Preview

ecological sampling

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
1699 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
ecological sampling
Title : Ecological Sampling
Objectives :
1. To learn the method of constructing a quadrate on an area of grassland in Biodiversity Park.
2. To estimate the population sizes of Species A using the quadrate sampling method.
3. To observe how abiotic factors affect the population of Species A.
Introduction : Since there is an abundance of populations in a forest, it is impossible for us to study all of the populations due to financial constraints, time consuming and the relatively large ranges of populations. However, by practical sampling, we can study the distribution of a certain population and represent the results for real population. One of the best ways to measure ecological variables is by using quadrate sampling.
Quadrates are defined plots, randomly distributed throughout the study area. The purpose of using a quadrate is to enable comparable samples to be obtained from areas of consistent size and shape. Quadrat sampling is a classic tool for the study of ecology, especially biodiversity. In general, a series of squares (quadrates) of a set size are placed in a habitat of interest and the species within those quadrats are identified and recorded. Quadrats allow researchers to study plant and animal populations spread out over large areas. They are inexpensive, relatively easy to design and can be adapted to study unevenly distributed populations. Compared to other sampling methods, quadrats are relatively simple to use. Quadrat plots are uniform in size and shape and are distributed randomly throughout your sample area, which makes the study design fairly straightforward. They are also one of the most affordable techniques because very few materials are required.
In this investigation, the abiotic factors such as temperature, pH value of the soil and light intensity will be taking in account of this study. This is to observe how abiotic factors affect the growth of species A. Furthermore, we can know the optimum growing

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    Minnamurra Lab

    • 983 Words
    • 4 Pages

    The elevation between quadrats 12 and 13 rises greatly because of the zone change to above high tide. Because of this change in elevation the swamp she-oak is found in the last four quadrats of the transect because she-oaks are found in zones above high tide. In quadrats 6-8, the elevation decreases and the river mangroves population is increased. This may be caused because the mangroves may have access to water at the lower elevation. Also, the sunlight decreased dramatically from quadrat 6 to 7 and in quadrat 7, the river mangrove covers 75% of the quadrat.…

    • 983 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    This investigation was designed to compare the height of Pteridium aquilinum in a light area and a dark area of Rushy Plains, Epping Forest and to establish if light intensity does have an effect on the growth of Pteridium aquilinum, commonly known as Bracken. From my research it was clear that the height of Bracken is affected by abiotic factors, other than light intensity, such as: soil moisture, soil temperature, air temperature and soil pH so I had to control these factors. I carried out preliminary experiments to find a suitable site where all these factors where constant. For my actual investigation I measure twelve random Brackens from both light and dark areas. I then carried out a Mann Whitney U test and concluded, with 95% significance level, that there is in fact a difference between height of Brackens from a light area and a dark area.…

    • 10443 Words
    • 42 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Imagine you are an ecologist studying ecosystems. In this assignment, you are given three separate sets of data to study. *Note: You do not have to relate the information in the three sets of data to one another.…

    • 577 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Bodega Harbor Lab Report

    • 715 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Figure 2, shows the distribution of species along each quadrat. Are T-test (t= .06616) shows that there is no significant difference. These findings should be interpreted with caution. Due to the way species richness was measured in our experiment, it may not accurately representation how abundant the variation of species on the East side were compared to the western communities. Future measurements at this site with stricter classification methods may prove what we were able to observe while in the field.…

    • 715 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Lab 3 Biodiversity

    • 2012 Words
    • 8 Pages

    Chapin III, F. S., Costanza, R., Ehrlich, P. R., Golley, F. B., Hooper, D. U., Lawton, J. H., ... & Tilman, D. (1999). Biodiversity and ecosystem functioning: maintaining natural life support processes. Washington, DC: Ecological Society of America.…

    • 2012 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Best Essays

    Ecology Lab 1

    • 3568 Words
    • 15 Pages

    Patterns of plant successional change in Gatineau Park, Old Chelsea, were studied quantitatively. The relations between different successional stages of plant communities and abiotic factors were descried. To test these, we went to the fields, and worked on two transect in groups of 4. We counted the trees and measured the diameter at breast height (dbh) for tree with a dbh value greater than 2cm. The dbh measurements (cm), percentage of fern cover and percentage of bare ground were recorded and used to perform statistical analysis. No significant variations in the distribution of abundant tree species using chi2 analysis and percentage of fern cover using t-test analysis were observed between the compared sites. No significant variations found in the interquadrat analysis, and mean dbh of abundant tree species and percentage of bare ground between the sites compared. The results verified the stated hypothesis and were supported by literature sources.…

    • 3568 Words
    • 15 Pages
    Best Essays
  • Better Essays

    Morro Bay Case Study

    • 659 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Evaluating how to obtain conservation goals, such as species or biodiversity protection at the lowest economic cost possible is an important aspect of conservation planning. The affect of species conservation target values on the selection frequency of parcels for conservation was evaluated using Marxan software. Target values are set values that represent a set percentage of species in a region; in this analysis, as expected when target values were increased, the conservation areas expanded.…

    • 659 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    Colored Stones

    • 726 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Random Sampling, a method often used by ecologist involves an unpredictable component. In this method, all members of the population have an equal chance of being selected as part of the sample. The results involving random sampling can be categorized as descriptive statistics and inferential statistics (Montague 2009).Descriptive statistics includes simplified calculations of a given sample and arrange this information into charts and graphs that are easy to contrast. Trying to reach conclusions that extend beyond the immediate data alone describes inferential statistics. To document the results of sampling, qualitative and quantitative data is used. Quantitative data lack is measured and identified on a numerical scale, whereas Qualitative data approximates data but does not measure characteristics,…

    • 726 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Before sampling began, observations were made while examining each population’s distribution pattern. The red-capped introverts have a uniform distribution due to their even spacing between organisms. The blue-footed wanderers have a random distribution as a result of their unpredictable spacing. Lastly, the green-chested bar-hoppers have a clumped distribution as they were together in groups or “clumps”.…

    • 1240 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Ecology Mock Experiment

    • 296 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Due to their large size oak trees become shelters and nesting sites to very many wildlife species, so if one were to remove or decrease availability of these oak trees then one might expect the abundance of the animals that use oak trees as a home would decline as well. In this experiment, we will be testing whether or not the availability of oak trees in an environment will affect the distribution and abundance of robins.…

    • 296 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Better Essays

    Brassica Rapa Essay

    • 2480 Words
    • 10 Pages

    For each treatment, we obtained two planting trays with cell flats- in which one corner cell was cut out to water the plants. We filled all cell flats with the fertilized soil and used forceps to place one seed with 3-4mm deep in the middle of each cell. After all trays of cells were planted, we brought these trays in a growth room and watered the plants. In the growth room, the amount of light, the temperature, and the humidity was kept the same for both control and experiment treatments. By using a ruler, we poured water into the trays up to 3 cm through the open-corner cells. We then watered the plants up to 1cm every Monday and Wednesday and up to 3cm every Friday. We also made a log of water that recorded who watered, how much water, and observations of the…

    • 2480 Words
    • 10 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    Wind and Beach

    • 666 Words
    • 3 Pages

    While carrying out my analysis I measured each stone in the quadrat by measuring them along its broad and narrow axis because this was proven to be the most accurate way of getting the results. The scale I used to carry my analysis out was a modified krumbrien phi scale. I carryed this out three times and I collected four samples from each of the quadrats…

    • 666 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Study Guide: Read through these concepts. If you are not sure of what the concept is or means search for the answer in your textbook and write it on a separate sheet of paper. If you know these terms you should do well on the test.…

    • 580 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Lennie's Morality

    • 297 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Steinbeck’s motif of Lennie’s questionable ethics throughout Slim and George’s conversation establishes the theme that morality is a fluid and unclear concept.…

    • 297 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    External Validity

    • 910 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Proposition 1: Interpretivists do generalise and this is inevitable – though they may deny the possibility of generalisation, or ignore the issue.…

    • 910 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays

Related Topics