studying the recolonisation of hoppers at Ffos-y-Fran has allowed me to develop and gain numerous skills which I will take with me into my final year of university and beyond. Not only have I been able to improve on existing skills such as report writing and data analysis, but I’ve also had the opportunity to gain new skills such as invertebrate identification, mounting specimens and taxonomical drawing. I’ve also had the chance to use the Scanning Electron Microscopy and sputter coating, and I have also used the imaging equipment at National Museum Cardiff to create a ‘species guide’ of the 33 observed at Ffos-y-Fran to supplement the report and provide a visual aid. Within my first few months at the museum, I was also able to get involved in a data collection project run by Dr Alan Stewart (University of Sussex), analysing specimens within the Auchenorrhyncha collections to create spreadsheets for the eventual creation of species distribution maps as part of the UK Mapping scheme for this insect group. There are so many opportunities and experiences to be had within the museum!

My time with Amgueddfa Cymru has been amazing, conducting research and joining the Natural Sciences team, and has solidified my desire to pursue a career in research. I believe my placement has given me a great start for a future career with the skills I’ve gained and developed through my work on Ffos-y-Fran and my secondary research project. The second project I am currently working on in collaboration with Dr Mike Wilson will provide an up-to-date redescription and description of new species of Fijian spittlebugs with the aim of publication of my first peer-reviewed scientific paper. Watch this space to find out more on the latter project …. 

As a Biological Sciences student I am very familiar with the concept of classification and evolution, having been taught about it from primary school level. The idea of using a filing system to organise species became common place at secondary school level. Constantly reciting the Linnean system and its eight levels of taxa (domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, family, genus, and species) for exams and coming up with rhymes and mnemonics to remember it in class. 

Due to this I was vaguely familiar with taxonomy, I knew what it was and why it was important, as I describe below. However, we never truly explored taxonomy in any great detail, especially in a modern context, and so I never thought about it as a career many still do today. That was until February of 2020 when I was searching for placement opportunities for my Professional Training Year as a part of my degree at Cardiff University, and I came across an opportunity to undertake at National Museum Cardiff exploring taxonomy. I now have a much greater understanding of taxonomy’s importance and unfortunately the crisis it might be facing.

What is taxonomy?

Taxonomy is the science of naming, describing and classifying species, including species new to science. It is the foundation stone of biological science. The first step in understanding how many species we have, where they live, and what they look like so others can identify them. For example, it can be an early indicator of evolution, and in seeing how the morphological characteristics of species may help in adapting and surviving in their environments. 

Why is taxonomy important?

To understand the great diversity of the world we must know what is in it, and so taxonomy is essential in beginning to describe distributions and habitats of species. This will help scientists determine for example, whether a species is under threat, or the presence of an invasive species that can threaten other species and as a result their ecosystem. Scientists need to know all of the species in an environment, all described in a standardised manner that can be understood by those from around the world no matter the language spoken. This is so that they can begin to understand how to help preserve biodiversity and help the planet. 

Taxonomy is essential in aiding communication between scientists by giving a species a binomial scientific name. Many species will have many differing common names, for example Puma concolor, also known as the puma, cougar, panther, mountain lion, catamount, etc. in fact, P. concolor has over 40 common names in English alone. A binomial name (often in Greek or Latin) reduces confusion by surpassing language barriers and avoiding differing common names.

Taxonomy is also the first step in identifying species that have the potential to help people, to that end, the species related to them which may possess similar qualities. 

Truthfully, it is not known how many species share the planet with us. The most commonly cited number is 8.7 million species, however, this number ranges from five to ten million species. Either way taxonomists have only identified and described around two million species. Unfortunately, there will be many species that become extinct before we even know they existed. Scientists are unable to determine the rate of species extinctions or truly understand changes in biodiversity on a global scale because of the frightfully little knowledge of the species we share the planet with.

Importance of taxonomists

As mentioned, I mostly knew taxonomy as science undertaken in the past and if I did think of it in a modern context it was through modern techniques such as DNA barcoding. As a career opportunity for new biologists, taxonomy barely crosses the mind. It has been suggested that funding in taxonomic research is also on the decline, and that traditional taxonomy is too slow in producing research papers. 

But while using DNA to aid in identifications and for evolutionary relationships is no doubt useful, it is dangerous to remove all of the other “old-fashioned” techniques used for looking into morphological characteristics. Techniques such as drawing, AutoMontage imaging, scanning electron microscopy, written descriptions from observations, notes on habitat and distribution to name but a few. DNA analysis should be used to supplement the more traditional techniques, not replace them. There have been numerous examples in papers of errors in conclusions being made due to scientists looking at species from only a genetic point of view but having misidentified the species. To that effect integrative taxonomy has recently become a popular choice. It includes multiple perspectives such as phylogeography, comparative morphology, population genetics, ecology, development, behaviour, etc., so as to create the best descriptions and knowledge of species. 

After all, without taking the time to properly observe and describe a specimen you won’t truly know what the species looks like and how it uses its features to survive. How shall keys and field guides be properly constructed so that non-experts can identify species too? Without taxonomists how can the irreplaceable and valuable collections in our natural history museums be properly maintained and organised?

As I have experienced in my research on a relatively understudied family, mistakes have been made in identifications leading to false conclusions to be drawn, which has dangerous consequences for example in determining biodiversity. These false identifications may be enhanced by a purely DNA route into taxonomy. If taxonomy starts to die and fewer experts who truly understand a species exist who shall correct these mistakes and continue to document the rich biodiversity of the world?

About the Author - Lowri is one of the Freelance Young people Programme makers, working with Amgueddfa Cymru on the Winter of Wellbeing project. 

The Situation 

I’m standing at the Supermarket checkout bagging up copious amounts of nibbles, cakes and booze. The checkout lady says ‘ Ooh are you having a party! You lucky thing!’ 

Here’s what I should have said: 

 ‘Actually my Dad just died and all of this is for my family and me (mainly me) to drown our sorrows after the funeral. I don’t need to be doing this but I need something to keep me busy or else I would have to deal with my feelings.’ And then I would make a scene by ugly crying while swigging from one of the wine bottles.  

And what I actually said: 

‘Yes, I’m having a party.’ And then I went back to my car and cried. 

This exchange would never have happened if Mourning dress was still a social convention. Of course, I could wear all black but that wouldn't necessarily convey that I had recently suffered a loss, it would just convey that I am chic… or a vampire… or a chic vampire. There aren’t too many old school social conventions that I would want to revive; however, certain parts of formal mourning are, in my opinion, due a revamp.  

So, what is traditional Mourning? 

After the death of a close family member or friend it has been a tradition for centuries in many parts of the western world to wear black for varying periods of time, to communicate that they have suffered a loss. However, during the Victorian period, Mourning and all the social conventions that went with it, were at their peak. This was for several reasons but the high death rate, rise of the middle classes and the wider availability of reliable Black clothing dyes contributed heavily to its popularity. Queen Victoria herself, was the poster girl for Mourning, famously remaining in mourning and seclusion for many years after her husband, Prince Albert's death. 

Mourning conventions varied and were dependent on class, location, religion and relationship to the deceased. For example, an upper class widow could stay in Mourning clothing for several years whereas a working class widow who had not the means for Mourning wear may show no outward grieving at all. The Mourning period also limited which social occasions the Mourner could attend. Dancing and other frivolities were a no go. Those who disregarded the expected conventions could become social outcasts. 

What is Mourning wear? 

Yn hydref 2021, yn dilyn sgwrs ar drawswisgo mewn hanes gan Norena Shopland, daeth baled Cymraeg, ‘Can Newydd,’ i’r amlwg yn Yr Archif Gerddorol, yn y Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymraeg. Gellir darllen mwy am honno ar ‘Balad Cwiyr Anweddus’. Yr hyn sy’n drawiadol yw natur rywiol amlwg y faled, sy’n darlunion merched yn trawswisgo a’n cael perthynas rywiol â merched eraill.

Mae Archifdy Ceredigion ac Archifau a Chasgliadau Arbennig, Prifysgol Bangor, gyda gopïau yn eu casgliadau, ond ym mis Chwefror 2022 lleolwyd trydydd copi yn Amgueddfa Cymru, fodd bynnag teitl y fersiwn hon yn syml yw ‘Can’ a mae ganddo ychydig o wahaniaethau. Mair Jones, a wnaeth y cyfieithiad cyntaf o ‘Can Newydd,’ hefyd a wnaeth y cyfieithiad ar gyfer ‘Can’.

Ysgrifennwyd geiriau’r ddwy fersiwn gan faledwr unllygeidiog, a throseddwr rhan amser braidd yn ecsentrig, Abel Jones, ‘yr olaf o’r baledwyr “mawr,” ond a adweinid yn aml wrth ei enw barddol Bardd Crwst ar ôl ei fro enedigol, Llanrwst. Roedd Jones yn faledwr a deithiodd a pherfformio mewn ffeiriau ledled Cymru, gan werthu ei faledi fel ‘Can Newydd’ ar bynciau penodol, fel marwolaeth Ymerawdwr Rwsia, damweiniau a thrychinebau diwydiannol, Rhyfel y Degwm a llofruddiaethau – er ddim bob amser yn hanesyddol gywir, oherwydd gwerthu ei faledi oedd ei brif nod. Weithiau byddai'n eu gwerthu gyda'i fab, ac fel arfer i bobl fel y gymuned amaethyddol dosbarth-gweithiol. Roedd baledwr mwyaf adnabyddus a phoblogaidd ei oes, er iddo farw yn Nhloty Llanrwst.

Mae’n anodd dyddio’r faled, er bod dyddiadau rhwng 1865-1872 wedi’u hawgrymu (gweler ‘Balad Cwiyr Anweddus’ am ragor o fanylion) ac nid oes dim yn ‘Can’ i awgrymu a yw’n dod cyn neu ar ôl ‘Can Newydd’. Fodd bynnag, mae pob un o'r tair fersiwn o Can Newydd wedi'u harwyddo ‘Bardd Crwst’ tra bod fersiwn Amgueddfa Cymru wedi'i harwyddo ‘Abel Jones, (Bardd Crwst)’ ac efallai bod rheswm am hyn.

Ysgrifennodd Jones nifer o faledi ddigrif, gan ddefnyddio’r dôn ‘Robin yn Swil’ yn aml, yr un fath ag ar gyfer ‘Can Newydd’, alaw ‘fwy addas i’r dafarn nag i’w chanu mewn cyngherddau ac eisteddfodau parchus.’ Un o’i faledi a restrir fel cerdd am ‘garwriaeth’, un arall am Dic Sion Dafydd, ac un arall am wraig feddw, tra’r oedd ei gerddi ‘carwriaeth’ eraill yn gyngor i beidio â phriodi a’n gwynion gŵr am ei wraig. 

Mae un sôn am ‘Can Newydd’ ym mhapur newydd 1915, wrth drafod gweithiau Bardd Crwst, sef ‘Cân am ddwy Ferch Ieuangc yn myned i guro at Ffermdy Tu Ucha’r Glyn, ger Harlech’, â nodyn ychwanegol gan y casglwr, 'Ni roddais benawd yr olaf yn gyflawn,' sy'n dangos y byddai hyn wedi bod yn rhy amharchus hyd yn oed i'r papur newydd, gan gynnwys gadael allan yr agwedd groeswisgo.

Mae'n bosibl bod natur risqué, nid yn unig y geiriau ond y dôn yr oedd yn gysylltiedig â hi, wedi achosi i Jones dynnu ei enw llawn o fersiwn ‘Can Newydd’. Nid oes unrhyw dôn yn gysylltiedig â fersiwn Amgueddfa Cymru felly mae'n bosibl daeth ‘Can’ yn gyntaf, a Jones wedi ei gwneud yn fwy swnllyd yn yr ail fersiwn ond wedi penderfynu hepgor ei enw llawn. Mae ‘Can’ hefyd yn defnyddio rhai geiriau Sasneg, fel ‘beauty,’ ‘Kate Pugh,’ ‘Visles’ a ‘Cirnoleens,’ [sp] tra bod ‘Can Newydd’ yn defnyddio sillafu Cymraeg fel ‘biwti,’ ‘Cit Pugh,’ ‘busle’ ac wedi cywiro’r sillafu o ‘crinoline’.

Gwahaniaeth arall yw'r lleoliad. Y rhagymadrodd i ‘Can’ yw “Can am ddwy ferch ieuaingc a wisgoedd eu hunain mewn dillad meibion a myned i guro at Ffarmdy at ddwy Ferch Ieuangc arall, a chael myned i’r Ty, i’r gwely fel dau fab a dau gariad anwyl.” Tra yn ‘Can Newydd’ y mae “Hanes dwy Ferch ieuanc o’r fro hon a wisgodd eu hunain mewn dillad meibion, a myned i balasdy i garu at ddwy ferch ieuanc, rhai dyeithr iddynt.”

Mae’r ffermdy wedi diflannu ac yn ei lle mae ‘Plas uchaf a Glyn’. Mae Plas Uchaf (Neuadd Uchaf) 1.5 milltir (2.4 km) o Gorwen, Sir Ddinbych, a Phlas Glyn o bosib yn fyr am Blas Glynllifon 56 milltir (90km) o Gorwen. Ymddengys fod Jones wedi symud y lleoliad o amaethdy dosbarth gweithiol aneglur i dai boneddigaidd a enwyd, er na ddaethpwyd o hyd i unrhyw gyfeiriad trawswisgo mewn cysylltiad â'r ddau eiddo hyn. Er hynny, mae’n trop(e) a ddefnyddir hyd yn oed heddiw, sef gosod straeon gwefreiddiol ymhlith y cyfoethogion, sy’n llai eu nifer ac sydd â mwy o amser ar eu dwylo, na phobl y dosbarth gweithiol, ac efallai nad oedd Jones eisiau sarhau ei brif gynulleidfa.

Beth bynnag oedd pwrpas y faled, penderfynwyd ei hadfywio ar gyfer cyflwyniad ym Mis Hanes LHDCT+ 2022 gan Aberration a recordiwyd gan Cerys Hafana gyda lleisiau cefndir gan y gymuned.

Trwy rannu’r faled cwiyr heddiw fel rhan o’n hanes Cymreig, mae’n cael ei hadennill gan y gymuned LHDTC+, yn cael ei hail-ddychmygu’n greadigol ac yn helpu i adeiladu ein cymuned cwiyr Gymreig heddiw.

Hello! I’m Ellie, an undergraduate from School of Biosciences at Cardiff University (School of Biosciences - Cardiff University), completing a Professional Training Year as part of my undergraduate degree. I’ve spent the last few months at National Museum Cardiff working in the Natural Sciences department in Mollusca, spending my time aiding in the research conducted by curator Anna Holmes (Staff Profile: Anna Holmes | National Museum Wales). The project I’ve been involved in is to identify common British post-larval bivalve shells. This is important because there is very limited information available for identification of these species at post-larval stage, so the aim of this research is to provide a taxonomic tool for fisheries and other similar organisations to be able to identify these juvenile bivalve shells at a species level. So far, my main task has been imaging specimens from within the Museum collections, which contain an impressive number of shells with some dating back as far as the early 1900’s.

One particular part of the collections I have been lucky to study, and one found to be most useful to the project, is the Phorson collection. This collection consists of thousands of miniscule specimens, ordered by size and species, glued onto small pieces of black card. This collection is by far the most impressive I have yet seen, with the larger of the specimens on these size series slides all withinaround 6-8mm, so you can only imagine the time and effort that Ted Phorson himself spent ensuring his collection was to the utmost perfection. The collection itself was organized and curated by another student, Theodore (Curation of a British Shell Collection | National Museum Wales), a few years ago, who wrote about his time in the Museum and with this phenomenal collection: Adventures in the Mollusca Collections | National Museum Wales

Ted Phorson’s incredible collection consists of 160 different shell species, all of which have been carefully and precisely arranged (Ted Phorson: A personal recollection | The Conchological Society of Great Britain and Ireland (conchsoc.org)). I have found in my five months of imaging many different types of specimens of bivalve shells that Phorson’s collection is a shell enthusiast’s paradise. It is a dream to image this collection, where every shell is perfectly sorted, ready and waiting in a patient line to be photographed. Other specimens from other collections have to be gently put into position, one by one, so the camera can capture the exact angle of each shell, which can be rather time consuming.