MacKinnon ListsMacKinnon Lists Collecting field data and practical Collecting field data and practical

uses of resultsuses of results

Aidan MaccormickAidan MaccormickUniversity of St AndrewsUniversity of St Andrews

OutlineOutline• FieldworkFieldwork

- - Selecting routeSelecting route

- Recording format- Recording format

- Recording rules- Recording rules

• Data entryData entry

• How can we use the results?How can we use the results?

• Notes for other taxonomic groups – trappingNotes for other taxonomic groups – trapping

RouteRoute

100 m

Start/EndX

MM

M100m100m

• Decide where you are going to walk

• Representative of habitat(s)

• Marking of route not required

• 1 person, but pairs or more can work, but as a single unit

• Recording range from route: Birds 100m, Butterflies 5m etc

Recording observationsRecording observations

• Use notebooks/prepared Use notebooks/prepared sheetssheets

• Begin with basic details: Date, Begin with basic details: Date, Start time, Site name, GPS, Start time, Site name, GPS, Altitude etc.Altitude etc.

• Start recording observations Start recording observations (or captures) in order (or captures) in order caught/seen/heardcaught/seen/heard

• Use what ever format is most Use what ever format is most comfortable: codes, scientific comfortable: codes, scientific names, common names etcnames, common names etc

• Note if the sp. was Note if the sp. was caught/seen/heard use simple caught/seen/heard use simple codes (A, V etc)codes (A, V etc)

• Note distance of the Note distance of the individual from route if individual from route if requiredrequired

• Note any additional Note any additional behaviour if you want e.g. behaviour if you want e.g. breeding, foraging etc.breeding, foraging etc.

• If unable to identify STILL If unable to identify STILL write down description, write down description, collection number, photo collection number, photo number etcnumber etc

Recording observationsRecording observations

Recording observationsRecording observationsNote down: Note down:

• Location every Location every hour or sohour or so

• When crossing one When crossing one habitat to anotherhabitat to another

• Additional sps Additional sps recorded ‘outside’ recorded ‘outside’ the sample areathe sample area

• Only ‘extra’ sps on Only ‘extra’ sps on returnreturn

• 3 – 5 days/site• Site =

- within 10km- within 500m bands

Constructing listsConstructing lists• Identify using Identify using

reference material reference material specimens, keys, specimens, keys, guides, recordings guides, recordings etcetc

• Decide on length Decide on length of list. 10 species of list. 10 species list, 5 species lists list, 5 species lists etcetc

• If 10 species lists: If 10 species lists: number new species number new species on list until number on list until number 10 is reached, omit 10 is reached, omit sps already recordedsps already recorded

Date EntryDate Entry• Enter all lists from Enter all lists from

notebook into notebook into spreadsheetspreadsheet

• Enter evidence for Enter evidence for observations (A, V, R, P observations (A, V, R, P etc)etc)

• Enter ‘additional’ sps Enter ‘additional’ sps recorded but not on listsrecorded but not on lists

• Combine Combine unfinished/broken lists if unfinished/broken lists if from same habitat and from same habitat and sitecsitec

Summary data sheetSummary data sheet

• Species listSpecies list

• Individual Individual frequencyfrequency

• List frequencyList frequency

• Minimum number Minimum number of individualsof individuals

• Relative abundance Relative abundance estimates: % listsestimates: % lists

ResultsResults

How can we use this data?How can we use this data?

Identification/prioritisation of Identification/prioritisation of sites/areassites/areas

• Highest abundance of threatened Highest abundance of threatened speciesspecies

• Highest abundance(s) of indicator sps Highest abundance(s) of indicator sps for habitat (healthy Vs unhealthy)for habitat (healthy Vs unhealthy)

• This will allow us to direct This will allow us to direct conservation funds to the most conservation funds to the most important sites for species/communities important sites for species/communities of importanceof importance

How can we use this data?How can we use this data?

Monitoring/threat assessmentMonitoring/threat assessment• Identifying natural/human caused Identifying natural/human caused

changes in abundance(s)changes in abundance(s)

• Natural ranges increasesNatural ranges increases

• Spread of introduced spsSpread of introduced sps

How can we use these data?How can we use these data?

Community structure over a season?Community structure over a season?• Potentially useful for describing changes Potentially useful for describing changes

in terrestrial inverts esp. butterflies?in terrestrial inverts esp. butterflies?

• Important if collecting data for multiple Important if collecting data for multiple sites over a long timesites over a long time