| Modules |
Epibiota
ring-test
- JNCC and the NMBAQC collaborated
to devise an epibiota photographic identification test
delivered via the internet.
Click here
to read more Video
and Stills QA – Remote photography/video
is increasingly being used in survey and monitoring
work as a means of investigating the benthic environment.
Click here
to read more
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| This component
comprises four modules:
Macrobenthos (MB) module
– analytical processing and audit of 1 macrobenthic
sample supplied to the participant.
Ring Test (RT) module
– circulation of 2 sets of 25 specimens supplied
to the participant for identification.
Own Sample (OS) module
– analytical audit of 3 samples supplied by
the participant.
Lab Reference (LR) module
– circulation of 1 set of 25 identified specimens
supplied by the participant for validation by the
contractor.
Click here
to read more.
|
Ring-test – (Organiser: Emma Wells, Wells Marine)
In Year 14 (2007-2008), the second macroalgal Ring Test was circulated and reported. This consisted of a CD-ROM of photographs, some with microscopic and macroscopic views.
Results are available for the two Ring tests |
Ring-test – (Organiser:
Joe Silke, Marine Institute)
The Marine Institute, Galway, Ireland, is responsible
for conducting a Phytoplankton Enumeration and Identification
ring trial between the UK and Ireland, and has carried
out this exercise annually, under the auspices of NMBAQC
and BEQUALM, since 2005. The purpose of this is to compare
the performance of laboratories engaged in phytoplankton
monitoring programmes throughout Ireland and the UK.
The Marine Institute is accredited to ISO 17025 for
phytoplankton identification and enumeration, and recognises
that regular Quality Control assessments are crucial
to ensure a high standard of data.
Click here
to read more |
| Fish Ring Test (RT)
– This module examines inter-laboratory variation
in the participants’ ability to identify fish
specimens and attempts to determine whether any errors
are the result of inadequate keys, lack of reference
material (e.g. growth series), or the incorrect use
of satisfactory keys.
A set of twenty-five fish specimens are distributed
in each Scheme year. Details of substratum, salinity,
depth and geographical location and a series of specimen
images were provided for all ring test specimens to
assist identification.
Click here
to read more
|
Particle
Size (PS) – This module examines the
production of derived statistics from the particle
size analysis of replicate sediment samples. Two samples
of sediment, one coarse the other much finer, are
distributed per Scheme year (PS exercises) for re-analysis
by participating laboratories.
Click
here
to read more
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| Current Activities |
Video
and Stills Workshop
The workshop
was held on 11th
and 12th April 2007 bringing together all of
the relevant parties from the agencies and industry
to discuss the problems that are faced and to work
towards a pilot scheme for Video/Stills QA. In addition,
best practice in order to produce the highest quality
images; will also be discussed The aim is to produce
a universal QA scheme that will be usable whatever
the desired use of the images. The workshop will consider
different scales and a range of techniques (hand-held,
drop down, ROV). This is in the spirit of the UKMMAS
which encourages agencies to work together where possible
to add value to data and assessments.
|
Further development to be determined. |
2007 Project deadline
:
- April ‘07 Proposal development
- May ‘07 Discussions with micro
target manufacturers re graphical considerations
- June ‘07 Supply of final graphics
and preparation of phytoplankton target sample disk
- July ’07 Preparation of full
set of phytoplankton target disks
- August ’07 Internal quality
control on the disks
- September ’07 Distribution
to intercomparison participating labs
|
Taxonomic key.
Work is being currently being undertaken to update the
1978 Alwyne Wheeler ‘Key to the fishes of Northern
Europe’. This seminal field key for fish biologists
is being updated by Peter Maitland, with additional
illustrations by Marc Dando.
The publication is due to be published by the Environment
Agency and details of how to obtain a copy will be
updated on this website as soon as the key is published
and an ISBN is available
|
| Formation of an NMBAQC Standard
Operating Procedure (SOP) for laser particle size analysis
to reduce scatter of results and increase data comparability,
particularly for CSEMP data, is ongoing. |
|
|
| Reports & Literature |
| Video and
Stills Workshop Proceedings to follow, Spring/Summer
2007 |
Workshops
The NMBAQC committee has organised, or collaborated
in, a number of workshops with tuition from recognised
experts in different fields. Participants have gained
hands-on experience of various field and laboratory
procedures and in depth workshops focusing on particular
problematical taxonomic groups. The workshops have produced
a wide range of up-to-date guides and taxonomic keys,
most of which are not yet available in published literature.
Reports
- General / Procedures
- Ring Test Bulletins
- Workshop Reports
Click here
to go to the Invertebrates Reports page
|
The 2006 exercise has been completed.
A workshop to allow participants to discuss the results
was held in Galway on the 5th March 2007.
Representatives from each of the participating laboratories
were present. A final report on this exercise is now
available. In general, the results both on identification
and enumeration were acceptable, and z scores for
all participants were acceptable.
Click here
for report |
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| Participants |
AFBI
CCW
SNH
NE
EHS
JNCC
SEPA
CEFAS |
Organisations participating
in the benthic invertebrate component include government
laboratories, environmental monitoring agencies, and
environmental consultancy groups.
Click here
to read more
|
Unicomarine
CCW
EMU
EA
EPA (ROI)
SEPA
EHS
ERT
AFBINI
|
FRS
SEPA
EHS
CEFAS
MI
AFBI
EPA
DLGE (Isle of Man)
SAMS |
NMBAQC Scheme year 13:
AFBI NI
CEFAS (Burnham)
EA (Blandford Forum)
EA (Cardiff)
EA (Fish Head Office, London)
EA (Kelvedon)
EA (Newcastle)
EA (NMMT, Peterborough)
EA (Thames)
EA (Warrington)
EA (Waterlooville)
EHS NI
ERT (Scotland) Ltd.
SEPA (East Kilbride)
SEPA (Riccarton)
|
NMBAQC
Scheme Year 13:
Partrac Ltd. (subcontractor - replicate analyst)
Plymouth University, Geography Department (subcontractor - replicate analyst)
AFBI NI
CEFAS (Burnham)
CMACS Ltd.
EA (Llanelli)
EHS NI
EMU Ltd.
ERT (Scotland) Ltd.
FRS
IECS
SEPA (East Kilbride)
SEPA (Riccarton)
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