Head's Newsletter 9 July 2021

BIOLOGY FIELD TRIP—SLAPTON LEA

Devon. Home of the Jurassic Coast, Dartmoor, miles of picturesque beaches, and the renowned site of the Tiffin 2021 Biology field trip. After a long coach journey from school, we reached our home for the next four days. The centre sits right in the middle of the Slapton Ley National Nature Reserve, with cattle fields and foxgloves as far as the eye can see. Upon our arrival, we met our first member of staff - Radish the dog. After settling into our rooms, we set off to explore the area, taking the short walk to Slapton Sands. The beach is a key feature of a huge bay, ending in imposing headlands and peppered with rock formations. A thin bar separates the ocean from the equally impressive namesake of the reserve- Slapton Ley, a winding freshwater lake humming with rare birds and other wildlife.

Tuesday, our first day of practical fieldwork, began with a walk down to the shingle ridge. We took part in group discussions describing how the ecosystem and the microhabitats seem to change with increasing distance from the sea due to succession, learning about how changes in ecological communities are brought about by cycles of facilitation and competition which all start from colonisation of an ecological gap by pioneer species and identifying how both abiotic and biotic factors contribute to these changes. Our morning consisted of collecting data including plant abundance and plant height in addition to monitoring several abiotic variables such as light intensity and soil moisture. To collect this data we not only had to think critically about controlling certain measures, but also the sampling techniques used. Applying classroom knowledge, we were able to accumulate representative results through the use of point quadrats and a tape measure for a transect line. Following this, in the afternoon we had to analyse our gathered data using a suitable statistical test and thus draw and evaluate the conclusions made using our own scientific reasoning, as well as what we learnt earlier that day. Later, in the evening, we had the opportunity to take a walk by the ley where our coordinator Chloe spoke on the numerous fascinating conservation strategies in use in the area such as coppicing in the woodlands, which is a traditional practice of harvesting wood benefitting the wildlife by opening up the woodland floor to sunlight. We also learnt about the species recovery programme for Strapwort, a very rare species of plant that only occurs on the shore on Slapton Ley. In addition to this, we had the amazing chance to go bat watching. With there being fourteen species recorded on the reserve, out of eighteen found in the UK, Slapton Ley has one of the highest population densities of Soprano Pipistrelles and has the second largest maternity roost of Lesser Horseshoe bats in Devon, which we were lucky enough to get close to. Using echo meters we learnt about the communication of bats and the frequencies at which they do so through their echolocation calls.