Objectives
Collecting data in the field is nowadays greatly facilitated by the advance of technology such as the development of devices that can automatically record and store environmental information, or miniaturized GPSs that can follow the movements of animals. In this course we will provide advanced hands-on training on some of the most used technological tools in field biology: movement tracking devices (e.g. GPS loggers, geolocators), environmental data loggers (e.g. to record temperature or water depth), acoustic devices (e.g. Audiomoths), camera traps, identification apps and drones. At the end of the course the participants will 1) understand the usefulness of each tool in the context of field biology; 2) know the basic principles of the use of these tools in fieldwork; 3) be able to download the data to a computer. Data analysis will not be addressed in this course, although a list of available software to deal with data handling and analysis for each tool will be provided.
Participants have to be present at 85% of the contact hours (this means that they can miss one half-day), and actively participate in all activities.
This course can give credits to PhD programmes at FCUL or of programmes with partnership from FCUL and other institutions with 6h-7h of contact hours per ECT, as a function of specific requirements. For these students additionally to the exercises done during the week the delivery of a written report done after the course is mandatory. For programmes with less hours of contact per ECT (6h/ECT, getting 6 ECTs from the course) students need to do an additional assignment (summary report). If needed 1 or 2 additional hours of contact may be added. Such report(s) are also advised for other students requesting accreditation of the course in their institutions.
Minimal formation of students: some experience in fieldwork is desirable; basic knowledge on Excel
Directed to: MSc or PhD students in Biology, Environmental Sciences, Ecology, Agricultural and Forestry or related areas, postdocs and professionals working in related topics
General Plan
Provisional plan:
Day 1 (FCUL) – 2h (morning or afternoon, TBD)
Introduction
Brief presentations of each tool
Plans for fieldwork
Days 2-5 (HRA) 34h (ca. 8.5h per day)
Days 2 -4 will be organized in modules. Each module will consist of a practical session where the trainees will have the opportunity to use the tools in a real-case example, collect data, learn how to transfer the data to the computer and, when applicable, visualize the data with a dedicated software. End of day 4 and day 5 the participants will have the opportunity to do a practical work using one of the tools (in groups).
Participants should arrive the night before of the start and leave by the end of day 5/early morning the following day.
Day 2:
8-10: Module 1: Tracking devices: deployment
10-12: Module 2: Data loggers: placement in the field
Lunch break
14-16: Module 3: Camera traps: placement in the field
16-18: Module 4: Acoustic devices: placement in the field
Day 3:
8-10: Module 5: ID apps
10-12: Module 6: Drones: operating
14-16: Module 7: Drones: data download
16-18: Module 8: Tracking devices: data visualization*
Day 4:
6-8: Module 8: Collection of devices (data loggers, acoustic devices and camera traps)
8-9: Module 9: Data loggers: data visualization*
Coffee break
10-11: Module 10: Camara traps: data visualization*
11-12: Module 11: Acoustic devices: data visualization*
Lunch break
14-16: Group work: Device deployment
Day 5:
8-14: Group work: Device collection and data download
14-16: Final session
Funding
Students fees
Partners
n.a.
Fee
Free for 1st year PhD students in Doctoral programmes at FCUL (e.g. Biologia), Biodiversity, Genetics and Evolution (BIODIV UL; UP), Biology and Ecology of Global Changes (BEAG UL, UA) and Sustainability Science (UL, several institutions), when the course counts credits for their formation, in which case the delivery of a final report done after the course is mandatory; the course is also free for more advanced PhD students of the BIODIV programme (ULisboa or UPorto); 50 € for more advanced PhD students of cE3c; 80 € for PhD students of the PEERS network (CFE); 125 € for FCUL Master students and unemployed; 180 € for BTI, BI and other PhD students; 250 € for Professional and postdocs.
When the maximum number of students is reached, 8 vacancies will be available for non-paying 1st year PhD students mentioned above, being, by order of preference students from: 1) cE3c; 2) BIODIV (not from cE3c); 3) FCUL (not from cE3c); 4) Sustainability Science (not from cE3c or FCUL); 5) BEAG (not from cE3c or FCUL).
Candidates should fill in the following FORMULARY:
https://inqueritos.ciencias.ulisboa.pt/index.php/399563?lang=pt
This formulary is strictly confidential, as explained in the introduction, and the data are required because the cE3c Advanced Courses are also offered as part of the PRR programme of FCUL.
When filling the formulary mind to:
- FILL ALL THE MANDATORY FIELDS
- UPLOAD CV AND MOTIVATION LETTER, both mandatory; use the names as instructed there
- If you want to resume later SAVE the formulary, otherwise you will need to fill everything again
- At the end SUBMIT the formulary before exiting
For any doubts please contact the cE3c coordinator of the cE3c courses Margarida Matos (mmmatos@fc.ul.pt) and the teachers Maria Dias (madias@fc.ul.pt) and Inês do Rosário (itrosario@fc.ul.pt).
madias@fc.ul.pt
