6 weeks · 0 milestones
Conduct a real ecological assessment of a specific named site using a standard methodology: point count or transect survey for bird species, quadrat sampling for plant communities, pitfall or sweep net survey for invertebrates, or equivalent standardised ecological method. Calculate at minimum one ecological index (species richness, Shannon diversity index, Simpson's index, or DAFOR abundance scale). The proof is the field survey record including site name, GPS coordinates or map reference, assessment date, methodology documentation, species list with counts or abundance scores, index calculation, and a brief written interpretation of the site's ecological condition. iNaturalist transect observations with documented methodology (defined transect, consistent effort, documented conditions) are accepted for students without access to ecological field equipment. Reviewed by an ecologist who challenges the choice of ecological index and asks how the assessment methodology would need to change for a different site type or ecological question.