Wildlife transfer

http://www.wildlifetransferdatabase.org/">Wildlife Transfer Database http://www.wildlifetransferdatabase.org/

NOTE: November 2010 - The database is currently off-line whilst the website it is hosted on undergoes maintenance. If during this period you wish to add data please contact Nick Beresford or David Copplestone.

A number of evaluations of the available approaches to estimating the exposure of wildlife to ionising radiation have concluded that the estimation of wholebody activity concentrations (using transfer models) contributes most to the overall uncertainty of the dose rate predictions (for instance see outputs of the IAEA EMRAS Biota Working Group and the EC funded PROTECT consortium).

Acting on such findings the IAEA EMRAS II programmes Working Group 5 is working to collate data on the transfer of radionuclides to wildlife to support the production of a Technical Report Series handbook. In collaboration with the IUR, the EMRAS II Working Group is using an online database (click to access) to collate and summarise data. The database has been designed and supported by the: Environment Agency, England and Wales; Centre for Ecology and Hydrology (UK); Norwegian Radiation Protection Authority; Natural Environment Research Council (UK).

Once you have registered to use the database, there is a help/guidance document available which explains what information is being requested how to navigate within the website and complete the database fields. Please note that we will be continuing to modify the design of the website (for example, we know that the view summary pages are currently not working correctly).

 The help file to the online database can be accessed here.The help file is regularly updated, version 1.10 (05/10/2010) is the current version.

 How to categorise freshwater fish species by feeding strategy and as ICRP RAPS (contains information for all species included into the database)*. Version 28th July 2010.

A useful link for confirming/finding scientific names can be found on the National Biodiversity Gateway. Type species name into search box (can be common name) and on the results page select Taxonomic information for Scientific Name.

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* - contains some useful links.

 How to convert tissue specific activity concentrations to wholebody values.

Questions and answers with regard to using the database and processing input data can be found here.

We advise that you use Internet Explorer to access the database.

If you have any queries on how to use the database or find any problems with it please contact either Nick Beresford or David Copplestone.

Please forward the website details on to anyone else you think might have suitable data.