Naturalist project

This UE is structured according to a professional inventory approach during which students will be put in real situation to emphasize their naturalist skills. This one will consist of a field study, with mainly volume of field supervision through SPS for the project follow-up. In this, it is in line with the logic of the ex-CMI (Opus 4).

Eight groups of 5 students will work on the inventory of a specific taxon within the framework of a clearly identified scientific problem. The study area will be different from one year to the next, and will be chosen by the teaching team according to opportunities for collaboration with organizations interested in the proposed approach. The organizations approached are :

- the Conservatoire des Espaces Naturels de Languedoc Roussillon

- the Zoo du Lunaret, manager of the Lez reserve

- the metropolis of Montpellier

The feedback will consist of a common deliverable for the whole class, including a hierarchy of conservation issues. The management organizations of the studied areas will be invited to the presentations.

- have taken HAV426B Naturalist Specialization 1 in L2 and HAV532B (Naturalist Specialization 2) in L2 (required)  

- Naturalist experience in a naturalist association beyond the GNUM (or equivalent experience).

Person(s) in charge : Benoit Nabholz, Sébastien Puechmaille & Errol Véla

Contact details of the person(s) responsible (tel/mail): benoit.nabholz@umontpellier.fr; sebastien.puechmaille@umontpellier.fr; errol.vela@umontpellier.fr

Knowledge:

- Know and know how to implement the different approaches and tools used in evolutionary biology and ecology: observation, sampling, experimentation and statistical analysis

- Know the applications of organism biology, evolutionary biology and ecology (health, agronomy, conservation, restoration)

Know-how :

- Know how to make an oral presentation and a scientific written report, using illustrations and a presentation adapted to the public concerned, with the help of adapted computer tools

- Be able to propose a problem, propose and implement an observation approach, a sampling plan or an experimental approach, and analyze the resulting data, using computer tools for data entry, analysis and storage

- Know how to carry out a project within a group

Soft skills:

- Know how to work independently, adapt to a new context and take relevant initiatives

- Knowing how to position oneself in a group in order to implement the project, knowing how to listen and exchange