Ecology

Question 1

What is a population?

Answer 1

Members of the same species living in 1 habitat

Question 2

What are abiotic factors?

Answer 2

They are physical non living aspects effecting the ecosystem

Question 3

Are abiotic/biotic factors density independent or dependent factors?

Answer 3

Abiotic: Density independent i.e. the size of the effect is independent of the size of the population
Biotic: Density dependent i.e. the size of the effect depends on the size of the population

Question 4

What are biotic factors?

Answer 4

Living aspects of an ecosystem

Question 5

How do you sample plants over a large area?

Answer 5

1) Obtain a map of the area
2) Divide the map up into grids
3) Obtain coordinates using a running mean
4) Select random coordinates using a random generator
5) Place a quadrat in each coordinate
6) Measure % cover in the quadrat
7) Calculate the average of the whole area

Question 6

How do you sample plants along a path?

Answer 6

1) Use a line transect
2) Place a tape along the transect
3) Count how many plants are touching the tape
OR
1) Use a belt transect
2) Place quadrats in regular intervals along the tape
3) Measure abundance within the quadrat

Question 7

How do you sample animals in an area?

Answer 7

Use the mark, release, capture technique

1) Set a trap
2) Capture sample 1
3) Mark the sample and release
4) Replace the trap after a sufficient amount of time
5) Obtain sample 2 and count the number marked
6) Estimate population size

Question 8

What assumptions need to be made about the mark release technique?

Answer 8

1) No deaths
2) No births
3) No immigration/emigration
4) Successful reestablishment into the population

Question 9

What is species richness?

Answer 9

Measure of the number of different species but does not measure the number of individuals (index of diversity)