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COURSE MANUAL EK5003: Introduction to ecological field research in Northern Scotland Lesley Lancaster and Julien Martin School of Biological Sciences University of Aberdeen Key info: Depart from Aberdeen, Monday 28 Aug 09:00 Accommodation can be booked for night of Sun 27 Aug (see p 1) For insurance purposes you must complete the first stage of e-registration before the field trip Could you volunteer to drive one of the cars hired for the field trip? (see p 3) All other logistics information on p 1-5 Contents Introduction ......................................................................................................................................... 1 Course logistics ..................................................................................................................................... 1 BEFORE WE LEAVE ........................................................................................................................... 1 Course activities ................................................................................................................................... 5 Class exercises ................................................................................................................................. 5 Group projects ................................................................................................................................. 7 Course assessment .......................................................................................................................... 7 Background information on Bettyhill environment, flora and fauna ................................................... 8 Geology and soils............................................................................................................................. 8 Climate ............................................................................................................................................. 8 Human impacts .............................................................................................................................. 10 The flora ........................................................................................................................................ 10 The fauna ....................................................................................................................................... 12 References .......................................................................................................................................... 12 APPENDIX 1: Fieldcourse Risk Assessment ........................................................................................ 13 APPENDIX 2: Plant identification........................................................................................................ 18 Plant identification problems ........................................................................................................ 18 Plant identification solutions ......................................................................................................... 18 Plant species list ............................................................................................................................ 19 Introduction Welcome to the Masters in Ecology and Conservation field course! This field course is not just about plants or animals. It is mainly about spending time outside to obtain a better grasp of various ecosystems and how to sample them. It is also about team building, drawing inspiration from nature, and learning to ask questions about ecological processes that we can answer with simple field techniques. To accomplish these goals, we will visit the North of Scotland with some breath taking landscapes and pristine environment. The area The field course is situated in Sutherland in the far north of Scotland which is 'quite unlike any other in Britain' (Kenworthy 1976). The vast landscape comprises wild moorland, mountains and precipitous cliffs. The fact that even scientists can get carried away in describing it perhaps indicates how evocative and unusual the area is. It is on the new scenic route “North Coast 500”. Course logistics Dates Depart Aberdeen Monday 28 August at 09:00 and return Sunday 3 September around 17:00. Staff Dr Lesley Lancaster; [email protected], 07462 261900 Dr Julien Martin, [email protected], 07580 709014 Logistics: If you have any disabilities, medical conditions, or other circumstances which could limit your ability to participate in fieldwork, or which require you to be in close proximity to medical care, please contact the course staff immediately so that we can make suitable arrangements. BEFORE WE LEAVE Registration You must complete the first stage of the e-registration process before attending the field trip so that you are covered by University insurance. Please contact one of the course staff if you are uncertain. Accommodation for Sun 27 Aug can be booked at Hillhead student accommodation, for £18. If you require this please inform Claire Buchan [email protected] as soon as possible. You should report to Hillhead reception on arrival and will pay then. The accommodation is self-catering and there is a shop (and bar) on site. 1 Contacts Before departure exchange mobile phone numbers with staff. Make sure that phones are switched on during the journey so that any unforeseen changes of plan can be communicated to everyone en route (although mobile reception may not be possible in remote areas). Accommodation Basic male or female dormitories with separate shower facilities are available; one dorm sleeps 18, the other 12. Staff stay in the adjacent Schoolhouse. Catering Breakfasts and lunches are “self-sufficient” (i.e., everyone gets their own cornflakes and makes their own sandwiches). Evening meals work best by organising into appropriate ‘feeding guilds’ (e.g., vegetarians, carnivores, omnivores, etc.) each of about 4-8 people. Each guild works by having a rota for cooking and washing-up duties so that the work is shared evenly among everyone in each guild. Aim to have evening meals completed (i.e., the last washed-up spoon is back in its drawer) by 7.30 pm so that plenty of time is left for evening work. Supplies You will need to purchase your own groceries for the trip. Bettyhill has two excellent small shops (but with an inevitably limited range, especially of fresh meat, fish, fruit and vegetables). Both shops will be very glad of our custom. We will stop at the Tesco supermarket in Inverness on the way north for the bulk of your grocery shopping for the week, however feel free to do some shopping in Aberdeen before we leave. We will plan to have a group barbecue on the final day, so bring something to grill. What you will need to bring Waterproof jacket and trousers. Waterproof walking boots and a rucksack. Cold-weather clothing suitable for a day’s walking in the hills. Warm-weather clothing, sun hat, swimwear, insect repellent and sun-block. Spare socks. Thermos flask, water bottle or both. Sleeping bag or sheets/duvet (single bed) and pillow cases. Towels. Cash (no ATM in Bettyhill). Food and domestic necessities (see above). The Course Manual. What would be useful to bring if you need/have them: Any special dietary items or medicines that you need. Wellington boots. Any specialist plant or animal ID books, maps, or small items of equipment, that you think you might need for your project. OS Landranger map 10 (Strathnaver). Binoculars. Camera, spotting scope. Laptop. 2 What will be provided at the Field Centre: Mattresses, pillows and blankets (but not sheets or pillowcases). Kitchen equipment. Toilet paper. Washing machine with detergent. Basic field equipment (e.g., poly bags, trowels, marker pens, quadrats, sample bottles, hand lenses, etc.) and a few more esoteric items (e.g., nail varnish, double-sided sticky tape) which can have surprising ecological uses. More sophisticated equipment (e.g., a handheld GPS; microscopes; pH and salinity meters; anemometer). A modest library of ecological reference books. Six laptops. Digital projector for student presentations. First-aid kit. Transport We hire cars (people carriers) and a transit van (for equipment, luggage, supplies, etc.) for the field trip. We need volunteer student drivers for the cars, who should hold a clean, valid driving licence. If you are willing to do this please contact Lesley Lancaster [email protected]. You will be required to complete a form to put you on the university insurance; Lesley will arrange this with you. If you are driving a vehicle that requires re-fuelling, please inform Lesley otherwise pay for the fuel yourself and keep all receipts to reclaim the cost. If you wish to take your own vehicle, please contact Lesley. Trip to Bettyhill (KW14 7SS), Monday 28 August 9:00 Meet time at the Zoology Building car park with prompt departure by 10:00. Travel north-west on the A96 towards Inverness via Inverurie, Elgin and Nairn, aiming to stop at the Tesco supermarket on the outskirts of Inverness for lunch (and shopping if necessary). Then, drive north on the A9, B9176 and A836 via Bonar Bridge, Field Centre Lairg and Altnaharra. North of Lairg the road is entirely single-track with passing places, so take particular care. After Altnaharra: Stay on the A836 signposted to Tongue; don’t take the B873 signposted to Bettyhill (nice scenery, but a rather tortuous road). Bettyhill is about 1 hour from Altnaharra. Getting to the Field Centre: Turn