Field techniques For biologists Flashcards
why is there a wider range of hazards in fieldwork compared with labwork?
more variables that you are not in control of
what is terrain
type of ground where fieldwork is conducted
what is one thing to consider to ensure you are prepared for the terrain
choose appropriate footwear
give an example of a treacherous terrain
uneven surfaces, steep slopes, cliffs, ice
what may you need to do if the weather turns on you during fieldwork
change your plans accordingly or abandon the fieldwork
give one reason why you are at risk if doing isolated fieldwork
long way to habitation, medical help or transport
give one thing a risk assessment should do
identify foreseeable hazards, evaluate the associated risks, evaluate the severity of the hazards, identify control measures, record the safe procedure
describe sampling
sampling is the gathering of data from part of a population
if the costs to the environment and habitat of an organism of your field study outweigh the benefits of completing the study, what should you do
abandon the study
what must biologists be aware of before studying a specific species
whether they have any legal protection
list the techniques using for sampling
point count, transects, remote detection, quadrats
describe a point count and give an example of a species it is used for
carried out from stationary location gathering observational data, repeated over the year, example: wild bird population , recording all the birds they see and hear
when is appropriate to use transects to sample a population
when there is an environmental gradient
what type of species is remote detection used to sample
elusive species
what sampling technique is used for sessile organisms
quadrats
what are the three types of sampling
random, stratified and systematic
explain the difference between random and stratified sampling
random = take random individuals from a larger population, stratified = population is divided into smaller groups and individuals selected from those groups
what capture techniques are used to sample mobile species
nets and traps
what is a benefit of understanding taxonomic relationships
make deductions and predictions about the behaviour and biology of an organism
what are the three ways to identify a species
analysis of DNA / protein, classification guides, biological keys
what is taxonomy
the organisation of life into a hierarchy of groups of increasingly closely related species
give the order of taxonomic groupings
domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, family, genus, species
state the divisions within the plant kingdom
ferns,mosses,liverworts,gymosperms,angiospersm
what is divergent evolution
development of differing life forms from a common origin, where different selection pressures are present on the each lineage
