Practical 10: Ecology of a habitat

Question 1

Ecology of a habitat

Answer 1

1. Choose a site where there is an obvious gradient in an abiotic variable. Place the
   transect down. Select a species that changes in abundance along the gradient.
2. Place the quadrat at each of the marks on the transect, placing the bottom left
   corner on the mark every time.
3. Record the percentage cover for the chosen species. This can be done by
   recording how many of the quadrat’s 100 squares contain the chosen species. A
   square should only be counted if half or more of it is covered.
4. At each coordinate, a measure of the independent variable should be taken.
   For example, if investigating light intensity, a photometer can be used to take a
   reading for the light intensity at each coordinate.

risks- slippery surfaces

variables-
control = size of quadrat
independent = pH of soil
dependent = how many different species are found in each quadrat

plot data in a graph