Online Training Materials 1: Introduction to the NPMS and Survey … · 2020-05-12 · location in subsequent years Tim Purchess. 21 Filling out your recording forms: P1 Key to fill

Online Training Materials 1:Introduction to the NPMS and Survey Methodology

www.NPMS.org.uk Email: [email protected]

[email protected]

Rachel Murphy (NPMS Volunteer Manager) May 2020

1

Outline

• Background to the NPMS and data uses

• Getting started with the NPMS

• Survey method

Plot selection

NPMS habitats

Recording plant data

Other info to record

• Survey materials and setting up

• Volunteer support

•Any questions

Rachel Murphy May 2020 2

Introduction to NPMS and Survey Methodology

Project partners:

Scheme co-developed between the expert partners along with volunteers on the ground Inclusive trial phase with contributors and volunteers from a variety of backgrounds and

experiences Important that the scheme is accessible and inclusive while maintaining robust and

standardised methodology and data standards

3Rachel Murphy May 2020


NPMS provides an indication of changes in plant diversity

and abundance, across the UK’s habitats, through time.

• Long-standing schemes for monitoring populations of

birds, bats and butterflies but previously not for plants.

• Crucial to have a better understanding of plant

populations.

• Need for large coverage and systematic approach –

otherwise there is potential to mask trends and weaken

signals

A brief history:

2012 – The four partners came together

2014 – Pilot run in conjunction with Wildflowers Count

2015 – The NPMS was launched

2020 – Celebrating 5 years of NPMS Data

Background:



Why was the scheme established?A need – there was no robust national surveyNeed to include semi-natural habitat beyond protected sites in monitoring

What can the data tell us in the future? 1: Habitat inventories and remote sensing applications

To establish national trends

To monitor the impact of management

To support and enable improved reporting against stakeholder objectives and work plans.

To add value/augment other data sets

2: Investigating drivers of change using NPMS data (Climate change; Habitat management; Invasive species; Air pollution and eutrophication; Coastal management; Agri-environment stewardship; Pest and pathogens; Protected areas; Animal-plant interactions)



NPMS Species

NPMS broad habitats

Partners

Number of plots per square

Recording levels

Volunteers required

Visits each year

NPMS fine habitats408

52

3

2000

511

28

What’s in a number? (Just for fun)

Can you relate the numbers to the aspects of the scheme?



NPMS Species

NPMS broad habitats

Partners

Number of plots per square

Recording levels

Volunteers required

Visits each year

NPMS fine habitats

408

11

5

5

3

2000

2

28

What’s in a number? The Results!

Highlighting the input/effort put into a scheme of this scale




How are we doing so far?

• 1450 NPMS volunteers allocated a

survey square (1-5 squares each)

2000 NPMS squares required for

statistical power

• To date ~876 squares with

data returns

• >4,100 plots surveyed

Current coverage:

Orange = Allocated

Blue = Available



Aims:

• Provide reliable measures of change for individual species and

species groups within semi-natural habitats.

• Utilise both positive and negative indicator species for each

habitat.

• Be simple, repeatable, and achievable by volunteers.

The basics:

• Randomly allocated 1 km square

• Establish 5 plots per square

• Plots should represent different NPMS habitats

• Record abundance indicator species & other background info

• Carry out the survey twice a year

(late spring/early summer and late summer)



Celebrating 5 years of the NPMS:

https://www.npms.org.uk/blog/spring-has-sprung-how-are-our-wild-flora-responding-environmental-change

https://www.npms.org.uk/sites/default/files/PDF/NPMS_Understanding_Habitats_Web.pdf

https://www.npms.org.uk/blog/spring-has-sprung-how-are-our-wild-flora-responding-environmental-change

https://www.npms.org.uk/sites/default/files/PDF/NPMS_Understanding_Habitats_Web.pdf



Getting started

1. Register online at www.npms.org.uk2. Request your 1 km square3. Receive your welcome pack

• Letter of allocation• Survey Guidance notes• Species Lists• Species ID guide• Recording forms• Map of your square

All pack materials are also available online



Getting started

4. Contact landowner(s) to get permissions5. Reconnaissance visit to identify NPMS habitats and establish your plots6. Record your plot locations carefully and enter online so you can relocate them7. Agree survey dates with landowner as required



• Wildflower Level – 212 easily identifiablespecies, divided into lists applicable for habitats (~10-15 species per habitat)

• Indicator Level – an expanded list of 408 species, divided into groups applicable for habitats including some species which are more challenging to identify e.g. more grasses, sedges, ferns (~30 species per habitat)

• Inventory Level – designed for volunteers who are capable of recording all vascular plant species which they find in a habitat

Choose your survey level

Remember that not everything will be in flower



Getting to know your survey square and plots:

• Habitat Map in your survey pack

• Ordinance survey map

• View your square on your NPMS account/ Google maps

• Review habitats

• Reccy/visit your site• Plan ahead

• Consider landmarks

• Consider land access and safety

• FAQs on our resources web page



Recommended locations for square

plotsLinear plots: where

linear feature intersects a grid-line/boundary line

Selecting your plots

• Three 5x5 m plots (10x10m if in woodland)

• Two 1x25 m linear plots

• Where possible use pre-selected plot locations

• Only carry out surveys in NPMS habitats

• Ideally locate each plot in a different habitat

• If there is an accessible pond or flush,please include this



Laying out your survey plot:

Square plot - 5x5m

Linear plot - 1x25m

Fill in your recording form for each plot

Linear plot - 1x15m(not always straight linei.e. river bank)

Linear habitat may be shorter than plot. Record complete length of linear feature.



Hedgerows:

1 m out from hedgerow centre, or the outer 1 m section of the hedgerow (including ground flora)

Specific instructions on linear plots:



NPMS habitats:



Floras:

Web Resources:

Training:

ID support



Plot set up

• Use fixed landmarks

•Temporary markers

(leave nothing)

• Record GPS

• Plot sketch

• Written description

• Annual photograph from

same point/angle

Important to find same

location in subsequent years

Tim Purchess

21

Filling out your recording forms:P1

Key to fill clearly every visit

Can change between visits

Vegetation height categories



Filling out your recording forms:P2

Assessing abundance using DOMIN scale

Plot Sketches and photos – every visit


Score: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

% Cover:

<1 <1 1-4 5-10 11-25 26-33 34-50 51-75 76-90 91-100

• <1% and only 1-2 individuals = score of 1• <1% but several individuals = score of 2• If species are scattered try to imagine them clustered in a corner – how many 50x50cm squares they would occupy, including their leaves

Square plot - 5x5m

50x50cm square = 1% of a 5x5m square plot

Assessing abundance using DOMIN scale



Additional survey information

• Slope aspect and steepness

• Management description

• Grazing

• How wooded the plot is

• Vegetation height (excluding woodland canopy)



Vegetation height

What proportion of the vegetation is:

<10 cm11-30 cm31-100 cm101-300 cm>300 cm

Use a scale of 1-3:1 = less than one third of area2 = one to two thirds of area 3 = more than two thirds of area)



Additional survey information

• Slope aspect and steepness

• Management description

• Grazing

• How wooded the plot is

• Vegetation height (excluding woodland canopy)

• DOMIN scale for bare soil, rock/gravel, litter,

mosses and lichens



Equipment list: In the Field

- Survey form, guidance notes, species lists

- Map

- Clipboard and pencils

- Tape measure and string

- Plot corner markers (sticks, stones, walking poles!)

- ID guides

- Hand lens

- Compass

- GPS device

- Camera

- Phone

- Consider health and safety



Access to survey sites:

• Volunteer responsibility

• Permission required on private land

• Tips in our FAQs• Land registry• Local Council• National Park, National Trust etc• Local businesses• Post office/Library• Google maps

• NPMS Permission letter

• Thank You letter

• Land owner record

• Keep the Landowner informed

Let the landowner know planned visit dates in advance



Safety:

A quick reminder: When carrying out plant monitoring, NPMS volunteers do so at

their own risk.

• Consider your safety (access and landscape)

• Let someone know where you are going and when you are expected back

• Be prepared for weather changes

• Consider a small first aid kit, phone, food and drink

• Reccy/visit your site



Submitting your data

Enter data online at www.npms.org.uk

Useful YouTube video tutorials here:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxJpSzbAZ

MkC5eO9B2c4HOg

Further Data guidance available on NPMS

Resources web page and through specific data

entry training.

Data entry forms still accept historical data

(data recorded in a previous season)

Contact: [email protected] for help

http://www.npms.org.uk/

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxJpSzbAZMkC5eO9B2c4HOg

mailto:[email protected]



There is also an NPMS Mobile App

Available for…

Apple: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/npms-app/id1161238829

Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=uk.ac.ceh.npms&hl

=en_GB&fbclid=IwAR3EWhftSWyotvg2sACbO0xWvjtLAfrB3Di_kabiTF

CxtR8K4ypMufdhkx4

Contact: [email protected] for help

Registration and plot creation still needs

to be carried out on desk top

Allows in field data entry

Submitting your data

https://apps.apple.com/us/app/npms-app/id1161238829

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=uk.ac.ceh.npms&hl=en_GB&fbclid=IwAR3EWhftSWyotvg2sACbO0xWvjtLAfrB3Di_kabiTFCxtR8K4ypMufdhkx4




Your data really helps...

• Detect national trends

• Detect annual trends – species, groups of

species

• Non-natives, climate sensitive etc.

• Direct impacts of physical events e.g. severe

weather, introduction of pests

• Changes in land management

• Links with other species groups e.g.

pollinators



Ways to find support

- Survey packs – materials provided





- Website

o Resources

o FAQs

o Online training

o Data guidance videos





- Website

o Resources

o FAQs

o Online training


- Facebook

- NPMS support group

- Twitter





- Website

o Resources

o FAQs

o Online training


- Facebook, NPMS support, Twitter

- Courses and events: www.npms.org.uk/content/training-events

Including current online training

events

Events available and free to

registered NPMS volunteers

Emma Brambley

http://www.npms.org.uk/content/training-events





- Website

o Resources

o FAQs

o Online training


- Facebook, NPMS support, Twitter

- Courses and events

- Regional Mentor (https://www.npms.org.uk/content/npms-mentors )

- Email: [email protected]

- Phone: 07711 922098

https://www.npms.org.uk/content/npms-mentors


Documents

Online Training Materials 1: Introduction to the NPMS and Survey … · 2020-05-12 · location in subsequent years Tim Purchess. 21 Filling out your recording forms: P1 Key to fill