1 Reply by GaryP

  • GaryP
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  • Registered: 12-07-2009
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Re: Recording results from a survey

Hello,

I started to record findings from a survey that I am taking part in . When I started entering in the data I began to think that this does not seem the right way to do it. So, I thought I would put a question up and see what responses came.

The survey is for mammals and is in one location which is about 1-2 hectares. So the sightings/observations can be in different location within that area.The observations can be a combination of actual sightings dead or alive. Or it could be signs of activity. e,g, droppings, a nest or feathers left behind from a fox kill etc.

When I started to enter some of the data, I was trying toi work out how do I enter this data? For instance although I can enter a species if it is only by a sign e.g. droppings how should I record that? There is in effect no number to record. All I began to do was put a comment in when entering a taxon occurrence. It didn't seem the best way. Also, when I tried to enter a brown rat, I could only find Rattus in the taxon dictionary when I did a search.

Anyway, if anyone can offer any thoughts then I would be very interested to hear them. Thanks.

Gary Pocklington

2 Reply by MikeWeideli

  • MikeWeideli
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  • From: Littlefield Consultancy
  • Registered: 05-07-2006
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Re: Recording results from a survey

Gary

The way you collect the record is the Sample type so this should normally be Field Record unless you are actually using traps.  The method you use to identify a species is the 'Record type, so if you  you make the identification based on dung then you can use one of the the Record types for Dung (choose one and be consistent). If there isn't an existing term there which suits you can add one via the term list. Where you actually base the identification on a sighting then you can set the Record type to 'None'   or 'Field Record'.

Only record an abundance (count)  if you actually have a sighting and numbers. If you wish you can have separate abundances for male/female etc. 


As far as identifying where the sightings are made, there area number of options. You could use the  location hierarchy to set up one Locations for the site with sub sites different areas, say based in habitat, or boundaries.  You can allocate a site centroid reference to each site/sub site and record against these. Either against the sub sites or for a general sighting, say for a fox running across the area, you could use the Location for the main site.

My preferred method would, however, be to dispense with Locations and just use a grid reference based either on a plan of the area or a GPS reading. I have used a high resolution aerial view which I have added a 10m grid for this type of recording. 

If you use the   'Mammalia Natural History Museum Check List of Mammalia' you should be able to search on Brown Rat and not sure why you are having difficulty here.   

There is a mammal recording card with current version of Recorder and this could be used to enter records in the way described above.

Mike Weideli

MikeWeideli's Website

3 Reply by GaryP

  • GaryP
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Re: Recording results from a survey

Mike,

Thanks for your reply. That nicely covers what I was look for.

The 'problem' I had with the Rattus was that in the taxon occurrence entry I type in 'Rattus' then pressed return. I noticed after getting rather annoyed with myself that I had the 'abbreviation' box checked. After changing that to name is was ok. Then I re-tried the 'abbrevation' with 'ranor' and it was ok. A case of not spending a couple of minutes to check what I had entered.

Cheers for now

Gary Pocklington

4 Reply by GaryP

  • GaryP
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Re: Recording results from a survey

Hello,

I used the mammal recording card to test and see how it worked. I tried adding two records for the same day but different location. This seemed to cause recorder a problem as I got the window up which asked if I wanted to continue, restart etc. I was quickly trying it so I didn't note all the details. I am hoping to try again today.If I get the exception report/dump again can I post it onto this forum for checking?

Cheers for now

Gary