In the Field: The Importance of In-situ Data Collection.

Field-based measurements refer to quantitative data collection in-situ of physical, chemical, or biological parameters in the landscape.

Field surveys are often the best option for obtaining high-resolution, accurate and spatially explicit biophysical data and may be the only appropriate method for measuring biotic components of the ecosystem.

They are an important element of site selection and are usually required to calibrate remote sensing approaches and to validate desk-based analysis. When multiple biophysical indicators are collected in tandem, this allows the use of large-scale modelling and interpolation.

In the field of ecology, field-based measurements are a fundamental method for gathering data. Field surveys are often the best way to obtain high-resolution, accurate, and spatially explicit data. This data is crucial for a variety of purposes, including:

Site selection
Calibrating remote sensing approaches
Validating desk-based analysis
Large-scale modelling and interpolation
Monitoring species populations
Assessing abiotic changes

The choice of ecological survey methods for monitoring species depends on the question being asked and the behaviour, size and distribution of the species of interest. It is often impractical to measure all taxa within an assemblage, but several derived biodiversity indices are available to generate insights into heterogeneity, connectivity and resilience.

Monitoring species is a core requirement of evaluating biotic change; investing in approaches for biological communities, therefore, supports assessing compliance with multiple principles and criteria.

Measuring abiotic changes most commonly requires deploying physical and chemical sensing equipment, which can be hand-held, portable, or fixed in space. This can increase upfront costs for instrumentation but can generate multidimensional data on large scales with a high degree of accuracy.

Low-tech methods may be more cost-efficient and require little expertise, but often lack the precision to detect fine-scale change and can be time-consuming. Instruments may require calibration with lab-analysed data, especially for novel technologies that have been subjected to less testing. Depending on whether a project’s primary aims are to change abiotic features, such as water quality, or whether these are secondary outcomes, multi-sensor probes may be a cost-effective choice in the long term.

The timing of surveys should reflect important biological or climatological periods within your landscape, accounting for the effects of migration, seasonality, and species’ reproductive cycles. It is best practice to first build a conceptual model of, and quantify a robust baseline within, your landscape to inform the spatiotemporal distribution of field surveys.

Field-based measurements are an essential part of ecological research. By collecting data in the field, ecologists can gain a better understanding of the natural world. This understanding is critical for informing conservation efforts and developing sustainable management practices.

17 July 2024