Field techniques for Biologists

Question 1

Hazards in fieldwork include

Answer 1

-Adverse Weather conditions
-Difficult terrain
-Problems associated with isolation
-Contact with harmful organisms

Question 2

Risk assessment involves

Answer 2

Identifying control measures to minimise risk

Question 3

Control measures include

Answer 3

Appropriate equipment, clothing, footwear and means of communication

Question 4

Sampling techniques

Answer 4

• point count
• quadrats
• transects
• capture techniques for mobile species
• camera traps for elusive species
• scat sampling also for elusive species

Question 5

Point count

Answer 5

For avian research, observer recording all individuals seen from a fixed point count location.

Question 6

Quadrats and transects

Answer 6

Used for plants and other sessile or slow moving organisms

Question 7

identification of an organism in a sample made using

Answer 7

• Classification guides
• Biological keys
• Analysis of DNA or protein

Question 8

Organisms can be classified by

Answer 8

Taxonomy and phylogenetics

Question 9

Taxonomy

Answer 9

Involves the identification and naming of organisms and their classification into groups based on shared characteristics

Question 10

What’s taxonomy based on

Answer 10

Morphology(structure of organisms)

Question 11

Phylogenetics

Answer 11

study of the evolutionary history and relationships among individuals/groups of organisms,

Question 12

Phylogenetics uses traits such as

Answer 12

Morphology, DNA sequences and protein to make inferences about an organisms evolutionary history and create a phylogeny

Question 13

Divergent Evolution

Answer 13

When a species from a common ancestor evolve differently

Question 14

Convergent Evolution

Answer 14

When a species that have evolved from different ancestries develop similar structure

Question 15

Taxonomic groups

Answer 15

Nematodes
Arthropods
Chordates

Question 16

Nematodes

Answer 16

Round worms: very diverse, many parasitic

Question 17

Arthropods

Answer 17

Jointed legged invertebrates,

Question 18

Chordates

Answer 18

Sea squirts and vertebrates such as fish amphibians reptiles reptiles birds and mammals

Question 19

Model organisms

Answer 19

easily studied or have been well studied

Info from them can be applied to other more difficult species

Question 20

important model organisms in the advancement of modern biology

Answer 20

• E. coli
• Arabidopsis thaliana
• Nematode C. elegans
• Arthropod Drosphilia melanogaster
• Mice, rats, zebrafish which are chordates

Question 21

indicator species

Answer 21

presence, absence or abundance of indicator species suggests presence of pollutant or absence of it.

Question 22

Absence or reduced population suggests..

Answer 22

indicates a species is susceptible to a factor of the environment

Question 23

Abundance or increased population

Answer 23

indicates its favoured by the conditions

Question 24

Method of mark and recapture to estimate population size

Answer 24

N=MC/R
N= Population
M= Sample of population captured, marked, and released. Then second sample is captured
C= Number captured in 2nd sample
R= number recaptured in 2nd sample

Question 25

During mark and recapture what has to be assumed

to estimate population size

Answer 25

1. all equal chance of capture
2. no migration or emigration
3. marked indivudals can mix properly bck with population

Question 26

Methods of marking

Answer 26

• Banding
• Tagging
• Surgical implantation
• Painting
• Hair Clipping