Ecosystems Flashcards
Woodland ecosystem - Fauna
Owl, springtail, deer, centipede
Woodland- flora
Arum lily, oak tree, ivy, holly, moss
Grassland- flora
Daisy, grass, dandelion, clover, plantain
Grassland- fauna
Slug, snail, field mouse, spider,earthworm
Seashore - flora
Sea lettuce, bladder wrack, spiral wrack, oar weed, coral weed
Seashore- fauna
Limpet, crab, dog whelk, blenny , starfish
Bog- fauna
Mayfly nymph, pond skater, frog, beetle, flatworm
Bog- flora
Sundew, lichen, ling heather, hummock sphagnum, feather moss
Baermann funnel
Used to extract organisms, particularly nematodes from a soil sample
A muslin bag holds the soil sample which is suspended in water in a funnel. A light is switched on over the funnel, both light and heat cause the organisms to move out of the muslin bag and into the bottom of the funnel where they are collected for examination and identification
Tullgren funnel
Used to extract organisms from leaf litter or soil. The animals are driven out of soil by heat from a lamp and fall through a wire gauze and are collected.
Plankton net
This net has a fine nylon mesh that traps organisms such as small crustacea, some algae and protists. The net must be moved slowly through the surface of the water to allow the water to pass through the fine mesh. Small organisms are collected in the specimen tube at the end of the net.
Sweep net
A strong net which is swept through long grass or water, and then inverted onto a tray or onto a bucket from where the organisms may be identified or transferred into a specimen bottle for identification in the laboratory.
Pooter
Jar with a cover and two plastic tubes. The operator sucks through one of the tubes and small animals eg ants and greenflies are drawn into the specimen jar. The tube acting as the mouthpiece has a gauze filter at the end to prevent the animals being sucked into the operators mouth
Cryptozoic trap
Piece of wood or stone which is left on the ground. After a while, animals such as slugs, woodlice, centipedes and millipedes will be found underneath.
Small mammal trap
Eg a longworth trap, which is used to trap small mammals such as wood mice and bank voles. It consists of a two part aluminium box with a single entrance. Bedding is placed in the box along with bait. Once the animal is inside it trips a wire and closes the door behind it.
Pitfall trap
A jam jar, paper cup or other suitable container is placed into a small hole in the ground. The container mouth must be be level with the ground. It can be partially hidden with twigs or leaf litter or covered with a flat stone raised on pebbles. Small arthropods fall into the trap.
Beating tray
This may be simply a white tray, cotton sheet or large piece of white chart paper. It is placed under a bush, tree branch or other foliage. The bush, tree branch or foliage is shaken suddenly and vigorously. Insects and other invertebrates fall onto the tray.
Longworth mammal trap
Used to trap small mammals, bait placed inside. Trap must be set late in the evening and the animal released by morning.
Sweep net
Swept through long grass or at the edge pf a hedge. Used to catch insects.
Frequency formula
Number of quadrats containing organism divided by number of quadrats thrown
Total population formula
(Number of animals captured and marked on first visit x number captured on first visit) divided by number of marked animals in the recapture sample
