Research Methods: Specialist Techniques Used In Ecological Research Flashcards

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1
Q

What is different about these specialist method/techniques of monitoring ?

A

Methods that have been developed relatively recently often using electronic equipment

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2
Q

How is imagery being used as a research method?

A

A rapidly expanding imagery system is available to collect environmental information

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3
Q

What are image databases?

A

This is when through a collection of images some species are able to be identified by their unique features

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4
Q

What are some ways databases can be used to identify animals?

A

Tiger facial stripes
Cheetah tail markings
Whale shark spot patterns
Dolphin fin marks and injuries
Zebra stripes

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5
Q

What can being able to identify individuals provide information on?

A

Territory size
Population movements (migrations)
Lifespans
Social groupings

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6
Q

What are he limitations of image databases?

A

Few species have unique features that can be used to identify individual animals

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7
Q

What are motion sensitive cameras?

A

These can be used for habitat monitoring to detect the presence or activity of animals using visible light photography during the day or infrared technology at night

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8
Q

What is closed circuit TV (CCTV)?

A

CCTV cameras can be used to observe animals behaviour with a lower risk of disturbance than if researchers visit the site

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9
Q

What is MARKING?

A

This is a range of methods that are used to identify individuals that have been previously caught

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10
Q

What are some examples of MARKING?

A

Rings placed on birds’ legs provides information on movements lifespan if they are caught later

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11
Q

What are DNA databases?

A

A DNA profile can be used to identify individuals, gene pools and other genetic relationships

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12
Q

How can some aquatic species be detected?

A

The DNA of the cells they shed into water this is called environmental DNA

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13
Q

What is another name for environmental DNA?

A

eDNA

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14
Q

What is an example of how eDNA is used in the UK?

A

eDNA evidence of the presence of the legally protected Great Crested Newt may prevent a development being permitted in the Uk that would damage that habitat

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15
Q

How can you identify regional populations? (DNA)

A

Each separate population within a species has its own unique gene pool, this means it may be possible to identify where a plant or animal came from compared with a DNA database.

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16
Q

What is an example of the identifying regional population technology? (Tracking)

A

Being developed to track sources of tropical timber, elephant ivory and some commercially fished species (Cod and Haddock).

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17
Q

When would you use Auditory monitoring?

A

When a species cannot be seen but can be detected by the sounds they produce

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18
Q

What are sonograms?

A

Records of the sounds made by taxa such as dolphins, bats and some insects

19
Q

What are sonograms evidence of?

A

Presence, abundance and activity

20
Q

What is positional monitoring?

A

The use of a range of technologies to monitor the location of individuals

21
Q

What can be used to track animals in the air or freshwater?

A

Radio
GPS
Acoustic transmitters

22
Q

What tracking method is used in seawater?

A

Acoustic transmitters

23
Q

Why are acoustic transmitters used in seawater?

A

As they give real-time information of the current position of the animal carrying the transmitter

24
Q

When would you use a Geolocator tag?

A

May be used when transmitters would be too heavy or when the battery life would be too short for a long-term study

25
Q

What do Geolocators do?

A

They are small and only collect data on time and light

26
Q

How is data collected from geolocators?

A

When the animal is re-caught the data can be downloaded and used to work out the latitude and longitude of the animal for each day during the study.

27
Q

What sort of animals would carry geolocators?

A

Used to track the movements of birds that are too small to carry radio transmitters

28
Q

What do data recorders do?

A

Collect data on a range of abiotic factors (light intensity, temperature and salinity etc…)

29
Q

How is the data form Data recorders collected?

A

Downloaded when the recorder is recovered
Radio or auditory transmission

30
Q

What do sensor carrier systems do?

A

They move a data collecting sensor to the study area

31
Q

What are some examples of sensor carrying systems?

A

ROV (Remotely operated vehicles- Drones)
AUV (Autonomous unmanned vehicles)
Ballon
Aircraft
Satellites
Animals

32
Q

How are satellites used for data collection?

A

Sensors are mounted to satellites which can be used to collect large amounts of data about earth using different types of electromagnetic radiation

33
Q

How is reflected visible light used by sensors on satellites?

A

Provides images of large areas of the earths surface
Can be sued for creating maps, monitoring land use changes and monitoring environmental changes such as deforestation and flooding

34
Q

What can infrared (IR) data collected by satellites sensors be used?

A

IR emitted by the earths surface can be used to monitor vegetation density and temperature

35
Q

How do weather monitoring and forecasting use satellite systems?

A

Sensors that detect cloud cover, humidity, wind velocity, wind direction and temperature

36
Q

HOW can radar microwaves emitted by the satellite be used?

A

They microwaves reflect off earths surface these waves can be sued to monitors a range of environmental factors

37
Q

What environmental factors can radar microwaves monitor?

A

Wind velocity
Sea surface altitude
Wave height
Oil pollution

38
Q

What is a positive of microwaves?

A

They can pass through clouds so the surveys are not interrupted by cloudy weather

39
Q

How do GPS satellites use radio waves?

A

To track the positions of mobile animals, floats in the oceans, or the location of sampling sites

40
Q

What is indirect evidence?

A

Many species leave evidence even if they are not actually seen

41
Q

What are some examples indirect evidence? (Of species in an area)

A

Nests/burrows
Droppings
Feeding marks (chewed nuts)
Owl pellets
Tracks/footprints
Territorial marks (scratching posts)

42
Q

What can animal droppings be used for?

A

Diet
Gender
Territory size

43
Q

What can owl pellets be used for?

A

Give information on diet