WORKSHOP ON PLANT ECOLOGY

(Summer 2008)

(Experimental design - Sampling - Data analysis)

Learn how to become a proficient field researcher!

Have you ever wondered how real research studies are made?

Would you know how to design a field research study?

This Plant Ecology Workshop will answer all those questions and many more.

We will develop this research as a real-case study by following the scientific procedure applied in field biology (ecology).
We will determine the aim, the hypothesis and the field work schedule. Then we will establish our experimental design according to which is the most cost-effective data collection technique, how much and which data should be collected and why. Data will then be statistically analysed to see if there is a positive answer to our initial hypothesis. Finally, the results will be published accordingly.

The case study

The case study will be a comparative study on autoecology and spatial distribution of two plant species: Scabiosa saxatilis Cav. and Scabiosa cretica L., the vicariant counterpart of the former one.

S. saxatilis lives in the cliffs of the littoral mountains of the north of Alicante while S. cretica lives on the shores (also cliffs) of Ibiza Island, some 90 Km (56 miles) far away.

To better understand why these species are where they are today, we have to take a quick look to paleobiogeographic history data. About 5.9 My BP (in the Miocene), during a glaciations period, the Mediterranean Sea dried up allowing animals and seeds to spread away between these portions of land, there was only one species then, the predecessor of the current Trochocephalus Section of the family Dipsacaceae: S. saxatilis, S. cretica S. albocincta, S. minoana, S. hymettia, etc.

The Workshop

We will start our journey in the coast of northern of Alicante Province (Teulada, Benitatxell and Xàbia municipalities) to go on the study in Ibiza Island (Balearic Islands). We will be working on breath-taking cliffs, the home of S. saxatilis and S. cretica. We will sample data of both species, so we will be descending and climbing steep slopes and cliffs by foot, ropes and by canoeing from sea level. Wonderful field work! No rock-climbing skills are needed at all, ropes will be just a safety mesure.

Once the data are collected, we will index it in a database. Our next step will be the feared statistical analysis, the key of our study. For that purpose we will visit the Department of Statistics, Mathematics and Computer Science of the Miguel Hernandez University, where an expert on statistics (researcher at the Statistics and Operative Research Area) will guide us through the method of the statistical analysis. After all the analysis is completed, we will make conclusions about the research study in order to summit a final report to be published.

Apart from working, we expect also to visit the beautiful village of Ibiza, the night festivals of the Summer Spain as well as the enchanting corners or inlets in this amazing coast. Water is warm enough in June to have as many swims as we want. Do you fancy!

Later on, the climate of the Earth warmed again and the ices of the poles melted. The sea level rose up and a geographical barrier between mainland and the islands appeared. Thus, by being genetically isolated, the initial unique species evolved in different ways in each place, having now the two species that we find today here: S. saxatilis in the mainland and S. cretica from Ibiza Island towards Tyrrhenian islands (Corsica & Sardinia) and middle Mediterranean.

Our study (actually YOUR study!) will try to determine if there is some statistically difference between them regarding the spatial pattern occupation, the autoecological features and if so, how different they are.

The cost

The cost of the workshop is 649 €. It includes:

- Accommodation and breakfast in a camping or youth hostel
- All transportation (including from/to the airport)
- Ship to/from Ibiza Island
- Field work and materials
- Trip to the University Miguel Hernández
- Research-teaching team

Note: Accommodation in camping or hostel depends on the availabilty of space at that period.

Note: For studens from the UMH University there are a different cost according the services the may need.

What do you need to bring

- Travel insurance
- Pocket money for food (there are supermarkets, bars and restaurants in the camping area)
- Sun cream protection, etc.
- Good wishes for feeling like enoying the activities

miiiTentative schedule

Day 1. Arrival and first briefing
Day 2. Field work in the Marina Region
Day 3. Field work in the Marina Region
Day 4. Trip to the island of Ibiza, arrival and Field work
Day 5. Field work in Ibiza
Day 6. Return to Marina Region, arrival and indexing data
Day 7. Processing data at the Miguel Hernández University
Day 8. Free time (day off)
Day 9. Concluding and writing
Day 10. Departure day

Dates

June 2008 according to the needs of the groups interested in attending the workshop (also July or August).

Leaders of the Workshop

Dr. Antoni Barber
Biologist, PhD
(www.tonibarber.net)

Nicolás Moity
Biologist
(www.lacoctelera.com/dakhla)

 

Information and Inscription

Rachel Bicker
Royal Holloway University of London
R.Bicker@rhul.ac.uk

Dr. Antoni Barber
Research Director
IDENTIA Institute
identia@identiacentre.net