Data Entry
Once you have monitored your Seagrass-Watch site, you can now enter the data collected into a downloadable Microsoft Excel spreadsheet and submit via email.
To enter and submit data, follow the following steps:
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2 | Save the spreadsheet file to your computer before you begin data entry. We suggest changing the file name to the site code and the sampling date.
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3 | The spreadsheets are a similar layout to the standard datasheets. Each transect has it’s own worksheet. To select the appropriate worksheet, click on the tab at the bottom | ||
4 | To enter data, select each cell with your mouse. You can jump between cells by using the TAB button on your keyboard. | ||
5 | First enter the name of the observers and the sampling date. | ||
6 | Enter the location and site code.
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7 | Enter the time you started sampling the transect and the time you finished.
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8 | If you had a GPS (Global Positioning System) at the monitoring site, the latitude and longitude of the transect start | ||
9 | Enter the data for each quadrat
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10 | Enter the latitude and longitude of the transect finish | ||
11 | Enter any general comments about the transect or site | ||
12 | Repeat steps 5 to 10 for the remaining transects | ||
13 | Ensure your file is securely saved | ||
14 | Submit a copy of the excel file via internet to Seagrass-Watch HQ (hq@seagrasswatch.org ) | ||
15 | Mail original datasheets, photos and herbarium sheets to
Seagrass-Watch HQ (TropWATER/FSE)
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DATA PROPERTY
All data collected in the Seagrass-Watch program is the property of the group (principal) who collected it, and Seagrass-Watch HQ is custodian. When a group submits data to HQ, it does so under the proviso that the data can be used by Seagrass-Watch HQ for condition and trend reporting at location, regional, state, national and global scales (eg, State of the Environment Queensland, State of the Environment Australia and State of the Environment GBR). Copies of raw data are provided to third parties only when permission from the principal is provided.
All data interpretation is conducted by Seagrass-Watch HQ. This ensures that the interpretation of data is consistent, unbiased and of scientific merit. Seagrass-Watch HQ also encourages peer review and assessment of published results.
Apart from the regional & statewide report cards (e.g. SoE), the data has also been used for:
- understanding and responding to impacts from catchment runoff (Campbell & McKenzie 2004), coastal developments (eg. marina constructions) and dredging proposals.
- Understanding natural levels of change and supporting marine habitat conservation (eg GSS Ramsar Wetland, Cooloola World Heritage area, and Great Sandy Marine Park
QUALITY ASSURANCE/QUALITY CONTROL
Seagrass-Watch HQ also ensures the QAQC protocols for the program are followed and that the program is producing data of high quality, ensuring time and resources are not wasted. Quality assurance refers to the management system by which data is collected, organised, documented and evaluated. Quality control refers to the technical means by which error is controlled.
The five indicators of QAQC that the program uses are:
- Precision: This is the degree of agreement among repeated measurements. This is controlled by conducting scientific training & using calibration sheets.
- Accuracy: This measures how close results are to a true or expected value. To do this the program requests voucher specimens of seagrasses, conducts refresher scientific training & requires observers to make photographic records (ie 27% quadrats sampled are photographed)
- Representative ness is the extent to which measurements actually represent the whole population at the time an observation was made. In the program, this is controlled by choosing sites which are representative of the location.
- Completeness is the comparison between the amount of valid, or useable, data originally planned to collect, versus how much was collected. This is ensured by employing standardised scientific methods (developed in consultation with community volunteers) which are simple and easy to use.
- Comparability is the extent to which data can be compared between sample locations or periods of time within a project or between projects. This is ensured by using standardised methods and calibration sheets and conducting regular refresher scientific training.