Course convenor(s):
Warren Cresswell(BSc, PhD, CEnv, MIEEM, MIoD)
Philip Davidson (BSc, MIEEM)

Date: 30/04/2009

Course length: 1 day

Venue:
Lower Moor Farm, Wiltshire Wildlife Trust

Course fee: £160
5% or 10% discount available if 2+ / 4+ courses are booked respectively

Outline:

This course provides an introduction to great crested newts and other British amphibians, with particular reference to appropriate survey methodologies and their legislative protection.  A field trip will demonstrate survey techniques and appropriate biosecurity measures to be used during amphibian surveys.

 

 

 

 

Further information:
Cresswell Associates
The Mill, Brimscombe Port
Stroud, GL5 2QG

T: +44 (0) 1453 731 231
F: +44 (0) 1453 888 797

 

 

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Download a booking form:
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Target audience:
This course is aimed at those who wish to learn about the ecology of great crested newts and other amphibians, survey techniques, and relevant legislation, with particular reference to development projects.

Aims:

To provide:

• background information on the biology of great crested newts and other British amphibians, their status and distribution, so as to understand when, where and how surveys should be carried out
• information on legislative protection for British amphibians and licensing requirements

To demonstrate:

• habitat assessment for great crested newts, including the use of Habitat Suitability Indices (HSI)
• appropriate survey techniques for great crested newts
• how to avoid the spread of amphibian chytridiomycosis and other diseases

Objectives:

At the end of the course you should be able to: 

• describe the behaviour, ecology and distribution of great crested newts (and other British amphibians), and how these influence when, where and how surveys for these species should be carried out
• assess the suitability of habitats for great crested newts

• be able to safely use appropriate survey techniques for great crested newts to determine presence/absence and population size class
• describe the legal and licensing requirements relating to great crested newts

Course content:

Lectures

• British amphibians: background biology
• British amphibians: survey techniques
• Behaviour and ecology of great crested newts
• Great crested newt survey techniques
• Biosecurity
• Legislative protection and licensing

Fieldwork

• Identification of suitable great crested newt habitat
• Survey techniques (bottle-trapping, hand netting, egg search) and prevention of spread of amphibian chytridiomycosis and other diseases
• Evening torchlight survey and newt identification

Additional information/requirements:

This course includes evening (nocturnal) survey work. Information on local accommodation can be provided on request.
An additional course on great crested newts is also available for those with existing experience of great crested newt survey techniques:
Great Crested Newts (II): Impact Assessment and Mitigation