Eco-Online Nova Scotia - Monitoring Biodiversity

Big picture data

Aim

You selected the site for doing a biodiversity survey in 'Setting up for success'. This activity aims to familiarise students with the site as they collect 'big picture' data about it. 'Big picture' data helps to build a general profile of the area. This is useful to do before you begin detailed sampling of the site.

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Children looling into a tree

Preparation

To collect 'big picture' data, you will need:

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Process

Step 1 — Gather 'big picture' data

To create a profile of the site, answer the following questions:

  • What are the obvious living and non-living features of the study area?
    • Is it on a flat plain, a slope or undulating ground?
    • Is the soil rocky, sandy or loamy?
    • Is it protected by trees and/or buildings or exposed to wind?
    • Is it a grassy and/or treed area?
    • Is it near water?
    • Is it subject to heavy use?
    • Is it quiet or noisy?
  • What's the nature of the adjacent neighbourhood? Is it an urban, rural, coastal or arid area?
  • What are the weather and seasonal conditions?

Step 2 — Use a compass to identify the aspect

What's the aspect of the study area? Is it exposed to north, south, east or west?

Take a compass to the reference point, that is, the suitable marker you chose in 'Setting up for success'. Identify the site's aspect. Students can mark the compass points on their site maps.

Step 3 — Be alert for mobile species

During your observations, be alert for mobile species, such as birds, butterflies and bats as well as the larger mammals, reptiles and amphibians. Most animals will leave the area once people approach. This can give an incomplete picture of the site. You can minimise the disturbance of wildlife by being quiet and slow in your approach.

 Helpful hints

Eyes, ears, nose and sense of touch all have a role to play in gathering initial data.

When you encounter something related to the survey that cannot be adequately explained or named at the time, take a photograph so you can ask an expert later or consult a reference book.

Wash your hands after handling fungi and insects and before eating or drinking. Do not eat fungi from the natural environmenmt. Cultivated mushrooms are an entirely different species.

Children looking at a tree stump
Children looking at a creek

Reporting

Prepare a large map of the site on which to plot the results of all the transects. Use a bar graph to show the numbers of each species found. Comparisons between data from different transects can be discussed and reasons for variations suggested.

When data from earlier surveys is available for comparison, changes over time can be discussed and explanations offered. Is the area biologically stable? Or is it changing over time into a different type of ecosystem?

 Reflection
  • Were the observations made from an appropriate distance?
  • Could better data have been obtained by different methods?
  • How much did individuals' observations differ?