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Field Study Courses
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Rocky Seashore: Students can carry out an investigation on food webs and feeding relationships to generate ecological pyramids, similar to the study which can be carried out on the estuarine ecosystem. An alternative investigation, particularly for those students studying Option G, is to use the rocky seashore to investigation an organisms niche, inter- and intraspecific competition and the competitive exclusion principle (Gause's Law). The rocky seashore provides a brilliant opportunity for all students to see first hand and recognise species from the following animal Phyla: Porifera, Cnidaria, Platyhelminthes, Annelida, Mollusca and Arthropoda as required in Topic 3. Each student can build on this knowledge to develop their own dichotomous key for up to 8 chosen organisms. There are also real live examples of alien species on the seashore, which students will have the opportunity to investigate, as well as many examples of species which use the r-strategy for reproduction.
Saltmarsh Study: The key concepts of zonation and succession (as required for Option G) are taught using the data students obtain by sampling along a transect established to investigate the environmental gradient of a saltmarsh. The Spearman's Rank statistical test is use to analyse the results of the soil samples.
Pond Study: Students use instruments to measure abiotic factors and a dichotomous key to identify invertebrates to determine the species richness and biodiversity of 3 local ponds. Simpson's Diversity Index and the Mann-Whitney U statistical test are used to help analyse the data. The pond study is popular as an introductory session on the first afternoon because as some students are familiar with this habitat and all sites are within walking distance. However, the Simpson's Diverstiy Index can easily be carried out as part of another option if there is sufficient time available.
Mark-Release-Recapture: Several different organisms can be caught to investigate their population using the mark-release-recapture method. Depending on the time available and tidal conditions, students can investigate the population of periwinkles or topshells on the seashore, crabs in the estuary or small mammals either in the Centre's grounds or the local woodland. Having collected data the population of the particular species can be estimated using the Lincoln Index.
Conservation Study: There are opportunities to compare first hand the advantages and disadvantages or in situ and ex situ conservation by visiting a Nature Reserve and the Isle of Wight Zoo, particularly considering the zoo's lemur conservation project. A visit to the zoo also allows students to study the behaviour of spider monkeys and the genetics of the white tiger, of which the zoo has the largest collection in Europe.
Please contact us for more information.
The residential fieldwork course for International Baccalaureate (IB) Geography is designed to provide stimulating case studies and to engage students in a range of geographical skills required by the exam board. The investigative approach and the fieldwork techniques will provide valuable training for students preparing the fieldwork report at the Higher Level or engaging in coursework at the Standard Level.
Special emphasis is put on aerial photographs and map interpretation, including the use of Google Earth, electronic maps and GIS.
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The coastal localities are investigated within the context of the Isle of Wight Shoreline Management Plan and Coastal Defence strategies.
Drainage basin management: fieldwork in either one of two accessible river basins. One of the rivers includes an innovative restoration scheme in an urban setting and the other flows across an agricultural landscape of mixed land use and geology.
The Estuarine Ecosystem and human activity: fieldwork includes core sampling for invertebrates on the Medina Estuary to record the biological productivity of the inter-tidal mudflats. ICT is used to turn the data the students collect into ecological pyramids of number, biomass and energy. Mapwork and fieldwork is used to identify the pressures and threats to the protected habitats.
Plant succession on a Saltmarsh: fieldwork to record the plant succession across a halosere, includes soil sampling; the Spearman's Rank statistical test is used to analyse the results of processing the soil.
Settlements - Urban morphology: fieldwork includes urban land use mapping in Newport, retail mapping, use of GOAD maps; traffic and pedestrian data is presented as isoline maps to help define the CBD. Maps and aerial photographs are used to describe the site, situation and growth of the settlement.
Settlements - Competing land use on the urban-rural fringe: fieldwork includes detailed land use mapping and evaluations on Newport's urban-rural fringe. Historic land use surveys used to identify change on the urban-rural fringe and the Isle of Wight's Unitary Development Plan controlling further development.
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Field study courses at Medina Valley Centre allow IB Biology students to develop their knowledge and enjoyment of biology and build up some practical hours in the outdoor classroom. They also provide the opportunity for students to apply their knowledge at the end of the field course by carrying out an individual investigation of their choice on a particular ecosystem or organism. The rocky seashore at the eastern tip of the Island is ideal for carrying out investigations due to the wealth of different marine invertebrates and seaweeds found in the large, shallow rock pools. For those students taking Option G, a field study course enables them to cover large parts of the syllabus including hands-on use of fieldwork techniques and equipment, such as random sampling and use of quadrats and transects.