Survey techniques · 2 min read
Great crested newt eDNA: a detection tool, not a headcount
What a pond sample can tell us—and why timing and sample quality matter.
Read summary ↗Research & insights
Field evidence.
Clearer decisions.
Short technical reads on survey methods, species behaviour and freshwater ecology, alongside Leith’s previously published literature reviews.
The field notes
Understand the why.
These summaries explain selected research and professional guidance. Each links to its sources and separates the findings from their practical implications.
8 technical summaries
Survey techniques · 2 min read
Bat emergence surveys: seeing the exit matters
How visual evidence and acoustic recordings answer different questions.
Read summary ↗Species behaviour · 2 min read
Bats and lighting: activity does not mean no impact
Why a bat feeding beside a lamp does not tell the whole ecological story.
Read summary ↗Species behaviour · 2 min read
Reptile surveys: warmer is not always better
Thermoregulation explains why weather and repeat visits shape survey confidence.
Read summary ↗Survey techniques · 2 min read
Water voles: read the bank, not just the records
How habitat and field evidence work together when assessing a watercourse.
Read summary ↗Species behaviour · 2 min read
Otters: assess the route as well as the resting place
Why bridges, banks and connected habitats belong in the same assessment.
Read summary ↗Freshwater ecology · 2 min read
River invertebrates: a sample needs a reference point
Why survey season, habitat and comparable methods matter to interpretation.
Read summary ↗Survey planning · 2 min read
Nesting birds: a calendar is a starting point
Why a breeding-bird survey and a pre-work nesting check answer different questions.
Read summary ↗No articles match. Try a broader term or select all topics.
Published literature reviews · 2025
From the Leith archive.
The original PDFs previously published on this website, retained in their original form. These are technical literature reviews, not original experimental studies or peer-reviewed journal papers.
15 May 2025 · 3 pages
Impacts of Electromagnetic Fields (EMF) on Freshwater Fish and Invertebrates in the UK
A review of cable-related exposure, reported biological responses and evidence gaps.
Read original PDF ↗15 May 2025 · 9 pages
The Impact of Above-Ground Noise and Vibration Near Waterbodies on Aquatic Receptors
A review of noise and vibration pathways and their relevance to aquatic assessment.
Read original PDF ↗Archive context: the reviews reflect their 2025 publication date. Numerical thresholds and distance bands within them should not be treated as universal ecological limits or safe working distances; project conclusions require verification of the underlying evidence and site-specific exposure.
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