The ExpeER project is developing and integrating ecosystem research across Europe, by sharing methods, data, models and infrastructures. One of the strands is to develop a set of protocols for common ecological measurements, so that it becomes much easier to analyse ecological change across sites over time.

The training course will cover training for the following measurements:

• Land Use Type (landscape analysis)
• Leaf Area Index (grassland/forest)
• Plant biomass (grassland/forest)
• Soil macrofauna (QBS technique, bait lamina, litterbags)
• Soil respiration (different techniques)
• Soil organic matter (sampling and analysis)
• Plant phenology
• Metadata for sampling, experiments and data management.

The ExpeER Work Package 2 team will be conducting training in these protocols during 2013. One course has already taken place in Italy and this second course will take place in the Netherlands. It will focus on grasslands.

These courses are aimed at people who are involved in the collection of medium- and long-term ecological data in Europe who are not already supported by the ExpeER project.

If you are interested in attending the course near Amsterdam, The Netherlands, please contact Eva Krab, or apply directly through the online application form: http://expeer.digitalezaken.nl/. Places are limited and will be allocated on a first come - first served basis, giving priority to persons from non-ExpeER partners. As a general rule, only one person per institution will be accepted (if more than one applies, a waiting list will be created). Food, course and local travel costs will be provided by ExpeER, while the participants will have to cover their travel and hotel expenses in Amsterdam.

More information is available in the attached PDF.