Offers a comprehensive, accessible introduction to experimental
design, field monitoring skills for plants and animals, data analysis,
interpretation and reporting
This user-friendly book presents field monitoring skills for both plants
and animals, within the context of a research project. This text
provides a single resource to take the reader all the way through from
the planning stage, into the field, guiding through sampling, organism
identification, computer-based data analysis and interpretation, and
finally how to present the results to maximise the impact of the work.
Logically structured throughout, and revised extensively in the second
edition, the book concentrates on the techniques required to design a
field-based ecological survey and shows how to execute an appropriate
sampling regime. It evaluates appropriate sampling and analytical
methods, identifying potential problems associated with various
techniques and how to mitigate these.
The second edition of this popular text has updated reference material
and weblinks, increased the number of case studies by 50% to illustrate
the use of specific techniques in the field, added over 20% more figures
(including 8 colour plates), and made more extensive use of footnotes to
provide extra details. Extensions to topics covered in the first edition
include additional discussion of: ethical issues; statistical methods
(sample size estimation, use of the statistical package R, mixed
models); bioindicators, especially for freshwater pollution; seeds,
fecundity and population dynamics including static and dynamic life
tables; forestry techniques including tree coring and tree mortality
calculations; the use of data repositories; writing for a journal and
producing poster and oral presentations. In addition, the use of new and
emerging technologies has been a particular focus, including mobile apps
for environmental monitoring and identification; land cover and GIS; the
use of drones including legal frameworks and codes of practice;
molecular field techniques including DNA analysis in the field
(including eDNA); photo-matching for identifying individuals; camera
trapping; modern techniques for detecting and analysing bat echolocation
calls; and data storage using the cloud.
Divided into six distinct chapters, Practical Field Ecology,
2nd Edition begins at project inception with a chapter on
planning--covering health and safety, along with guidance on how to
ensure that the sampling and experimental design is suitable for
subsequent statistical analysis. Following a chapter dealing with site
characterisation and general aspects of species identification,
subsequent chapters describe the techniques used to survey and census
particular groups of organisms. The final chapters cover analysing,
interpreting and presenting data, and writing up the research.
- Offers a readable and approachable integrated guide devoted to
field-based research projects
- Takes students from the planning stage, into the field, and clearly
guides them through organism identification in the laboratory and
computer-based data analysis, interpretation and data presentation
- Includes a chapter on how to write project reports and present
findings in a variety of formats to differing audiences
Aimed at undergraduates taking courses in Ecology, Biology, Geography,
and Environmental Science, Practical Field Ecology, 2nd
Edition will also benefit postgraduates seeking to support their
projects.
