2.5 Investigating Ecosystems Flashcards
Sampling/Sampling Strategy
Collecting samples.
A sampling strategy might include number and location of sites visited/sampled.
Rationale
The reason for doing something
Temporal
Relating to time.
Monitoring can occur over time (temporal) or space (spatial).
Spatial
Relating to space
Monitoring can occur over time (temporal) or space (spatial).
Monitoring
Can be qualitative or quantitative, but is distinct from observing in that it involves visits over a spatial or temporal (time) gradient.
Quality vs quantity
Quality refers to the degree of excellence or superiority of a product, service, or process, while quantity denotes the measurable amount or number of items.
Direct Monitoring
Involves the immediate or continuous observation or measurement of a process, activity, or condition using specific tools and techniques to gather real-time data.
Compare with indirect monitoring which uses indicators.
Indirect Monitoring
the process of assessing a condition, activity, or process by analyzing related variables or indicators rather than measuring the primary subject directly.
Patterns vs Trends
Patterns are a repeated or recurring arrangement of elements (often spatial in arrangement).
Trends occur over time (and indicate a change occurring)
Frequency
The rate at which (or how often) something occurs over time or space
Abundance
How much of something there is within a sample
Density
The abundance of something per unit of sample. For example…. trees per hectare, or grams per litre.
“Concentration” is a term reserved for liquids.
Correlation
Where a change in one thing directly influences another thing.
On an x-y axis, a positive correlation is an ascending line, and a negative correlation is a descending one.
Stratification (vegetation)
Refers to the layering of a forest or woodland into functional layers along a vertical plane.
Quadrat
A square of fixed size used to monitor density and cover of ecosystem elements.
Not to be confused with “quadrants” which do not have set boundaries
Line Intercept Method
A approach in which the proportional contribution of elements along a transect is calculated. These could be different species or surface types
Transect
A tape laid out and along which measurements are taken over a distance.
Random quadrat sampling
When a quadrat location is chosen randomly (such as thrown over a shoulder).
Systematic/Continuous quadrat monitoring
When quadrats are used at set intervals within an area or along a tape.
Secchi Disk
A device used to measure turbidity. A round disk with a black/white pattern, which is lowered on a graduated rope to the point where the contrast between the black and white can no longer be determined.
Biotic Index
a scale for showing the quality of an environment by indicating the types and abundances of organisms present in a representative sample of the environment.
Graduated
Something divided into measurements. A ruler is a graduated stick for measuring length. A measuring cylinder is a graduated tube for measuring volume.
Indicator
Used as an indirect measure of the condition of a system.
A dying tree might be an indicator of poor soil condition.
The presence or absence of certain macroinvertebrates can be used as an indictor for pollution.
Macroinvertebrate
A term often applied to visible, aquatic invertebrate (backboneless) fauna and can include taxa such as snails, worms, prawns, insects etc.
Measuring BOD
Measure dissolved oxygen in a sample on two or more occasions, where the sample is left in the dark (so no new oxygen can be created). Calculate the change.
Salinity
The amount of salt in a sample.
In aquatic systems commonly expressed as ppm (total dissolved solids) or micro Siemens (electrical conductivity)
Inpeller
A device used to monitor flow rate, consisting of a propellor spinning on a threaded, graduated rod.
Flow velocity
The distance water travels over a certain period of time.
Nomadic
moving from one place to another rather than living in one location permanently
Migratory
the regular movement of animals or people from one region or habitat to another, typically seasonally or cyclically, in search of food, better conditions, or breeding grounds.
Sedentary
organisms that show very limited movement or territorial range, often staying within a specific area or habitat for their entire lives
Resident (animal)
one that remains in the same area or habitat throughout the year, without engaging in long-distance migrations.
Lincoln Index
Also called capture/ mark/ release/ recapture.
A method used in ecology to estimate the total population size of a species within a given area, based on the ratio of marked individuals in a first capture to the total number of individuals (marked and unmarked) in a subsequent capture.
Criticisms/Limitations of Lincoln Index
Assumes Equal Catchability – Not all individuals have the same chance of being captured.
No Immigration or Emigration – Assumes a closed population, which may not be realistic.
No Births or Deaths – Population changes during the study can affect accuracy.
Tag Loss or Behavior Change – Marked individuals may be lost or behave differently.
Small Sample Size Issues – Can lead to unreliable estimates if too few individuals are captured.
Motile
An animal that moves (as opposed to something like coral - which doesn’t)
Trap Shy
animals or insects that learn to avoid traps after previous encounters or through the avoidance behaviors of their species
Predator Naivety
the lack of instinctive fear and appropriate avoidance behaviors in prey animals towards predators, often observed in species introduced to environments where their natural predators are absent.
Animal Ethics
refers to the moral principles and considerations guiding the humane treatment, welfare, and use of animals in research
Specimen
an individual animal, plant or any other organism collected from the natural environment for study, observation, or preservation in scientific research.
Pooter
consisting of a jar with two tubes, one of which is used by the user to suck in air, safely collecting small insects and arthropods into the jar for observation or study without harming them.
Kick net
a sampling tool used to collect aquatic invertebrates from the bottom of streams and rivers, by placing the net downstream and disturbing the substrate upstream, causing organisms to be dislodged and swept into the net by the current.
Sweep net
a tool consisting of a sturdy, often circular frame attached to a net bag, used by researchers to collect insects and other invertebrates from vegetation by sweeping it through the air or across foliage
Harp trap
A harp trap is a specialized trap with vertical strings used to capture bats without injury, commonly for research and conservation.
Mist net
A mist net is a fine, nearly invisible net used to capture birds or bats for research, monitoring, or conservation purposes.
Pitfall trap
consists of a container buried in the ground with its opening flush with the surface. Animals unknowingly wander into the trap and are unable to escape due to the steep, smooth sides of the container.
Often used in conjunction with a drift net.
Tree beating
a method used in ecological studies where a sheet or cloth is placed under a tree or shrub, and the branches are then shaken or beaten to dislodge insects and other arthropods onto the sheet for collection and identification.
Berlese funnel
A Berlese funnel is a device used to extract small arthropods from soil or leaf litter by driving them downward with heat or light into a collecting container.
