Field techniques for biologists Flashcards
(39 cards)
Hazards in fieldworks include
adverse weather conditions, difficult terrain, problems associated with isolation and contact with harmful organisms
What is a risk
Risk is the likelihood of harm arising from exposure to a hazard.
What does risk assessment involve
Risk assessment involves identifying control measures to minimise risk
Control measures include
appropriate equipment, clothing, footwear and means of communication.
How should sampling be carried out
Sampling should be carried out in a manner that minimises impact on wild species and habitats.
What type of species need consideration
Consideration must be given to rare and vulnerable species and habitats that are protected by legislation.
Chosen techniques when sampling wild organisms
point count, transect or remote detection must be appropriate to the species being sampled
Quadrats of a suitable size and shape or transects are used for
plants or other sessile or slow moving organisms.
Capturing techniques for mobile species
traps or nets
How can elusive species be sampled
Elusive species can be sampled directly using camera traps or an indirect method such as scat sampling.
Point count involves
the observer recording all the individuals seen from the fixed point count location.
How can point count be reliable
This point count location can be compared to other point count locations or with data from the same location gathered at other times.
Identification of an organism in a sample can be made using
classification guides, biological keys or analysis of DNA or protein.
Organisms can be classified by both
taxonomy and phylogenetics
Taxonomy involves
the identification and naming of organisms and their classification into groups based on shared characteristics.
Phylogenetics is the study of
the evolutionary history and relationships among individuals or groups of organisms
Familiarity with taxonomic groups allows
predictions and inferences to be made about the biology of an organism from better known (model) organisms.
Model organisms are those that either are
easily studied or have been well studied. Information obtained from them can be applied to other species that are more difficult to study directly.
In the context of fieldwork
sample organisms from a variety of habitats and attempt to classify and catalogue them using keys, guides and other materials.
Classic taxonomy classification is based on
morphology
Phylogenetic use heritable traits such as morphology, DNA sequences, and protein structure to make inferences about
an organism’s evolutionary history and create a phylogeny (or phylogenetic tree) - a diagrammatic hypothesis of its relationships to other organisms.
Genetic evidence can reveal relatedness obscured
by divergent or convergent evolution.
Nematodes, arthropods and chordates are examples of
taxonomic groups
Presence, absence or abundance of indicator species can give information
of environmental qualities, such as presence of pollutants.
