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Unit overview
Unit Purpose
The purpose of this unit is to introduce students to
the principal methods for sampling, recording, interpreting and
presenting flora and fauna survey data. The focus will be on designing,
planning and executing surveys, and will include a substantial amount
of practical, field-based work.
Learning Outcomes
Successful completion of this unit should enable students
to
- design appropriate sampling strategies for flora and fauna surveys
at a range of geographical and time scales
- make use of existing data resources in the planning and execution
of flora and fauna surveys
- plan and cost out surveys, and employ standard, repeatable field
techniques for data collection
- critically evaluate the survey design, use of sampling techniques
and results of other flora and fauna surveys
- prepare survey data for further analysis, use descriptive statistics
to summarise data and appreciate the various statistical tests
commonly used to examine data
- understand ways in which flora and fauna survey results are
used in natural resource management
- recognise at which points it is important and necessary to seek
expert advice
- prepare professionally presented and structured reports.
Learning Overview
The unit has two major components:
- Survey Design and Presentation
This component introduces students to the reasons for undertaking
flora and fauna surveys, and describes a range of methods used
when undertaking surveys. These concepts are reinforced with hands-on
experience during the residential component. Additional material
is provided following the residential component to help students
explore the analysis and presentation styles for survey data.
This component will
- introduce the principles of flora and fauna surveys
- describe methods used in surveys, and
- introduce the methods of analysis and report writing.
We will often request you read the set text book chapters, journal
articles or online resources or other material to prepare for
the residential period, and to broaden your knowledge as you work
on the unit topic.
Students are welcome to use the CAL (computer mediated learning)
lab during the residency week. This lab has 10 PCs with Microsoft
Office, access to the internet and e-mail. If you wish to use
this lab, please fill out the Computer Access Form in
this Guide and send it to Mike Bellamy, Faculty of Education, Health & Science, Charles Darwin University, DARWIN NT 0909 or Fax it on (08) 8946 7088. The form must be returned
prior to the residency week.
- Fieldwork
The residential period has a focus on fieldwork, in particular,
completing a flora and fauna survey at Charles Darwin National
Park. Methods of data analysis and report writing will be reviewed.
During the residential period, students will be required to attend
lectures, participate in tutorial sessions, and undertake a field-based
practical survey. The following is a general timetable for the
survey.
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Day
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Activity
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Monday
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Introductory talks. Preparation for fieldwork
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Tuesday
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Site survey, set up fieldsites
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Wednesday
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Flora and Fauna Survey
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Thursday
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Flora and Fauna Survey, packup field equipment
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Friday
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Data entry and analysis
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