Planet WGSW-24010 User Manual page 100

(i) each surveyor must read (or be trained in) this manual at the start of each survey season;
and
(ii) each year, each surveyor must either undertake a set minimum number of MTR or other
macrophyte surveys (the suggested minimum is five surveys per year), or attend a training
course at which MTR surveys are undertaken (this may be the 'refresher' course described
below).
At the beginning of the survey season, surveyors who did not achieve the minimum requirement
of (five) surveys in the previous year should not undertake further surveys until they have
received MTR training. (Note that this is referring to the number of surveys not the number of
pairs/sets of surveys up- and downstream QDs. Refer to the glossary for the definition of survey.)
Annual 'r efr esher ' cour se
It is recommended that all surveyors attend an annual 'refresher' course in survey techniques and
identification skills each year. This course may contribute to the minimum training requirement
cited above. The course should be held at the start of, or early in, the survey season and should
encompass all aspects of the survey method with particular attention to the subjective estimates.
The course should include:
· an overview of how to carry out an MTR survey;
· at least one standard MTR field survey with discussions at each stage, including the
identification features of macrophytes found in the survey length;
· a exercise designed to estimate percentage cover of macrophyte species in the field and to
compare estimates between surveyors;
· an identification exercise whereby each surveyor individually identifies a set of specimens
provided and the identifications are then discussed so everyone learns from the exercise.
7.2.3 On-going tr aining
It is recommended that more experienced staff from each area office should attend an advanced
macrophyte identification course(s). This should cover macrophytes which are 'difficult' to
identify to species level, such as some Ranunculus, fine-leaved Potamogeton, Callitriche and
Bryophyte species. These staff will then be able to help with identification confirmation.
7.2.4 Exceptions
The only exceptions to the above recommendations regarding training are where, in a team of
three or more, a member of the team is assigned tasks not requiring macrophyte identification
skills, ie assigned to neither the assessment of macrophyte presence/cover nor the drawing of the
sketch map. Tasks to which this team member may be assigned include, for example, the
recording of macrophyte presence/cover (not the assessment), the assessment of the physical
characteristics of the site and/or handling of the boat. In such a case, there is no requirement for
this team member to be trained in macrophyte identification. This is subject, however, to at least
two members of the team being fully trained in all aspects of the methodology. All members of
the team should be trained in the general operation of the method.
R&D Technical Report E38 86