The Use of a Detection Dog to Discriminate Between Moss Species to Increase Coverage for Reporting the Presence of a Cryptic Species

There has been a rise in the use of conservation detection dogs (CDDs); however, they are yet to be noted in science for bryophyte detection. If implemented effectively, this method could have a significant positive impact, particularly due to the need for specialists in the identification of these species. This study aims to determine whether a CDD can be imprinted on a moss species, specifically Hamatocaulis vernicosus, the slender green feather-moss, and used to increase survey coverage in Northern Ireland. To test the capability of the dog on this new odour, a lab-based discrimination trial involving double-blind line-ups was conducted, including moss species that occur in similar habitats and are closely related to H. vernicosus. After the discrimination trial, the dog completed field trials in an area where the species is known to be present. Results show that the dog had 100% accuracy when completing the discrimination trial, showing the dog’s ability to discriminate between the target moss and other moss species used. During the field trial, an indication and positive confirmation of species were achieved within 1 min 34 s of searching. CDDs are clearly on the way to becoming a useful tool in bryophyte projects or projects focussing on other Habitats Regulations Reporting-annexed species, particularly those that are cryptic and time-consuming to survey.