Studland - Research And Fieldwork

Question 1

Methodology

Primary fieldwork

Answer 1

• vegetation surveys carried out systematically along dune transects every 10m. Quadrats used to assess proportion of different vegetation to see if dune follows the expected plant succession in a Psammosere environment
• average values of vegetation cover taken from the vegetation surveys and correlated with distance from honeypot site on a scatter diagram. Regression analysis used to quantify the relationship
• shapes of dunes recorded systematically every 10m using clinometers, allowing accurate kite diagrams to build up dune profiles
• litter survey carried out systematically at 30m intervals from the honey pot site
• bipolar surveys carried out to assess the quality and effectiveness of defended (e.g. Rope fencing)
• interview with Stewart Rainbird (senior beach ranger for national trust)
• interview with dr suzie baverstock (communications officer for Wytch Farm Oilfield)

Question 2

Methodology

Secondary

Answer 2

• Status of local wildlife assessed using ICUN redlist (www.icunredlist.org)
• Strategies of National Trust investigated using official website (www.nationaltrust.org.uk)
• Marine Conservation Zone (MCZ) status checked using www.dorsetwildlifetrust.org.uk
• SMP strategy assessed using www.twobays.net
• Presence of indicator species by checking bird-watching forums such as www.birdforum.net
• Aerial inspection of dune system using 2014 satellite data from Google

Question 3

Results and conclusions

Answer 3

• Vegetation cover consistently high until 70m from highwatermark, at which point cover drops to just 30%. At 80m, cover returns to high percentage.
• This indicates damage has been consolidated in single areas by the National Trust’s policies such as rope fencing.
• The litter survey showed only 2 individual instances of litter. Maybe unreliable as we were not a peak tourist time? But, does show that litter has been well managed.
• Lyme grass was found in low percentages (