Biomathematics & Statistics Scotland
In Britain, the native species of bluebell, Hyacinthoides non-scripta, forms an iconic part of the rural landscape. However, this species is thought to be under threat from the invasive non-native variety Hyacinthoides hispanicus through the effects of competition and inter-breeding, which could reduce the genetic integrity of the native variety.
BioSS has been involved in work with RBGE and CEH to assess the current distribution and abundance of
native and non-native varieties of bluebell within central Scotland. Generalised linear models and generalised
linear mixed models were used to compare the relationships between abundance and habitat characteristics for
native and non-native varieties, and to investigate the factors that promote co-occurrence. The results suggest
that the non-native bluebells already have a wide spatial distribution within central Scotland, but that they
are currently still much less abundant than the native
variety. It is possible for native and non-native varieties
to co-occur at the same location – a pre-requisite for
hybridisation – but there do also appear to be differences
in the habitat preferences of the two varieties, suggesting
co-existence may be possible.
Sizes of groups of native and non native bluebells encountered during the survey, on a natural logarithmic scale. These histograms illustrate the fact that group sizes for the native variety can be substantially larger than those for the non-native varieties.
Further details from: Adam Butler
Article date 2009
