Physical Fieldwork Flashcards
What is the length of Knoll Beach?
2 km
This length allows for extensive surveying.
What is the depth of the dune system at Knoll Beach?
1 km deep
This depth supports multiple groups collecting data.
Who owns Knoll Beach?
National Trust
They allowed free access for surveying.
Why is previous research significant at Knoll Beach?
It provides background on vegetation changes
This helps in understanding ecological impacts.
What type of area is Knoll Beach classified as?
Popular tourist and local destination
This allows for studying human impact on dunes.
Fill in the blank: Knoll Beach allowed multiple groups to collect a _______ simultaneously.
200m transect
What does sand dune succession theory describe?
It describes how sand dunes form from sand blown inland that is then trapped and colonised by plants.
Which species are the pioneer species in sand dune succession?
Pioneer species include sandwort and marram grass.
What changes occur in the soil during sand dune succession?
The natural cycle of decomposition increases nutrient value and water retention, making the soil more acidic.
What types of plants grow on older yellow and grey dunes?
Species such as heather and gorse grow on large older yellow and grey dunes.
What species are found in the mobile dunes at the front?
Marram grass, with long and extensive root systems and curled, waxy leaves, is found in mobile dunes.
What species are found in the fixed dunes?
Heather and gorse are found in fixed dunes, needing more shelter and nutrient-rich, acidic soil.
What was the sample size for data collection?
We had 40 data points over 200m (every 5m).
What sampling methods were used to collect data?
We used systematic sampling to collect gradient data every 5 metres and random systematic sampling to collect vegetation data.
What equipment was used for data collection?
50m tape measure, ranging poles, clinometer, quadrat, and species identification sheet.
What limitation was noted regarding the clinometer?
Clinometer lacked accuracy.
How far into the dunes was the data collected?
We only measured 200m into the dunes and therefore likely missed changes further back such as the grey and mature dune.
What is a sand dune profile?
A type of line graph that visually represents transect data to show dune shape.
What mistake should be avoided when discussing data collection?
Avoid talking about how you collected the data; be specific and give examples of findings.
How did we assess the effectiveness of our data presentation?
By overlaying vegetation and pH data above the transect to make links between data sets.
What example illustrates the link between vegetation and dune type?
Marram grass dominated the first ridge, indicating it is likely the fore dune.
What was a limitation of writing percentage vegetation cover as a number?
It wasn’t very visual, reducing our ability to spot interesting patterns.
What alternative methods could have been used to identify patterns?
Proportional symbols or pie charts could have been drawn to identify patterns.
What factor added human error to the transect plotting?
Plotting the data required a lot of precision and care, leading to mistakes.
Why was it important to use the same scale on the x and y axis?
It allowed an accurate to-scale representation of the dune system, avoiding exaggeration.
What could have helped identify ridges and dips more confidently?
Adding photos would have helped identify features and shown the impact of manmade footpaths.
How did we calculate the height of the land through the transect?
By plotting distance and gradient data using a protractor.
