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This is a practical module with a strong emphasis on gaining experience with different groups of organisms and different environments. It is designed to teach you some of the skills needed for ecological surveying; what methods to use, what species to record, how to present and analyse the resulting data. You will be working outdoors e.g. at grassland, woodland and urban sites sampling different groups of organisms, including vascular plants, invertebrates, and birds. We will use the data you collect to describe the ecological communities we work on. This will involve identifying organisms to appropriate levels of taxonomic resolution, which will be species for some organisms, such as birds, and families or orders for others. It will also involve summarising data using appropriate descriptive statistics and graphs. We will link what we find with core concepts in ecology – including niche theory, competition and predation, and diversity-abundance relationships – that you will study in other modules in second year.

Upon completion of this module you will be able to:
LO1: Demonstrate the ability to use keys and other aids in the identification of vascular plants, aquatic and terrestrial invertebrates, birds and other vertebrates to an appropriate level of taxonomic resolution.
LO2: Select and justify appropriate sampling methods and equipment for different taxonomic groups.
LO3: Choose and execute appropriate methods of analysis and presentation of survey data, justifying your choice.
LO4: Undertake risk assessments for survey work in a range of different settings, including
description of relevant legal considerations.