Practical Field Ecology

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.

“"I would certainly recommend this book to be used as a textbook for students undertaking higher level VET (Vocational EducationTraining) Certificates and Diplomas, as well as applications for first and second year levels of university." ( Austral Ecology , 1 October 2013) "This will be a great boom to tutors on residential field courses or lecturers supervising student projects as a part of degree courses, particularly those concerned with animal ecology, though there is much sound advice for those working on other groups of organisms." ( Biodiversity and Conservation , 1 October 2012) "With all the points above in mind, I know that I will make this book available to all my students. In fact, having read it, I can now even answer questions about slurp guns." ( African Journal of Range & Forage Science , 1 November 2012 ) "It is very informative and its 606 pages are a real bargain for ”

I would certainly recommend this book to be used as atextbook for students undertaking higher level VET (VocationalEducationTraining) Certificates and Diplomas, as well asapplications for first and second year levels ofuniversity. (Austral Ecology, 1 October2013) This will be a great boom to tutors on residential fieldcourses or lecturers supervising student projects as a part ofdegree courses, particularly those concerned with animal ecology,though there is much sound advice for those working on other groupsof organisms. (Biodiversity and Conservation, 1October 2012) With all the points above in mind, I know that I willmake this book available to all my students. In fact, having readit, I can now even answer questions about slurp guns. (African Journal of Range & Forage Science, 1November 2012) It is very informative and its 606 pages are a real bargainfor GBP45.00. ( British Ecological SocietyBulletin, 1 August 2012) "Summing Up: Recommended. Lower-division undergraduates throughgraduate students." (Choice, 1 January 2012) "The book is very well structured and takes the reader throughthe entire process of carrying out an ecological research projectin clear and logically ordered sections ... The book contains ahuge amount of information which is presented in a highlyaccessible way, with clear illustrations and case studiesthroughout." (Elsevier's Biological Conservation, 1 January2012) "I highly recommend the very thorough and approachable bookPractical Field Ecology: A Project Guide by C. Philip Wheater,James R. Bell, and Penny A. Cook, to any students, researchers,ecologists, business people, and policy makers who are seeking avery well grounded guide to planning, executing, measuring, andreporting on any ecological project. This book provides the toolsnecessary to provide scientifically sound information for informeddecision making in any ecology related field." (Blog BusinessWorld, 19 November 2011)

Liverpool John Moores University

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.

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.

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