Invertebrate Survey and Site Assessment
Saturday 12 - Sunday 13 April 2008
Location: Deepcar, Sheffield
Participant Standard: Beginner
Tutor(s): Jim Flanagan AIEEM
This workshop is targeted at ecologists with limited experience or knowledge of invertebrate survey techniques, but who need to be able to quickly assess sites for their invertebrate potential and periodically commission specialist surveys, prior to impact assessment. This workshop will provide guidance on assessing sites for their invertebrate potential; developing basic identification skills for key groups; and field survey techniques. Some local field trips will be undertaken.
NB: Accommodation is not included.
Further information:
This workshop will deal mainly with terrestrial invertebrates and cover the following subjects:
- Introduction to invertebrate conservation, site survey and assessment
- When to survey
- Planning an invertebrate survey and use of specialist surveyors
- Developing skills in identification of key groups of invertebrate used for evaluation of sites
- A range of methods of sampling employed will be demonstrated as well as laboratory work and techniques
- Reporting and Interpretation of survey results
The day will include visits to local sites, some within walking distance of the venue subject to health and safety site assessment.
Stereo microscopes and a range of identification keys will be available to each attendee during the indoor identification sessions.
Who should attend this workshop?
The workshop is targeted at field ecologists who have limited experience and knowledge of invertebrate surveying and in using field data generated for the site assessment, interpretation and making recommendations. It is especially relevant to those who wish to develop their identification skills of key invertebrate groups.
Bring with you:
- Hand lens (if you have one)
- Wellington Boots /stout footwear /waterproofs and some warm/spare clothing.
- One or two outdoor sessions will involve a short car journey. The workshop tutor would be grateful for at least one course attendee to use his/her own car to enable all course attendees to travel to sites.
- Bottled water, tea, coffee will be provided each day of the workshop. Buffet lunch can be offered for the price of £6 for the two days. Please let IEEM know if you wish to have buffet lunch and if you have any specific dietary requirements.
Optional pre-workshop reading:
- ‘Surveying terrestrial and freshwater invertebrates for conservation evaluation’ Natural England Research Report NERR005 – free to download from Natural England website.
- ‘JNCC - Guidelines for Invertebrate Site Surveys’ by Stephen J Brooks, British Wildlife, 1993, Vol 4 (5): pp283-286, British Wildlife Publishing
What will participants learn from the workshop (learning outcomes)?
- How to identify sites with potential invertebrate conservation interest
- How to plan an invertebrate survey
- Develop knowledge of the main methods of survey available and how and when these are appropriate for the target groups to be surveyed
- Develop knowledge of key groups of invertebrates that provide the best indicators of environmental quality in a variety of habitats
Programme:
Day 1:
10.00 Arrival and introduction
10.20 Introduction to invertebrate surveying and assessment – sources of information on good practice, identifying sites with invertebrate conservation potential (case studies); when to survey, collection, analysis and interpretation of samples, making recommendations, survey constraints.
11.30 Introduction to field survey. Legislation and JNCC Code of Practice. Field equipment/kit and survey methods.
12:30 Lunch
13:15 Working with microscopes. Introduction to identification of key groups and use of ID keys. Examination of collections.
14.15 Field session to a local site (Wharncliffe Heath and Wood) comprising woodland scrub and heath. Conduct demonstration of the various practical methods of sampling for terrestrial invertebrates. Identify habitats of importance to invertebrates
16.30 Tea/Coffee break
16.40 Continue with identification of key groups of invertebrates
17.30 Finish for Day
Day 2:
09.00 Recap on 1st day
09.15 Field session to local site (by foot) comprising grassland and scrub to look at site assessment and further demonstration of collecting techniques.
11.15 Coffee/tea break
11.25 More on identification of key invertebrate groups.
12.30 Lunch
13.15 Further visit to a site by car (Park Hill Brick Pits Nature Reserve or Gypsy Marsh near Wombwell) to look at wetland invertebrate sampling and evaluation.
15.45 Return to STEP Business Centre. Summary and conclusions. Hints and suggestions to further development of skills and knowledge of planning invertebrate surveys and identification of key invertebrate groups.
16.30 Collect feedback forms and give out CPD certificates.
Cost: £120 IEEM members, £240 non-members.