Floating Water-plantain (Luronium natans)

Associated Species Action Plans Amphibians Great crested newt Water vole White-clawed crayfish Associated Habitat action plans Canals Wetland: Rivers & streams

1.1 Luronium natans, the floating water-plantain is a European endemic aquatic plant which is now rare and threatened across its whole range. In the UK its main area of distribution is in Snowdonia, mid-Wales and adjacent areas of north-central England, although its overall range is much wider, and is much obscured by the fact that it occurs in a wide range of vegetative forms which resemble other species. The populations in Birmingham & the Black Country (B&BC) form the most south eastern part of the main area of distribution. 1.2 Luronium occurs in a number of aquatic habitats, mostly characterised by lack of competition and relatively low fertility. The main habitats are moderately nutrient-poor lakes, where it grows in water up to 2 metres deep, and clear-water canals of intermediate base and nutrient status, where it is thought that it may need periodic dredging and/or disturbance to provide the open, bare-mud situations which favour it. It is also known from shallow pools in heathland and from a few slow-moving rivers. 1.3 The species is thought to have invaded the canal system fairly recently, from the 1850s, either directly from the Welsh lakes, or via slow-moving rivers. Populations in the canals often decline in response to eutrophication, overgrowth, and increased boat traffic. 1.4 Almost all the Birmingham and Black Country records are in or associated with the canal system, where it grows as a submerged aquatic, a floating-leaved aquatic, and on exposed mud where water levels fluctuate. The one well-known population which has been seen recently is the continuation of a large population in the Cannock Extension Canal SSSI in Staffordshire. In the Birmingham and Black Country part, it is found in the canal and it also occurs in associated drainage ditches and a shallow pool. There are other records in the Walsall area associated with canals and canal side pools. Few of the records are more recent than 1991 and are mostly single unvalidated sightings. A tiny vegetative specimen was collected in the Walsall canal in 1998 and tentatively validated. Luronium is known from Chasewater canal feeder reservoir (SK0308), now no longer part of Birmingham and the Black Country, and the canal records are all associated with canals fed from Chasewater. There is another isolated 1990 record from Stechford Bridge Lake east of Birmingham which must have a different origin.

2.1 Canal populations are threatened mainly by the increasing use of the waterways by motorised traffic, which stirs up the mud, decreasing the light penetrating to submerged populations and may physically erode marginal populations. The single population in Birmingham and the Black Country known to be definitely extant is subject to a proposed improvement scheme to open up the Cannock Extension Canal to traffic.

There is also a potential threat from eutrophication, which could come from pollution or agricultural intensification or development in the canal corridor. Ironically there is also a threat from neglect of the canal system, bringing ecological succession in which closed communities of plants replace the open communities supporting Luronium.

3.1 Legal status

3.1.1 L. natans has received special protection under Appendix of the Berne Convention, which requires signatory states to prohibit taking, and to take measures to conserve, listed species. Also Annexes II and IV of the European Habitats and Species Directive, which require designation of protected areas and special protection measures for them. As a result, L. natans is now listed on Schedule 8 of the UK Wildlife and Countryside Act (revised 1992), which makes it an offence to pick, uproot, sell or destroy the species.

3.1.2 L. natans is included amongst the "Short List" of the UK Biodiversity Action Plan, with a commitment to maintain and if possible enhance its present range.

3.1.3 Statutory and other site protection in B&BC: the one population known to be extant forms part of a SSSI and a proposed candidate SAC on the basis of the presence of Luronium. A further site has SINC status. Other sites have no local designation or protection.

3.2 Management, research and guidance

3.2.1 British Waterways are liaising with English Nature and Countryside Council for Wales to produce management guidelines for canals containing this species, which should be applicable to Birmingham and Black Country populations.

3.2.2 British Waterways has undertaken relocation of plants to refugia as part of the Montgomery Canal restoration.

3.2.3 Luronium can get some protection from adverse conditions, such as muddy water and disturbance, behind piling. Piling sites are however likely to require regular management to prevent overgrowth.

3.2.4 The occurrence of a non-aquatic form of Luronium on exposed mud, and the apparent colonisation of non-canal habitats by canal populations in Birmingham and th eBlack Country require further investigation. Better knowledge might allow the development of important types of refugia should the canal habitats become untenable.

3.2.3 Recent research by isozyme analysis has suggested a high level of genetic variation in the Welsh lake populations compared with the canal populations of the borders, but the West Midlands populations have not been examined.

3.2.3 Current work for the Birmingham and Black Country Flora may increase the number of known sites in Birmingham and the Black Country; it is clearly crucial that the older records are re-investigated. Note: Flora 2000 Project.

ACTION	Potential Deliverers		YEARS							Meeting Objective No.
	Lead	Partner	2001	2002	2003	2004	2005	2006	2011
5.1 Policy and legislation
Seek the inclusion of effective measures for the protection of this species in the preparation of UDPs and other policy documents.	LAs	EN, WT, EA	As UDPs and other policy documents are prepared							1
Seek the inclusion of effective measures for species protection in the preparation of Local Environment Agency Plans and other policy documents.	EA	LAs, EN, WT	As LEAPs and other policy documents are prepared							1
5.2 Site safeguard and management.
Take the well being of the Birmingham and Black Country populations into consideration by modifying relevant canal reclamation schemes to comply with the international status and national guidelines for the protection of Luronium.	BW	LAs, EN, WT								1
Lobby against inappropriate modification of Luronium sites in canal restoration schemes.	WT	LCG								1
Advocate appropriate management for Luronium sites, including traffic limitation, regular monitoring and creation of refugia, to all site owners and managers.	EN	LAs, WT, LCG								1
5.3 Species management and protection
Seek thorough compliance with the national proposed code of practice and the international protected status by all managers at all sites for Luronium in Birmingham and the Black Country.	EN	LAs, BW								1,2
5.4 Advisory
Seek to inform all relevant Local Authority departments and others involved in management of relevant sites about the proposed national code for protection and enhancement of Luronium populations and secure compliance.	EN	BW, WT								1
Seek to inform all relevant Local Authority departments and others involved in management of relevant sites about the legal international protected status of Luronium natans, and secure compliance	EN	BW, WT								1
5.5 Future research and monitoring
Support the detailed resurveying of all populations recorded in Birmingham and the Black Country	EN, LAs	WT								1,2,3
Support further investigation of non-aquatic and non-canal populations of Luronium in Birmingham and Black Country with a view to creating and maintaining refugia.	EN, ER									1,2,3
Advocate priority for Luronium in recording schemes	WT, ER									1,2,3
5.6 Communications and publicity
Seek to publicise widely the international protected status and the national code of practice for Luronium by producing an appropriate leaflet for wide distribution.	EN									1,2,3
5.7 Links to other action plans
Wetland, Rivers and streams, canals.

This Biodiversity Action Plan will be implemented over 10 years with a first review after 5 years. A group will be set up to co-ordinate implementation and to report to the Biodiversity Action Plan Steering Group. This group will meet at a minimum on a yearly basis.

Review will be carried out in conjunction with related Habitat and Species Action Plans as appropriate and will consist of measuring achievement of targets. The group will, with the support of the Steering Group, develop and implement appropriate monitoring methods, which will inform the review process.

The Action Plan will be revised and updated in the light of review results and any relevant changes in circumstances and / or additional information which becomes available during the review period.

In line with national guidance, the Steering Group will report to the UK Biodiversity Steering Group.

Biodiversity Action Plan for Birmingham and the Black Country © 2000

Printing of this publication for educational purposes is permitted, provided that copies are not made or distributed for commercial gain, and the title of the publication and its date appear. To copy otherwise, or to republish, requires specific permission from the Steering Group.