How to do a Shoresearch survey
There are different types of surveys within the Shoresearch set of surveys for several reasons.
Some surveys will only collect a certain type of information, so having a few should mean we can collect more and more types of data. Different types of surveys suit different ways
we’re thinking of surveying (in groups, self-led, short, more involved etc), so it should suit the manner in which we’ll work as well as suiting the people who come along to help us. For each survey there will be a summary sheet, which means you don’t have to remember all this (although there is a quiz at the end, to test for general understanding, don’t forget).
The Walkover survey
A survey to collect either absence/presence or overall abundance from an area on the shore. A route is walked within a particular area and all species known are recorded.
Used for: the absence/presence will be used for new surveyors and those carrying out self-led surveys, initially. The move to documenting abundance will then be developed and used in self-led surveys and sometimes in the group surveys.
The timed species survey
The timed species search is a 10 minute search, carried out, ideally, three times, whilst on shore, looking for a very small amount of species. These are from a list of species, interesting for particular reasons (Invasive Non-Native Species, Climate Change Indicator or due to distribution). Each search uses search routes to match the ecology of the species being looked for. Only presence or absence is to be documented.
Used For: new surveyors, self-led surveys and commonly at the end of group surveys too.
The Biodiversity survey
This survey uses quadrats, placed randomly, within a set area on the shore. Ideally within a shore height, but this depends on the type of shore overall. The survey groups record everything found in the quadrat and its estimated abundance. The quadrat is repeatedly moved to ensure enough of a coverage (ideally 5 quadrats per shore area).
Used for: group surveys only, as there is some equipment required and it is good for training purposes.
Carrying out the surveys
Please be clear and precise with your information and fill in as much of the form for the survey as possible.
Don’t worry too much, though, as I can contact you about something I’m uncertain of.
If you’re uncertain of your ID for anything, please place a * next to it and I will know you’re not sure.
There are areas on the form you can use to make notes on what features the species had, to help to ID, but…..
If you could take as clear a photo as possible. as well and send that to me, that would be very useful, especially as you’re improving your ID knowledge.
In wet conditions, your form is likely to get wet. Please use additional paper if the form becomes soggy, but always use a pencil.
Use your learning about how to look for species, as well as the Species ID training pages to help with finding and identifying the species.
Learn more about estimating % cover.
Self-led survey additional information
For those carrying out self-led surveys there will be information to find before heading to the shore:
- For completing the Marine Protected Area (MPA) section find out whether the shore you’re intending on visiting is within an MPA you will need to visit certain websites to check. To find out via a map use Wales marine planning portal, by using the panel on the righthand side chose the layer by going under Environment and Marine protection and the three main MPAS (SAC, SPA and SSSI), then zoom in and click on your intended patch. The MPA, if any, will appear in a box. Please note that not all MPAs cover the intertidal, but all shores will be of interest for improving your knowledge and ours. Learn more about MPAs in the next section.
- Always carry out the safety checks before you go. This is downloadable here: crib-sheet-for-onshore-surveys
- You will need one of two survey sheets. You can find these below:
- For the timed searches – Shoresearch timed survey site and survey recording form and Shoresearch timed survey species recording form
- For the Walkover surveys – Walkover survey recording forms
Although the data needs to be as precise as possible, there will be occasions/species with which you will need to make an estimation when it comes to level of presence.
There are ways to help with this process.
- Firstly, when using quadrats in the Biodiversity survey, you will be asked to estimate algae cover, as well as cover of those species which are attached to the rock etc and don’t move from their position, such as barnacles, sponges, colonial sea squirts, hydroids and bryozoans. You can estimate by counting the number of individual squares the species covers. If only around half a square is covered and there are a few squares like that, then count squares with half or more covered as 1 full square and don’t count anything with less than half. If you have only 2-3 squares with the species in, but in all, less than half the square is covered, you can group and call that 1% in all.
- Secondly, you may have species to count which are scattered, such as barnacles. You can try to estimate each square individually and add that all together. Another route is to imagine pushing all the barnacles into one corner of the quadrat and counting the squares they cover.
- Finally, the Walkover survey calls for estimation of cover, which we will go through in a later stage of this training, but for now just know it follows levels of estimation called SACFOR. Each letter stands for a level of abundance S= Superabundant; A= Abundant; C=Common; F=Frequent; O=Occasional and R=Rare. Walkover surveys can also be carried out just using Presence or Absence, but the value of the survey increases once estimation is used.
The next section is the quiz. Click to begin the quiz, the questions will appear below. For the fill-in-the-gaps questions, make sure you spell the same way as the word/phrase in the list, but don’t worry about using capitals or not. If you get any one question wrong within each quiz page, the you will be marked as wrong for the whole page. Answers will appear one you’ve finished each question.
You will be tested on what you’ve learnt so far using the reading and video info. Don’t worry too much, as once you’ve been out on the shore, the ID features you’ve learnt about will make more sense and after a couple of visits you should feel more confident about your ID.
Good luck!