Practical Field Ecology: A Project Guide - Softcover

Wheater, C. Philip

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0470694297 ISBN 13: 9780470694299

Publisher: Wiley, 2011

Synopsis

This book introduces experimental design and data analysis / interpretation as well as field monitoring skills for both plants and animals. Clearly structured throughout and written in a student-friendly manner, the main emphasis of the book concentrates on the techniques required to design a field based ecological survey and shows how to execute an appropriate sampling regime. The book evaluates appropriate methods, including the problems associated with various techniques and their inherent flaws (e.g. low sample sizes, large amount of field or laboratory work, high cost etc). This provides a resource base outlining details from the planning stage, into the field, guiding through sampling and finally through organism identification in the laboratory and computer based data analysis and interpretation.

The text is divided into six distinct chapters. The first chapter covers planning, including health and safety together with information on a variety of statistical techniques for examining and analysing data. 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 chapter covers interpreting and presenting data and writing up the research. The emphasis here is on appropriate wording of interpretation and structure and content of the report.

About this title

About the Author

Dr Philip Wheater, Department of Environmental and Geographical Sciences, Manchester Metropolitan University.

Dr James R Bell, Research Scientist based at Rothamsted Research; Ecosystem Dynamics and Biodiversity Group, Division of Plant and Invertebrate Ecology, Rothamsted Research

Dr Penny A. Cook, Senior Lecturer at Liverpool John Moores University; Reader in Public Health Epidemiology, Centre for Public Health.

From the Back Cover

Practical Field Ecology: A Project Guide introduces students to experimental design, field monitoring skills for plants and animals, data analysis and interpretation, as well as report writing and presentation. Clearly structured throughout and written in a student-friendly manner, the book concentrates on the techniques required to design field-based surveys for a wide range of organisms, habitats and ecological projects.

The text is divided into six chapters. The first chapter covers planning, including health and safety and an introduction to the factors needed to be taken into account to enable the statistical analysis of data. Following a chapter dealing with site characterisation, chapters three and four describe the techniques used to survey and census particular groups of organisms (covering static and mobile species respectively). The penultimate chapter provides an overview of possible data analysis techniques appropriate for interpreting ecological field data. The final chapter covers presenting data and writing up the research, emphasising appropriate wording of interpretation and the structure and content of the final report

Practical Field Ecology provides a complete resource for students taking them through all the stages of field research from inception, through implementation to presentation, helping them to develop the skills necessary for their academic and professional career.

The text is divided into six chapters. The first chapter covers planning, including health and safety and an introduction to the factors needed to be taken into account to enable the statistical analysis of data. Following a chapter dealing with site characterisation, chapters three and four describe the techniques used to survey and census particular groups of organisms (covering static and mobile species respectively). The penultimate chapter provides an overview of possible data analysis techniques appropriate for interpreting ecological field data. The final chapter covers presenting data and writing up the research, emphasising appropriate wording of interpretation and the structure and content of the final report

Practical Field Ecology provides a complete resource for students taking them through all the stages of field research from inception, through implementation to presentation, helping them to develop the skills necessary for their academic and professional career.

Edition details

• Publisher: Wiley
• Publication date: 2011
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0470694297
• ISBN 13: 9780470694299
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 390