Virtual Field Course - Good Neighbours Exercise

Table of Contents

1. Instructions
   1. Aims
   2. Method
   3. Background
   4. References
2. Cross-references to relevant sections of the book
3. Video of the habitats
4. Photographs of the habitats
   1. Snail on fennel
   2. Snails on fennel
   3. Fennel along the edge of a road
   4. Fennel on exposed upland
5. Data - Snail Fennel Spreadsheet

Video of the habitats

Video showing the habitats

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Film Transcript

1. Snails on fennel, transect

• This film records the sites where a line (or transect) of fennel stalks were sampled for their over-wintering snails. For each plant we measured stems over 5mm thick at 10cm above ground, or the six thickest stems over 5mm.
• The total number of snails was counted on each stem, whatever their species and whatever their position on that stem.
• We also measured the distance between successive plants.

2. Streamside transect

• This is the position of the first transect - a roadside, adjacent to a stream, within an expanse of vineyards. The roadside was covered with deep, lush grass and at the stream-side, bamboo.

3. Vineyard transect

• The second transect was also amongst vineyards, but in a sheltered valley at a higher altitude. Here the field edge was formed by a dry-stone wall of limestone.
• The low lying vegetation was not so dominated by grasses and included a greater range of flowering plants.

4. Exposed site

• The last transect was along a roadside on a more exposed and windswept hillside.
• This area is dominated by limestone boulders.
• Although less verdant, the low lying vegetation here was very diverse.