Monitoring for Conservation and Ecology

by F.B. Goldsmith

Overview

Monitoring has become fashionable. Business now talks about monitoring its activities, efficiency, costs and profits. The National Health Service is monitoring general practices and hospitals; it is keen to have more information about efficiency and the duration of stay of patients in different hospitals undergoing different types of treatment. These activities are usually carried out in relation to specific objectives with the aim of making activities more cost effective and competitive. Does the same apply in biology, ecology and nature conservation? Or, are we still enjoying conducting field surveys for the fun of it, at best with rather vague objectives and saying to our colleagues that we do our work because we need to know what is there? This book is an opportunity to consider some of the reasons why monitoring is important, how it differs from survey, how it may be able to answer specific questions and help with site management or problem solving. It will explore some of the taxa that are suitable for recording and how you may actually set about doing it. It is not intended as a catalogue of techniques but we will in each chapter give you sources of material so that with the minimum of effort you will be able to proceed with an efficient, relevant and not too time­ consuming monitoring programme. Some of the points that you need to consider before starting are also set down in the synthesis at the end of the book.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780412356001
Publisher:	Springer Netherlands
Publication date:	12/31/1990
Series:	Conservation Biology , #3
Edition description:	Softcover reprint of the original 1st ed. 1991
Pages:	275
Product dimensions:	6.10(w) x 9.25(h) x 0.02(d)

Table of Contents

1 Development of a rationale for monitoring.- 1.1 Introduction.- 1.2 Definitions.- 1.3 Why monitor?.- 1.4 Design of monitoring strategies.- 1.5 Conclusion.- 2 Scientific requirements of a monitoring programme.- 2.1 Introduction.- 2.2 Purpose.- 2.3 Method.- 2.4 Analysis.- 2.5 Interpretation.- 2.6 Fulfillment.- 2.7 Discussion.- 3 Remote sensing techniques for monitoring land-cover.- 3.1 Introduction to remote sensing.- 3.2 Aerial sensors.- 3.3 Ground survey.- 3.4 Conclusion.- 4 Monitoring plant populations: census as an aid to conservation.- 4.1 Introduction.- 4.2 The need for monitoring plant populations.- 4.3 Methods.- 4.4 Case studies involving monitoring of rare plant populations.- 4.5 Towards more monitoring studies on plant species.- 5 Vegetation monitoring.- 5.1 What is vegetation?.- 5.2 Samples.- 5.3 Location of samples.- 5.4 Measures of abundance of species.- 5.5 Quadrat size.- 5.6 Sampling patterns.- 5.7 Mapping schemes.- 5.8 Comparing two sets of data.- 5.9 Conclusion.- 6 Monitoring butterfly numbers.- 6.1 Introduction.- 6.2 The butterfly monitoring scheme.- 6.3 Case study: Castle Hill National Nature Reserve.- 6.4 Limitations and potential of butterfly monitoring.- 7 Monitoring terrestrial breeding bird populations.- 7.1 Introduction.- 7.2 Methods for monitoring bird populations.- 7.3 Monitoring schemes in the UK and Ireland.- 7.4 Integrated population monitoring.- 7.5 Discussion.- 8 National species distribution surveys.- 8.1 Introduction.- 8.2 Types of surveys.- 8.3 Survey methods.- 8.4 Products of surveys.- 8.5 Interpretation of species distributions.- 8.6 Role of surveys in monitoring.- 9 Monitoring at the county level.- 9.1 Role of County Biological Records Centre.- 9.2 Data.- 9.3 Recording procedures.- 9.4 Technology.- 9.5 Use of the data.- 9.6 Network.-10 Field monitoring: confessions of an addict.- 10.1 Introduction.- 10.2 Field monitoring in theory.- 10.3 The metaphysics of monitoring.- 10.4 Monitoring motives and philosophy.- 10.5 Observation problems.- 10.6 Identification problems.- 10.7 Selecting the criteria.- 10.8 Timing.- 10.9 Samples and reality.- 10.10 Simple factors with complex consequences.- 10.11 To interfere — or not?.- 10.12 Utilizing old surveys.- 10.13 A problem with numbers.- 10.14 Integrated monitoring.- 10.15 Birds and reserve management.- 10.16 Conclusion.- 11 Monitoring overseas: Prespa National Park, Greece.- 11.1 Introduction.- 11.2 Objectives of monitoring.- 11.3 Decisions needed.- 11.4 Recommendations for monitoring.- 11.5 Staffing, costs and administration.- 11.6 Conclusion.- 12 The calculation of index numbers from wildlife monitoring data.- 12.1 Introduction.- 12.2 Index numbers and their properties.- 12.3 Wildlife index numbers in practice.- 12.4 The effect on index numbers of transforming raw abundance data.- 12.5 Conclusions.- 13 Biological monitoring and ecological prediction: from nature reserve management to national state of the environment indicators.- 13.1 Introduction.- 13.2 Choosing the state variables to measure.- 13.3 Biological monitoring at the national scale: towards a State of the Environment index from the World Conservation Strategy.- 13.4 Prediction, monitoring and decision-making.- 14 Synthesis.

Editorial Reviews

This is an excellent book...everyone concerned with assessing environmental changes or managing reserves should read this book. British Ecological Society Bulletin; good practical advice to all those involved in monitoring activities - A J M Baker

From the Publisher

A summary of the monitoring of a wide range of different plants and animals from Europe and North America as well as other sites. The volume identifies the need for long-term surveying in a standardized way on selected sites, reviews the work in progress, and recommends simple procedures for recording various taxa. Paper edition (unseen), $35. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Booknews