ACE8016 : Habitat Monitoring and Assessment
- Offered for Year: 2021/22
- Module Leader(s): Dr Janet Simkin
- Lecturer: Mrs Helen Adamson
- Owning School: Natural and Environmental Sciences
- Teaching Location: Newcastle City Campus
Semesters
| Semester 2 Credit Value: | 20 |
| ECTS Credits: | 10.0 |
Aims
This module aims to:
Train students in ecological monitoring, Phase 1 survey, Phase 2 soil and vegetation survey, and report production
Outline Of Syllabus
Preliminary lectures and practicals will introduce students to the principles of ecological monitoring, Phase 1 and Phase 2 survey, and develop some of the skills needed. This will be followed by a residential (5 day) field class during which the students will carry out the surveys, and the group and individual work to collate the field data and carry out integrated analysis, mapping, interpretation and report preparation.
Each topic will be introduced in lectures and practicals, and then further developed during field work, data analysis and presentation of results. During the field work and data collation students will work in small groups, but the assessments are to be produced individually. Topics include:
• Survey and monitoring methods for conservation and research
• Plant and identification
• Vegetation monitoring for research including: Experimental design for ecology, Field vegetation data collection methods and statistical analysis (e.g. ANOVA, diversity indices, ecological indices and multivariate analysis)
• Phase 1 and/or UKHab survey
• Phase 2 survey including soil classification and survey methods, plant communities and the national vegetation classification, vegetation survey methods, site desk study and GIS, site reconnaissance, integrated soil and vegetation survey in the field, results collation, analysis and presentation, habitat condition assessment, and management recommendations.
Teaching Methods
Teaching Activities
| Category | Activity | Number | Length | Student Hours | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Structured Guided Learning | Lecture materials | 15 | 1:00 | 15:00 | Non-synchronous online. |
| Guided Independent Study | Assessment preparation and completion | 1 | 15:00 | 15:00 | Monitoring |
| Guided Independent Study | Assessment preparation and completion | 1 | 30:00 | 30:00 | Phase 2 with Report |
| Guided Independent Study | Directed research and reading | 1 | 7:00 | 7:00 | N/A |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Practical | 5 | 3:00 | 15:00 | Soils, Plant ID, NVC |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Small group teaching | 3 | 1:00 | 3:00 | Seminar |
| Structured Guided Learning | Structured research and reading activities | 15 | 1:00 | 15:00 | Research and reading |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Fieldwork | 7 | 8:00 | 56:00 | 2 days of practical skills training 5 day residential field course All PIP |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Drop-in/surgery | 1 | 3:00 | 3:00 | Synchronous |
| Guided Independent Study | Student-led group activity | 1 | 40:00 | 40:00 | N/A |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Module talk | 1 | 1:00 | 1:00 | PiP |
| Total | 200:00 |
Teaching Rationale And Relationship
Lectures provide an introduction to the principles of ecological monitoring, Phase 1 survey, and Phase 2 vegetation and soil survey, including standard techniques, integrated survey design, and planning. Practical classes develop field and analytical skills, and include a preparatory desk study for the residential field course. During the residential field course students will gain practical experience of survey techniques for Phase 1 and integrated Phase 2 habitat assessments in different terrestrial habitats, and this is followed by further experience of data collation, analysis and classification, and in the interpretation of soil and vegetation patterns and the physical resource base of the wildlife habitats surveyed.
Assessment Methods
The format of resits will be determined by the Board of Examiners
Other Assessment
| Description | Semester | When Set | Percentage | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Report | 2 | M | 25 | Vegetation monitoring report (no more than 6 pages) |
| Report | 2 | M | 75 | Phase 1 and 2 survey report. Word limit 3500 |
Assessment Rationale And Relationship
The vegetation monitoring report will provide for testing students understanding of the differences between methods of monitoring, and their ability to undertake vegetation monitoring and to analyse and present the results.
The Phase 1 survey map will test students ability to undertake and present a Phase 1 survey, and test their understanding of the advantages and limitations of the technique.
The Phase 2 survey report will provide for the testing of students ability to have undertaken an integrated vegetation and soil survey, and to collate, analyse, present and report the results. It will also test their skills in working as a team in the collection, collation, interpretation and integration of survey data for defined objectives, and their ability to produce a report in a defined timescale to simulate workplace conditions.
Reading Lists
Timetable
- Timetable Website: www.ncl.ac.uk/timetable/
- ACE8016's Timetable