Through the year I have been set many assignments.
As my course was more practical most of my modules were assessed by assignments
and not exams. For most of the assignments I had to write scientific reports
which included statistical analysis, skills which I hope will benefit me in my
final year and in the future.
For each assignment I got to choose the species I wanted
to study. The species I chose were Large Red Damselfly (Pyrrhosoma nymphula) for the
invertebrate module, Dormice (Muscardinus
avellanarius) for the mammal’s module, American Bullfrog (Rana
catesbeiana) for the reptile and
amphibian module and Himalayan Balsam (Impatiens glandulifera) for my individual
project.
I chose the Large Red Damselfly as
the time of year (March) was not ideal to survey many invertebrates and the
Large Red is the first Damselfly to emerge in the UK, also I knew I could
survey the larvae which would give me the opportunity to practice my survey
skills, such as netting as well as transect counts for adults. I chose to
compare population sizes in three different habitat types, dunes, woodland and
open water. Unfortunately the surveys did not produce any Large Red Damselflies
even though the days I chose to survey (end of March) were the hottest days we
have probably had so far this year and one of the days there was the first
sighting of an adult Large Red in Cornwall, but not where I was! I did net some
other species of Damselfly though so I change my statistical analysis for them.
This study has shown I can create, complete and write up a study in a short
time and change it so I can produce some results. It has also helped learn how
to write up mistakes and overcome problems.
For the mammals module we could
choose to do either a desk survey or a practical one. I first thought about
doing Pine Martens (Martes
martes), and spent some time
researching them. Although I thought they were interesting I felt it would be
difficult to write a report on them as there is so much conflicting information
and positive identification through sightings and scat has been shown to have major
problems, with the only credible way to identify them being DNA sampling of
scat. To produce statistical analysis on the data on the internet would have
been difficult. My second choice was Dormice, the reason they were not my first
was because I was unsure when we would be going back to site to check the boxes
we had put up in October and also I was thought it would be quicker to do a
desk survey than a practical one but I found this was not the case. I found I
had collected all my data while others in my class who had also chosen desk
surveys were also struggling to find data and analyse it right up to the hand
in date. As we had put up boxes for Dormice in October I was keen to go back
and see if any were in use. Out of 28 boxes only two showed signs of dormouse
use, one with an old nest and one with a big nest probably with young. We did
not get to see any Dormice but the box with the big nest in was interesting as
it was the box we had placed in the middle on the field on a gorse bush, an
area that would have thought to be unsuitable for Dormice. Many of the boxes
had signs of use by Wood Mice (Apodemus
sylvaticus) and also a Field Vole
(Microtus agrestis),
in one box we found two Wood Mice and got to practice handling and weighing
them. To get to practice surveying for Dormice and finding signs in a location
not thought to be their habitat was great.
For our reptile and amphibian
module we were given an assignment that we would pick an invasive species that
was effecting out native reptiles or amphibians rather than an assignment on
our native species. This was one of my favourite modules, it was a shame it was
only a ten credit module so was only half the year. I looked at writing my
report on either an invasive pond plant or the American Bullfrog or Alpine Newt
(Mesotriton alpestris). Working with SINNG I was
doing a lot of work on invasive species, and we got to combine this work with
this module and survey sites for Alpine Newts. Although I really enjoyed the
work with Alpine Newts I decided not to do my project on them as I was
considering doing them for my dissertation in my final year. We were testing
the Alpine Newts for Chytrid and I had been researching this fungus, this is
when I came across the American Bullfrog. I decided to do my assignment on them
so I could use what I had learnt in my own time about Chytrid. The populations
of American Bullfrogs in the UK are affecting our native species through Chytrid,
Ranavirus and predation. For this assignment I did not have to do any practical
work which meant I could study the bullfrog as we do not have any in Cornwall. I
was also able to pass my finished assignment onto SINNG for them to use, from
this I decided that when I did my dissertation I would like to do a project
that would also benefit others and not just something I was interesting in but was
no use to anyone.
My individual project stemmed from
my work experience with the North Devon Biosphere Reserve. Having spent time
working with flora I was really interested doing a project on plants, my work
with Himalayan balsam gave me the idea to look at its effect on native plant
species. As Himalayan balsam is an invasive species my project could also benefit
the SINNG group at college too. After finding a suitable location in Cornwall
to survey (along the Camel trail and river) I surveyed the area with quadrats
and got to practice more statistical analysis with the data I collected. I had
not decided what project to do before September which did mean I had to collect
data in October then wait to April to collect the rest, but making this mistake
and not collecting my data over the summer months has meant that I have made
sure I know what I am doing for dissertation now and have planned to collect
data as soon as. This project has helped me practice my survey skills for flora
and my identification skills too. This project has been passed onto SINNG at
college and also the Rangers who maintain the Camel Trail. This is my abstract
from my report;
Impatiens
glandulifera (Himalayan
balsam) is becoming a widespread problem in riparian habitats over most of the
UK. This study, conducted at Grogley Halt, Cornwall looks at the effect
Himalayan balsam is having on the native plant species within the area.
By
recording Himalayan balsam at different percentage covers (0%, 25%, 50%, 75%
and 90%) a detailed picture of the effect it is having on the native plant
diversity was found. The data collected was used in a t-test producing
a P value of 0.029 which shows a significant statistical difference between the
mean number of species in quadrats with Himalayan balsam and without. A
diversity index test showed a correlation between the percentage cover of
Himalayan balsam and species diversity with no Himalayan balsam cover having a
higher diversity (0.9248) than those containing Himalayan balsam. These results
support the original hypothesis, ‘There will be a significant difference
in native plant diversity where Himalayan balsam grows’.
From these results
plans to control Himalayan balsam can now be made, with the likely use of
chemicals at Grogley Halt as the spread is too much to be controlled with
non-chemical control methods. Control also needs to be conducted further
upstream first to minimise more spread through the river to Grogley Halt.
Further research on Impatiens
capensis (Orange balsam) within the area needs to be
conducted to insure this will not take over if Himalayan balsam is removed and
the native plants can reclaim the area.
