RECORD Freshwater Fish Data

Quality Control

Collecting data on an informal basis means that no guarantees can be made that it comprehensively covers any particular time or place. However, it does mean that data comes from as many sources as possible and therefore usually has as detailed coverage as is possible at the time. In order the counter possible inaccuracies contained within data from such a range of sources, a validation system by local experts is used to highlight possible dubious records. These records do not make it on to the NBN Gateway.

Method steps

1. Data is sourced from amateur naturalists, professional ecologists and the general public. These are then validated and verified by a system of peer review conducted by a panel of local experts.

The area covered is the RECORD coverage area, which is the administrative areas of Cheshire County, Wirral MBC, Warrington BC and Halton BC. Some parts of Greater Manchester are included, which were formally part of Cheshire County (see http://www.record-lrc.co.uk/rECOrd.aspx?Mod=Article&ArticleID=4 for more details). Although RECORD try and acquire data from the whole of its coverage area, more densely populated areas tend to have more records associated with them. This generally creates a bias to north of the area where most of the large towns are situated.