NES8100 : Habitat Monitoring and Assessment
- Offered for Year: 2024/25
- Module Leader(s): Dr Janet Simkin
- Lecturer: Dr Helen Adamson, Dr Pete Robertson
- Owning School: Natural and Environmental Sciences
- Teaching Location: Newcastle City Campus
- Capacity limit: 35 student places
Semesters
Your programme is made up of credits, the total differs on programme to programme.
| Semester 2 Credit Value: | 20 |
| ECTS Credits: | 10.0 |
| European Credit Transfer System | |
Aims
This module aims to:
Train students in ecological monitoring, Phase 1 habitat survey and BNG, 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 5 day field class (residential if possible) during which the students will carry out the surveys, and then 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, and its use in BNG
• 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Guided Independent Study | Assessment preparation and completion | 1 | 15:00 | 15:00 | Monitoring |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Lecture | 4 | 2:00 | 8:00 | Lectures |
| Structured Guided Learning | Lecture materials | 7 | 1:00 | 7:00 | Non-synchronous online. |
| Guided Independent Study | Assessment preparation and completion | 1 | 46:00 | 46:00 | Phase 1 and Phase 2 survey with Report |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Practical | 5 | 3:00 | 15:00 | Soils, Plant ID, NVC |
| Guided Independent Study | Directed research and reading | 1 | 7:00 | 7:00 | N/A |
| 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 - this includes the formative assessment |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Fieldwork | 7 | 8:00 | 56:00 | 2 days of practical skills training 5 day residential field course |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Drop-in/surgery | 1 | 3:00 | 3:00 | Synchronous |
| Guided Independent Study | Student-led group activity | 1 | 24:00 | 24:00 | 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 habitat 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 | Monitoring report, max 1000 words |
| Report | 2 | M | 75 | Survey report, max 3000 words |
Formative Assessments
Formative Assessment is an assessment which develops your skills in being assessed, allows for you to receive feedback, and prepares you for being assessed. However, it does not count to your final mark.
| Description | Semester | When Set | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Computer assessment | 2 | M | Online canvas quiz to support skills development. |
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 Survey report includes a UKHab survey map and BNG metrics, and a more detailed report on a Phase 2 survey. 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.
Skills development prior to the residential field course will include formative assessment by online canvas quiz.
Reading Lists
Timetable
- Timetable Website: www.ncl.ac.uk/timetable/
- NES8100's Timetable