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University project on British Reptiles

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Maney View Drop Down
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Joined: 18 Feb 2011
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    Posted: 18 Feb 2011 at 2:41pm
Hey everybody,

My name is Dan and I am a student at the University of
Nottingham where I am studying for an Msc in Biological
photography and imaging. I have had an interest in
reptiles for the last 12 years or so, and I am looking to
do my final project on British reptiles and amphibians.

The project itself is a 50 image and 10,000 word piece
which I would like to focus on a general field guide,
detailing natural habitats, behaviours, identification
etc as well as conservation information. The idea being
to create something informative, interesting and most
importantly, useful in the field (and for people working
in the field).

With this in mind, I would obviously like to photograph
them in the wild and work with people knowledgeable on
the topic. I am very new to this, and as such I am hoping
you guys might be able to point me in the right direction
of people/organizations I should try to get in touch
with? Speaking with people working hands on in the field
would be of particular interest.

I am also keen to ccontribute my skills to help
conservation of British Reptiles, I would love to
contribute imagery to any conservation/awareness
campaigns so if you think you could use me please do!

Thanks in advance,

Dan
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Mark_b View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Mark_b Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 18 Feb 2011 at 3:56pm

Hey Dan,

You can find your local amphibian & reptile group here....

http://www.arguk.org/index.php?option=com_mapio&view=map s&id=1&Itemid=16

In terms of your project I wouldn't say a general field guide is needed. The recently released book by Howard Inns pretty much covers everything ... http://www.amazon.co.uk/Britains-Reptiles-Amphibians-Coverin g-Britain/dp/1903657253

It may be more useful to focus your efforts on the local area you are in. Linking in with the your ARG you could use your images to create educational displays, posters etc to be put up at local nature reserves etc. Also creating attractive sighting/record gaining posters that can be printed on weather-proof material and placed in areas that are lacking records. Not sure what are can actually write your thesis about but the basic ID, habitat, behaviours and conservation of our natvie herpetofauna must have been rewitten many times. Maybe you could do some mapping of your newly gained records and talk about the distribution of herpetofauna in your area. Advising where conservation work is needed (with the advise of local arg) and report this to your local council biodiversity unit? Create a easy to read booklet that summarises herps in Nottingham to be given to the public?  Just some quick thoughts

Hope I haven't put a downer on your idea!

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administrator View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote administrator Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 20 Feb 2011 at 9:48am
It might be outside your remit for the project.... but producing an 'outdoor' field guide, say a ring bound flip over booklet with water proof pages could be popular. Both for conservation and also consultancy use. I've always wanted one of these for onsite briefing of both conservation workers and consultancy fieldworkers. One area always poorly covered is the difference in appearance between terrestrial and aquatic stage newts. Even herp fieldworkers can get it wrong in my experience and identify terrestrial stage newts as 'lizards'. A booklet with a page dedicated to each species, larval stage, variations, eggs, juveniles etc etc would be great.

In any case, if you can do a day out in Essex drop me a PM and I'll take you around a local site or two.
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Noodles View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Noodles Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 20 Feb 2011 at 11:01am
Originally posted by GemmaJF GemmaJF wrote:

Even herp fieldworkers can get it wrong in
my experience and identify terrestrial stage newts as
'lizards'.


In such a case, is it even technically correct to call such
a person a 'herp fieldworker'?
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Noodles View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Noodles Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 20 Feb 2011 at 11:08am
Maney,
(Good name, same as my father-in-law)
If you can't find people in the Nottinghamshire ARG and
fancy a trip to Shropshire, i might be able to show you a
thing or two. That's if we're lucky and the devil is
smiling!
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Liz Heard View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Liz Heard Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 16 Feb 2012 at 9:57pm
Originally posted by Noodles Noodles wrote:

Maney,

(Good name, same as my father-in-law)

If you can't find people in the Nottinghamshire ARG and

fancy a trip to Shropshire, i might be able to show you a

thing or two. That's if we're lucky and the devil is

smiling!


welcome to RAUK forum!

any friend of UK herps is a friend of mine.
may i extend Noods invitation further South (to GLOS)?
i would be happy to show you (or any reader/member come to that) some local sites.
everything but the rarities/extra-curricular herps are fairly easily observed.

good luck and keep us all posted with yr pix!

ben
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sussexecology View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote sussexecology Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 17 Feb 2012 at 12:11am
Hey Maney
 
Welcome to RAUK and glad to have you on board.
 
You would be very wecome to come out with us.
 
We pretty much cover the whole of the UK, and we've got quite a few ongoing projects in the south. Feel free to contact us if you would like ot come out with us and we'll try and arrange something.
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