4.2.2 sampling plants

Question 1

preparation for sampling a habitat

Answer 1

• suitable clothing
• suitable footwear
• apparatus required for sampling
• clipboard, pen & paper to record observations
• appropriate keys to identify plants
• camera/smartphone to record specimens/grid location

Question 2

what should happen when your at the sampling site

Answer 2

• use range of techniques
• consider effect your presence will have on biodiversity
• cause little disturbance as possible

Question 3

best way to sample small/numerous plants in comparison to big plants

Answer 3

big plants eg. trees in wood/field = count them
small/numerous plants = may be best to calculate value of % ground cover occupied by species

Question 4

quadrat

Answer 4

square frame used to define size of sampling area

Question 5

how are quadrats used for random sampling

Answer 5

• generate random numbers
• use numbers as coordinates to place quadrats within habitat
• tape measure helps placing quadrat correctly

Question 6

how is the quadrat/other apparatus used when identifying plants found to calculate percentage cover as measure of abundance

Answer 6

• possible to calculate estimate percentage cover of each species, although most tend to underestimate
  –> some quadrats have grid of string which divides it into smaller squares = estimates more accurate
• can measure percentage cover using point frame
  –> lower frame into quadrat & record plants touching needles
  –> ensure you record bare land
  –> easy to bias readings by using point frame non-randomly within quadrat thus, best to use at regular intervals across

Question 7

point frame

Answer 7

frame holding number of long needles/pointers

Question 8

transect

Answer 8

line taken across habitat

Question 9

how is a transect set up

Answer 9

stretch long string/tape measure across habitats & take samples along line

Question 10

what may you use in a large habitat

Answer 10

line transect

Question 11

what may be used with a transect

Answer 11

use a quadrat at set intervals along line = interrupted belt transect

Question 12

what does an interrupted belt transect provide

Answer 12

quantitative data at intervals across habitat

Question 13

what’s a continuous belt transect

Answer 13

• place quadrat beside line & move along so study band/belt in detail
• provides quantitative data across belt/band of habitat