Paper 2- Practicals

Question 1

What is the method of using random sampling to estimate the population size of a plant species?

Answer 1

• create grid of the area using tape measures
• use random number generator to find coordinates
• set down quadrat at coordinates and count number of required species within
• repeat using many sites

Question 2

What is the equation for estimated population size?

Answer 2

Areas sampled/ total area

X number of plants counted

Question 3

Why would you use a random number generator to generate coordinates?

Answer 3

Avoids bias and obtains representative results

Question 4

What is random sampling?

Answer 4

Sampling technique in which each sample has an equal probability of being chosen

Question 5

What is systematic sampling?

Answer 5

Sampling technique where there is a fixed, periodic interval between consecutive samples

Question 6

What is the method of using continuous sampling to estimate the number affect of an abiotic factor in the distribution of a plant species?

Answer 6

• create hypothesis
• lay tape measure along area with ecological gradient
• place quadrat at 5m intervals along transect
• record value of abiotic factor at each sampling site
• produced graph of plant numbers against abiotic factors