Biological recording is the scientific study of the distribution of living organisms, biological records describe the presence, abundance, associations and changes, both in time and space, of wildlife.Burnett, J., Copp, C., Harding, P. (1995) Biological Recording in the United Kingdom Present practice and future development Summary Report, ''Coordinating Commission for Biological Recording'' available fo
download from Natural Environment Research Council
/ref> There has been a long tradition of biological recording in the

United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Europe, off the north-western coast of the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotland, Wales and North ...

dating back to

John Ray John Ray FRS (29 November 1627 – 17 January 1705) was a Christian English naturalist widely regarded as one of the earliest of the English parson-naturalists. Until 1670, he wrote his name as John Wray. From then on, he used 'Ray', after ...

(1627–1705),

Robert Plot Robert Plot (13 December 1640 – 30 April 1696) was an English naturalist, first Professor of Chemistry at the University of Oxford, and the first keeper of the Ashmolean Museum. Early life and education Born in Borden, Kent to parents Robe ...

(1640–1696) and their contemporaries.

Methods

The basis of a biological record is the 'four Ws': *What: the identification of the organism recorded *Where: The locality where the organism was seen *When: the date (and time) when the organism was recorded *Who: the person or persons making the observation Additionally a variety of additional information is often necessary to increase the value of any biological record, including: *How: the method of recording the observation, e.g.

pitfall trap A pitfall trap is a trapping pit for small animals, such as insects, amphibians and reptiles. Pitfall traps are a sampling technique, mainly used for ecology studies and ecologic pest control. Animals that enter a pitfall trap are unable to esca ...

moth trap Moth traps are devices used by entomologists to capture moths. Most use a light source. Pheromone traps are also used. All moth traps follow the same basic design - consisting of a mercury vapour or actinic light to attract the moths and a bo ...

Biological recording in the UK

In the UK biological recording is a popular hobby and much is organised by national recording schemes for many taxonomic groups of which almost 90 are registered with the national

Biological Records Centre The Biological Records Centre (BRC) established in 1964, is a national focus in the UK for terrestrial and fresh water species recording. The term "biological records centre" is also used in the context of local centres, now frequently referred ...

. At a national level biological records are managed by the

, originally set up at

Monks Wood Experimental Station Monks Wood is a National Nature Reserve north-west of Huntingdon in Cambridgeshire, and a Nature Conservation Review site, Grade I. A slightly more extensive area of is the Monks Wood and The Odd Quarter biological Site of Special Scientific In ...

, but now based at Wallingford in Oxfordshire, this has operated for over fifty years managing records of the country's biodiversity. Following on from the CCBR report (1995) the

National Biodiversity Network The National Biodiversity Network (UK) (NBN) is a collaborative venture set up in 2000 in the United Kingdom committed to making biodiversity information available through various media, including on the internet via the NBN Atlas—the data searc ...

was established as an ideal. This is overseen by the NBN Trust Which is responsible for the NBN Gateway which in May 2016 has passed 127 million records. At a local level there are a number of field natural history clubs promoting biological recording, including Essex Field Club and Sandwell Valley Naturalists' Club. On a professional level, most of the UK is covered by a network of Local Environmental Records Centres.Association of Local Environmental Records Centres
/ref> It was estimated in 1995 that over 60,000 individuals were actively and directly involved in biological recording of which the vast majority were voluntarily engaged out of personal interest.

References

Additional References

Biological Records Centre, Wallingford

The Association of Local Environmental Records Centres

National Forum for Biological Recording
Biodiversity