CH11 sampling techniques

Question 1

Pooter

Answer 1

• used to catch small insects
• suck on mouthpiece, to draw insects into a holding chamber via inlet tube

Question 2

Sweep nets

Answer 2

• catch insects in areas of long grass

Question 3

Pitfall traps

Answer 3

• catch small, crawling invertebrates
• hole dug into ground, which insects fall into
• trap left overnight, so nocturnal species are also sampled

Question 4

Tree beatings

Answer 4

• take samples of invertebrates living in tree or bush
• large white cloth stretched out under tree
• tree is shaken to dislodge invertebrates and animals fall onto sheet

Question 5

Kick sampling

Answer 5

• studies organisms living in a river
• river bank is kicked for a period of time to disturb substrate
• net held downstream. For a set period of time to capture any organisms released into flowing water

Question 6

Point quadrat

Answer 6

• consists of a frame containing a horizontal bar
• at set intervals along the bar, long pins can be pushed through the bar to reach the ground
• each species of plant that the pin touches is recorded

Question 7

Frame quadrat

Answer 7

• consists of a square frame divided into a grid
• to study how presence and distribution of organisms across an area of land varies, quadrat can be placed systematically across a line

Question 8

Using frame quadrats

Answer 8

• sample density frequency or percentage cover

Question 9

Estimating animal population size

Answer 9

• technique of capture-mark-release-recapture is often used

Question 10

Advantages of quick and accurate sensors to measure abiotic factors

Answer 10

• rapid changes can be detected
• human error in taking a reading is reduced
• high degree of precision is often achieved
• data can be stored or tracked on a computer