Details of Award
NERC Reference : NE/P020437/1
Insect Taxonomy and Field Sampling Skills
Training Grant Award
- Lead Supervisor:
- Dr T Hesselberg, University of Oxford, Continuing Education
- Grant held at:
- University of Oxford, Continuing Education
- Science Area:
- Terrestrial
- Overall Classification:
- Terrestrial
- ENRIs:
- Biodiversity
- Science Topics:
- Systematics & Taxonomy
- Abstract:
- Summary Taxonomy underpins all research programmes that involve biodiversity monitoring, evaluation and modelling the impacts of environmental change on ecosystems. The proposed 5 day postgraduate and professional training short course in Insect Taxonomy and Field Sampling Skills aims to build confidence and provide training excellence for researchers needing to identify insects and design their own survey protocols and methodologies. The course will provide an overview of taxonomic theory, identification skills, basic field sampling and specimen preservation techniques, followed by two options: 1) Carabidae (ground beetles) or 2) Pollinators - Apidae (social and solitary bees). Students will be introduced to microscopy for identification and to digital imaging of insects. Guest lectures on 1) molecular techniques, 2) using taxonomic data to answer ecological research questions, and 3) Lepidoptera and Diptera taxonomy, will provide added insight and discussion to the core topics. The course will provide timetabled opportunities for students to discuss their own specimens and research and to resolve any identification issues. Uniqueness The course will be situated in the University of Oxford's Museum of Natural History, a unique historic building in the heart of the city. The Museum houses the second largest insect collection in the UK, through which students will be given a tour and have access on Day 1. The excellent teaching facilities offered by the Museum together with the experience and approachability of the tutors will provide an outstanding forum for students to progress their own studies and gain confidence in the identification and taxonomy of insects. A short walk away from the Museum of Natural History lies the University Parks where students will have the chance to practice entomological survey techniques and discuss sampling strategies. Impact Any research involving biodiversity assessments and monitoring, organism-environment interrelationships, quantification or modelling of ecosystem services and processes, will use 'species' as the basic unit of investigation. Having the knowledge and confidence to identify and classify 'species' is a basic research tool. Both student and tutor feedback on this course (run with a NERC PPSDA grant in January 2013; and with NERC ATSC funding in March 2015) was extremely positive. The majority of the students strongly agreed with the statements that the course: was interesting and enjoyable; was at an appropriate level of difficulty; provided them with concepts/techniques that will be useful in the future; had an excellent standard of teaching; that the tutors were approachable and effective. Student feedback from 2014 and 2015 enabled us to edit the programme for the March 2017 course and focus on Carabidae, Apidae and Diptera, include four guest lectures, and thereby allow more time to be spent on individual student identification issues. We are proposing a repeat of this course because of receiving 89 applications for the 20 places available in March 2017. This short course will seek to fill a well identified gap in taxonomy in the UK. Students will be equipped with the core taxonomic and sampling skills needed to, for example, survey, monitor and evaluate human impacts on insect diversity in temperate and tropical regions, model the impacts and risks of environmental change on northern European invertebrate populations, assess insect functions and services in ecosystems e.g. the UK's DEFRA National Pollinator Strategy, or sample and identify target insects as disease vectors. There is a demonstrated decline in UK taxonomic expertise caused by: the retirement of a generation of taxonomic specialists, a decline in taxonomic skills being taught in universities, and therefore fewer young scientists having taxonomic skills. The research skills students develop on this short course are highly transferable and valued by academia, consultancies, NGO's and industry.
- NERC Reference:
- NE/P020437/1
- Grant Stage:
- Completed
- Scheme:
- Doctoral Training
- Grant Status:
- Closed
- Programme:
- Advanced Training
This training grant award has a total value of £41,396
FDAB - Financial Details (Award breakdown by headings)
| Total - Other Costs |
|---|
| £41,396 |
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