This 4-day fieldwork course will give students the opportunity to undertake an array of fieldwork investigations across a diverse range of habitats.
Students will develop their research and practical skills in real-world contexts, while gaining first-hand experience of all required methodologies (Me) and sampling techniques (ST).
Students will have the opportunity to use a variety of specialist fieldwork equipment to investigate the environment around them, including moth traps, soil ovens, bat-detectors, and infiltrometers, necessary for their A Level Environmental Science fieldwork.
Mathematical skills and the use of GIS will be used to interrogate and manipulate fieldwork data, including a variety of graphical forms, the calculation of Simpson’s Index of Diversity, measures of dispersion, uncertainties and percentage error, and the appropriate use of statistical tests.
This course will deepen students’ understanding of real-world environmental science, inspire them as they explore dynamic environments, and enable them to meet the specification requirement of 4 days of fieldwork.
Example Timetable
The following is an example of how a 4-day course might look. Our courses are as flexible as possible to meet your requirements, with other topics and skills able to be substituted into this timetable. There will be some variation between what is offered at specific centres due to habitat availability.
Day 1
Arrive Midday
- Students greeted by staff.
- Welcome talk and centre tour.
- Pre-course meeting with staff and teachers.
- Allocation of wellies/waterproofs.
Afternoon and evening
Freshwater Pollution Study
An investigation to establish the health of a freshwater ecosystem using invertebrate indicator species. Students will identify how identify human influence and physical landscape features contribute to pollution in local watercourses.
Data will be collected on freshwater invertebrate abundance and used to calculate biotic indices. Abiotic variables such as turbidity, light, temperature and oxygen will also be measured.
Day 2
Morning
The Carbon Cycle
An investigation into the role of woodland in carbon storage and sequestration. Students will use a combination of fieldwork data and reference charts to calculate mean tree biomass and estimate carbon storage per hectare in a woodland.
Students will relate their own data to the wider carbon cycle and the ways in which it is being affected by human activities. They will consider the role woodland can play in sustainable management of the carbon cycle and how photosynthesis and carbon sequestration by trees can play a vital role in counteracting human activities which upset its natural equilibrium.
Afternoon and evening
Soil Analysis
Students will use a variety of practical skills to investigate soil characteristics in contrasting areas and/or changing environments in the local landscape. This will include techniques such as using data on change during heating to estimate the percentage water and organic matter composition of soil, measuring infiltration rates, using soil triangles and sedimentation to compare textures of different soils and measuring other edaphic factors such as pH and compaction.
Students will evaluate the data collected and relate their findings to broader environmental context, in particular soil management strategies to increase sustainability.
Day 3
Morning and afternoon
Succession
An investigation into the process of ecological succession exploring how plant communities and associated environmental factors change over time. The habitat used will depend on the centre.
Students will use systematic sampling along a transect to collect data on species abundance and distribution, as well as various abiotic factors such as wind speed, light, soil depth and humidity
Evening
Data Analysis
Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient will be used in the analysis of data to inform conclusions.
The context specific maintenance of plagioclimax habitats through human activity will be considered.
Day 4
Morning
Conservation Visit
A visit to a local site of conservation interest to see first hand examples of conservation management. Students will gain case-study knowledge of different methods used to conserve biodiversity, the legislation and protocols behind these, how and why conservation priorities are set, and examples of habitat management.
Depart at Midday
- Review of the course.
- Signposting further actions and opportunities with the FSC and beyond.
- Final farewell from staff.
How this course fulfills the specification
Subject Content:
- 3.1.2 Conservation of biodiversity
- 3.1.3 Life processes in the biosphere and conservation planning
- 3.2.4 Carbon cycle
- 3.2.5 Soils
- 3.4.3 Nutrient pollution
- 3.5.3 Forest resources
Methodologies:
- Me 1 Random sampling
- Me 2 Systematic sampling along a transect
- Me 3 Number of samples
- Me 4 Sample size
- Me 5 Sample timing
- Me 6 Statistical analysis
Sampling Techniques:
- ST 1 Measurement of abiotic factors
- ST 2 The use of quadrats to measure biotic factors
- ST 3 Measurement of edaphic factors
- ST 4 The use of methods to measure biotic factors related to animal taxa on the soil surface and in soil
- ST 5 The use of methods to measure biotic factors related to animal taxa on foliage and flying animals
- ST 6 The use of aquatic sampling methods to measure biotic factors
Added value of this course
Develop skills
- Communication | Resilience | Independent thinking | Leadership
- Numeracy | Literacy | Investigative skills | Observation
Enhance Knowledge
- Ask questions
- Apply knowledge in the real world and make links
- Make sense of new places and understand our place and role within this
Enjoy
- Have fun | Make friendships | Connect with nature