Day 1: 09.30-16.30.
Morning: lectures/group discussion; part-field observation
Understanding Scottish habitats.
● Background to NVC mires and heaths
● Keys to identification of mires and heaths
● Key methods for quadrats
Ecological requirements – habitats
● Survey techniques and interpretation of quadrat data
● Different vegetation types and key species
● Topography, common species and habitats
● Plant identification and species indicators for mire and heath vegetation communities
Afternoon: field excursion
Plant indicators for habitat identification
Day 2: 09.00-16.00
Field Day
Key methods for data collation, quadrats
Field - key plants and vegetation communities.
This is likely to include a few of the most common but also most interesting plants and communities in the grasslands visited. We will focus on major plant characteristics, differences for major plant groups including vascular plants, common rushes, sedges and some bryophytes of mires and heaths. Incidental observation and awareness for other species e.g. introduced species. Late afternoon – summing up and close
Field observation
Understanding Scottish species and habitats
● Plant characteristics and relationship to mire and heath vegetation communities
● NVC identification keys
● Key species and associations
● Quadrat methods and analysis of data, floristic tables
● Data tables and interpretation
Conclusion and summary
This is likely to include a few of the most common vegetation communities but also most interesting species and their habitats in the areas visited. We will focus on common species and plants associated with these communities. Incidental observation and awareness for other species e.g. introduced species.
