Ecology: Sampling Organisms

Question 1

What piece of apparatus is used to measure the abundance and distribution of of organisms in an area?

Answer 1

quadrat

Question 2

What piece of apparatus is used to study the distribution of organisms across a habitat?

Answer 2

transect (tape measure, rope)

Question 3

How would you estimate the total number of daisies in a field using a quadrat?

Answer 3

1. Place 2 20m tape measures at right angles to one another.
2. Select two random numbers using a a generator to create a coordinate the place the quadrat at.
3. Count the numebr of daisies in the quadrat.
4. Repeat

Question 4

How can the average number of throws be better represented using a quadrat?

Answer 4

Increase the number of throws
Use a random number generator to get coordinates and ensure it’s placed randomly

Question 5

How can you measure the effect of a factors (being near a tree) on the distribution of a species?

Answer 5

1. Place a tape measure to act as a transect line under a tree.
2. Place a quadrat at regular intervals along the transect.
3. Count the number of daisies in each quadrat and record the light intensity at that point using a light meter or an app.