MacKinnon Lists Collecting field data and practical uses of results Aidan Maccormick University of St Andrews

Outline Fieldwork Fieldwork - Selecting route - Recording format - Recording rules Data entry Data entry How can we use the results? How can we use the results? Notes for other taxonomic groups – trapping Notes for other taxonomic groups – trapping

Route 100 m Start/End X M M M 100m Decide where you are going to walk Representative of habitat(s) Marking of route not required 1 person, but pairs or more can work, but as a single unit Recording range from route: Birds 100m, Butterflies 5m etc

Recording observations Use notebooks/prepared sheets Use notebooks/prepared sheets Begin with basic details: Date, Start time, Site name, GPS, Altitude etc. Begin with basic details: Date, Start time, Site name, GPS, Altitude etc. Start recording observations (or captures) in order caught/seen/heard Start recording observations (or captures) in order caught/seen/heard Use what ever format is most comfortable: codes, scientific names, common names etc Use what ever format is most comfortable: codes, scientific names, common names etc

Note if the sp. was caught/seen/heard use simple codes (A, V etc) Note if the sp. was caught/seen/heard use simple codes (A, V etc) Note distance of the individual from route if required Note distance of the individual from route if required Note any additional behaviour if you want e.g. breeding, foraging etc. Note any additional behaviour if you want e.g. breeding, foraging etc. If unable to identify STILL write down description, collection number, photo number etc If unable to identify STILL write down description, collection number, photo number etc Recording observations

Note down: Location every hour or so Location every hour or so When crossing one habitat to another When crossing one habitat to another Additional sps recorded ‘outside’ the sample area Additional sps recorded ‘outside’ the sample area Only ‘extra’ sps on return Only ‘extra’ sps on return 3 – 5 days/site Site = - within 10km - within 500m bands

Constructing lists Identify using reference material specimens, keys, guides, recordings etc Identify using reference material specimens, keys, guides, recordings etc Decide on length of list. 10 species list, 5 species lists etc Decide on length of list. 10 species list, 5 species lists etc If 10 species lists: number new species on list until number 10 is reached, omit sps already recorded If 10 species lists: number new species on list until number 10 is reached, omit sps already recorded

Date Entry Enter all lists from notebook into spreadsheet Enter all lists from notebook into spreadsheet Enter evidence for observations (A, V, R, P etc) Enter evidence for observations (A, V, R, P etc) Enter ‘additional’ sps recorded but not on lists Enter ‘additional’ sps recorded but not on lists Combine unfinished/broken lists if from same habitat and sitec Combine unfinished/broken lists if from same habitat and sitec

Summary data sheet Species list Species list Individual frequency Individual frequency List frequency List frequency Minimum number of individuals Minimum number of individuals Relative abundance estimates: % lists Relative abundance estimates: % lists Results

How can we use this data? Identification/prioritisation of sites/areas Highest abundance of threatened species Highest abundance of threatened species Highest abundance(s) of indicator sps for habitat (healthy Vs unhealthy) Highest abundance(s) of indicator sps for habitat (healthy Vs unhealthy) This will allow us to direct conservation funds to the most important sites for species/communities of importance This will allow us to direct conservation funds to the most important sites for species/communities of importance

How can we use this data? Monitoring/threat assessment Identifying natural/human caused changes in abundance(s) Identifying natural/human caused changes in abundance(s) Natural ranges increases Natural ranges increases Spread of introduced sps Spread of introduced sps

How can we use these data? Community structure over a season? Potentially useful for describing changes in terrestrial inverts esp. butterflies? Potentially useful for describing changes in terrestrial inverts esp. butterflies? Important if collecting data for multiple sites over a long time Important if collecting data for multiple sites over a long time