| 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.
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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.
|
Currently gauging interest in the Intertidal Macroalgal Ring Test – RT03, which would be run in August 2008. Click here for further details and expression of interest form |
A workshop was held in April 2008 to discuss the results of the Phytoplankton Intercomparison for 2008. This workshop also involved three guest presentations.
Details of the 2008 workshop |
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. |
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| 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 Ring test reports are now available.
Macroalgae RT01
Macroalgae RT02
The macroalgal field guide for the Water Framework Directive ‘reduced taxa assessment’ is available here . For further information contact Mike Best
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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
|
Year 15 (2008-2009) Participants:
Marine Institute (Scheme Contractors)
AFBI, Belfast, N. Ireland
CEFAS Laboratory, Lowestoft, England
CEFAS Laboratory, Weymouth, England
Department of Local Government and the Environment (DLGE), Isle of Man
Environment & Heritage Service, Lisburn, N. Ireland
Environmental Protection Agency, Dublin, Ireland
FRS Marine Laboratory, Aberdeen, Scotland
Intecmar, Spain
Jacobs Aquatic, England
Marine Institute, Bantry, Ireland
Marine Institute, Galway, Ireland
SAMS, Oban, Scotland
SEPA, Riccarton, Scotland |
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 15:
Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute
Benthic Solutions Ltd
CEFAS
CMACS Ltd
EMU Ltd
Environment Agency (Wales)
ERT (Scotland) Ltd.
Fisheries Research Services Marine Laboratory
Gardline Environmental
Institute of Estuarine and Coastal Studies
Northern Ireland Environment Agency
Precision Marine Survey Ltd
SEPA |
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