Derek Ratcliffe
Encyclopedia
Derek Almey Ratcliffe was one of the most significant British
nature conservationists of the 20th century. He was Chief Scientist for the Nature Conservancy Council
at the Monks Wood Experimental Station, Abbots Ripton, Huntingdon, retiring in 1989. Ratcliffe was the author of the 1977 Nature Conservation Review, a document which set out the most important sites for nature conservation in the United Kingdom
. He also published various works on nature and conservation.
He was the son of a cinema pianist and a French-language teacher and grew up in Carlisle. He married Jeanette in March 1978
Ratcliffe was the first person to discover the link between the use by farmers of pesticides such as DDT
and Dieldrin
and the decline of British populations of birds of prey, in particular the Peregrine Falcon
(a species on which he was a world authority).
He was instrumental in persuading the UK government to end the tax advantages available for planting of non-native conifer forests on Scottish peat bogs
, which was threatening the internationally important large wetland area of Caithness
and Sutherland
known as the Flow Country
.
Ratcliffe studied for a Ph.D at University of Wales, Bangor, completing it in 1953. He then undertook National Service
. He was awarded the British Trust for Ornithology
's Bernard Tucker Medal
in 1964.
One of his most often cited works is a study on egg shell breakage conducted in the 1960s. Some, including Rachel Carson
in her book Silent Spring
, have interpreted the study as establishing a causal link between DDT
contamination and "thinning of egg shells in raptor
s."
Among his other many other studies of the topic are papers on the effect on specific bird species, such as the Peregrine falcon
,. the raven
, In these studies he developed "Ratcliffe's Index," considered "a reliable measure of relative shell thickness"
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
nature conservationists of the 20th century. He was Chief Scientist for the Nature Conservancy Council
Nature Conservancy Council
The Nature Conservancy Council was a United Kingdom government agency responsible for designating and managing National Nature Reserves and other nature conservation areas in Great Britain between 1973 and 1991 ....
at the Monks Wood Experimental Station, Abbots Ripton, Huntingdon, retiring in 1989. Ratcliffe was the author of the 1977 Nature Conservation Review, a document which set out the most important sites for nature conservation in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. He also published various works on nature and conservation.
He was the son of a cinema pianist and a French-language teacher and grew up in Carlisle. He married Jeanette in March 1978
Ratcliffe was the first person to discover the link between the use by farmers of pesticides such as DDT
DDT
DDT is one of the most well-known synthetic insecticides. It is a chemical with a long, unique, and controversial history....
and Dieldrin
Dieldrin
Dieldrin is a chlorinated hydrocarbon originally produced in 1948 by J. Hyman & Co, Denver, as an insecticide. Dieldrin is closely related to aldrin, which reacts further to form dieldrin. Aldrin is not toxic to insects; it is oxidized in the insect to form dieldrin which is the active compound...
and the decline of British populations of birds of prey, in particular the Peregrine Falcon
Peregrine Falcon
The Peregrine Falcon , also known as the Peregrine, and historically as the Duck Hawk in North America, is a widespread bird of prey in the family Falconidae. A large, crow-sized falcon, it has a blue-gray back, barred white underparts, and a black head and "moustache"...
(a species on which he was a world authority).
He was instrumental in persuading the UK government to end the tax advantages available for planting of non-native conifer forests on Scottish peat bogs
Peat
Peat is an accumulation of partially decayed vegetation matter or histosol. Peat forms in wetland bogs, moors, muskegs, pocosins, mires, and peat swamp forests. Peat is harvested as an important source of fuel in certain parts of the world...
, which was threatening the internationally important large wetland area of Caithness
Caithness
Caithness is a registration county, lieutenancy area and historic local government area of Scotland. The name was used also for the earldom of Caithness and the Caithness constituency of the Parliament of the United Kingdom . Boundaries are not identical in all contexts, but the Caithness area is...
and Sutherland
Sutherland
Sutherland is a registration county, lieutenancy area and historic administrative county of Scotland. It is now within the Highland local government area. In Gaelic the area is referred to according to its traditional areas: Dùthaich 'IcAoidh , Asainte , and Cataibh...
known as the Flow Country
Flow Country
The Flow Country is a large, rolling expanse of peatland and wetland area of Caithness and Sutherland in Scotland. It is the largest expanse of blanket bog in Europe, and covers about 4,000 square kilometres ....
.
Ratcliffe studied for a Ph.D at University of Wales, Bangor, completing it in 1953. He then undertook National Service
National service
National service is a common name for mandatory government service programmes . The term became common British usage during and for some years following the Second World War. Many young people spent one or more years in such programmes...
. He was awarded the British Trust for Ornithology
British Trust for Ornithology
The British Trust for Ornithology is an organisation founded in 1932 for the study of birds in the British Isles.-Activities:The BTO carries out research into the lives of birds, chiefly by conducting population and breeding surveys and by bird ringing, largely carried out by a large number of...
's Bernard Tucker Medal
Bernard Tucker Medal
The Bernard Tucker Medal is awarded by the British Trust for Ornithology for services to ornithology. It is named in memory of Bernard Tucker, their first Secretary. It has been awarded since 1954, usually annually although there are some years when no medals were awarded.- 20th Century :*1954...
in 1964.
One of his most often cited works is a study on egg shell breakage conducted in the 1960s. Some, including Rachel Carson
Rachel Carson
Rachel Louise Carson was an American marine biologist and conservationist whose writings are credited with advancing the global environmental movement....
in her book Silent Spring
Silent Spring
Silent Spring is a book written by Rachel Carson and published by Houghton Mifflin on 27 September 1962. The book is widely credited with helping launch the environmental movement....
, have interpreted the study as establishing a causal link between DDT
DDT
DDT is one of the most well-known synthetic insecticides. It is a chemical with a long, unique, and controversial history....
contamination and "thinning of egg shells in raptor
Bird of prey
Birds of prey are birds that hunt for food primarily on the wing, using their keen senses, especially vision. They are defined as birds that primarily hunt vertebrates, including other birds. Their talons and beaks tend to be relatively large, powerful and adapted for tearing and/or piercing flesh....
s."
Among his other many other studies of the topic are papers on the effect on specific bird species, such as the Peregrine falcon
Peregrine Falcon
The Peregrine Falcon , also known as the Peregrine, and historically as the Duck Hawk in North America, is a widespread bird of prey in the family Falconidae. A large, crow-sized falcon, it has a blue-gray back, barred white underparts, and a black head and "moustache"...
,. the raven
Raven
Raven is the common name given to several larger-bodied members of the genus Corvus—but in Europe and North America the Common Raven is normally implied...
, In these studies he developed "Ratcliffe's Index," considered "a reliable measure of relative shell thickness"
Publications
Derek Ratcliffe's most important publications included:- Plant Communities of the Scottish Highlands (1962, with Donald McVean)
- A Nature Conservation ReviewA Nature Conservation ReviewA Nature Conservation Review is a 2-volume work by Derek Ratcliffe, published by Cambridge University Press in 1977. It set out to identify the most important places for nature conservation in Great Britain...
(1977 ISBN 052121159X) - The Peregrine Falcon (Poyser, 1980; expanded second edition 1993)
- Bird Life of Mountain and Upland (Cambridge University Press, 1991 ISBN 0521331234)
- The Raven (Poyser, 1997)
- In Search of Nature (Broadfield, 2000)
- Lakeland (Collins New NaturalistNew NaturalistThe New Naturalist Library books are a series published by Collins in the United Kingdom, on a variety of natural history topics relevant to the British Isles...
, 2002 ISBN 0-00-711304-8) - Lapland: a natural history (Poyser, 2005 ISBN 0713665297)
- Galloway and the Borders (Collins New NaturalistNew NaturalistThe New Naturalist Library books are a series published by Collins in the United Kingdom, on a variety of natural history topics relevant to the British Isles...
, 2007 ISBN 0-00-717401-2. Completed a few days before his death in 2005)
External links
- Joint Nature Conservation Committee - press release on Ratcliffe's death