# Shell-E — Ecology fieldwork made easy

> Ecology fieldwork made easy (iPhone/iPad app by Dave Hudson.)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shell-e/id6784137022 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [Dave Hudson](https://appshunter.io/developer/1896766232)
- Category: Education, Utilities
- Price: Free
- Age rating: 4+
- Requires: iOS 15.0 · 25 MB
- Languages: American English
- Released: 2026-09-14
- Data updated: 2026-10-08

## What is Shell?

Shell-E has been developed for ecology field teaching and provides a simple way to connect practical fieldwork with real ecological data collection.

Students can join an organised practical using their student number, with no need to create a conventional username and password account. Once joined, Shell-E automatically connects them to their team, demonstrator and allocated survey area.

During fieldwork, students can record snail observations, capture GPS locations, add measurements and photographs, record marking information and see observations appear on the practical map. Records can also be stored safely when connectivity is poor and synced when a connection becomes available.

Shell-E supports capture–mark–recapture teaching across linked practical sessions. Students can see the observed counts required for their calculations while carrying out the analysis themselves.

The app also includes:

• Interactive survey maps and team areas
• Live team leaderboards
• Field guidance and identification support
• Practical-specific student onboarding
• Golden Snail challenges for field sessions
• Secure demonstrator marking
• Historical Shell-E records and year-by-year mapping
• Independent recording outside organised practicals

Teaching staff can manage practicals, allocate students to teams and survey areas, control leaderboard visibility, communicate with the class and configure demonstrator access from the Teacher Admin area.

Shell-E is designed primarily for ecology teaching at the University of Exeter, while also allowing independent users to contribute suitable ecological observations.


## Version history (last 2 releases)

### 1.0.1 — 2026-09-24

Shell-E now includes a redesigned practical workflow for both capture and recapture sessions.

New in this version:

• Guided onboarding for new users and practical students
• Improved team allocation and student team naming
• Teacher-selected survey areas for field practicals
• Automatic transition from Practical 1 to Practical 2
• Improved capture–recapture counts and area comparisons
• Faster historical record maps with year filtering
• Improved offline recording and syncing
• Smaller photo uploads for more reliable field use
• Secure demonstrator marking and practical access
• Improved notifications and general performance

### 1.0 — 2026-09-15

No release notes.

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| [Cognexo](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cognexo/id1518194083) | — | Free | Education |
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## More apps by Dave Hudson

- [Plant Alert](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/plant-alert/id6770880154)
- [What the cat dragged in](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/what-the-cat-dragged-in/id6771657037)

All apps by Dave Hudson: https://appshunter.io/developer/1896766232

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*Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-10-08.*