Course: Understanding Invertebrate Assemblages

Managing sites for wildlife is a complex task, with many different taxa requiring different and often competing interventions. Invertebrates are often overlooked in site management plans due to the large number of species to take into consideration and the relatively low number of species that have been assigned legal protection.

Pantheon is an analytical tool developed by Natural England and the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (UKCEH) to assist invertebrate nature conservation in England. Users import lists of invertebrates into Pantheon, which then analyses the species, linking them to associated habitats and resources, conservation status and other categories.

This workshop will demonstrate how you can use Pantheon to 'add value' to your species lists. It will explain what information Pantheon can provide and how you can use this, along with the caveats that you need to bear in mind. We will also look at some options for presenting the results that Pantheon gives you.

We will work through some prepared examples, but please also bring some of your own species data if you wish so that you can try the system out for sites that you know. All that you need is a list of species from a site (this can be from a single sample on a single date, or from multiple samples combined).

Important details

• Adults only (18+ years).
• Aimed at those managing sites for wildlife.
• A laptop will be needed to undertake the practical exercises on this course.
• Invertebrate site species lists will be available for use, but it is best if you bring your own site species list to undertake analysis that will be useful for managing your site.
• More information on Pantheon can be found here: www.brc.ac.uk/pantheon
• For questions, please email [email protected].

What will be covered during this course?

• The importance of compiling invertebrate site species lists and how these can be used to assist with invertebrate conservation on site.
• An overview of the free-to-use Pantheon digital tool and how its scoring system assesses species richness, threat status, rarity and characteristic species for each broad biotope, habitat and resource.
• Practical experience submitting invertebrate species lists into Pantheon for a site.
• Understanding Pantheon outputs and how this can inform site management practices and invertebrate conservation.

Tutor: Martin Harvey

Martin Harvey is the Data Management and Liaison Officer at the UK Biological Records Centre, where he has played central role in the development of Pantheon. This is in addition to other roles such as managing the iRecord online recording system and liaising with national recording schemes and societies. Outside this, Martin is a knowledgable entomologist and biological recorder, part of the team for the UK Pollinator Monitoring Scheme, runs the national Soldierflies and Allies Recording Scheme, and is County Moth Recorder for Berkshire.

Natural History Museum

This course will take place in the Angela Marmont Centre for UK Nature, located within the Natural History Museum (London).

Fees and refund policy

Training Course Ticket: £80

Ticket fees include an administrative fee of 20% that is non-refundable. This consists of approximately 10% for Eventbrite fees and 10% for time spent by the Biological Recording Company processing the order.

Further cancellation charges will also be incurred for the following:

• 20% admin fee + 10% cancellation fee for cancellations made over 90 days in advance of the date of the course.
• 20% admin fee + 30% cancellation fee for cancellations made within between 30 and 90 days of the date of the course.
• 20% admin fee + 80% cancellation fee for cancellations made within 30 days of the date of the course.