Research Methods: Specific Practical Investigations Flashcards

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1
Q

Why can measuring water turbidity be used to monitor?

A

Soil erosion

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2
Q

What ways can be used to measure water turbidity?

A

Secchi disks and turbidity bottle- semi- quantitative or qualitative
Electronic meters- quantitative data

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3
Q

What do most electronic turbidity meters measure?

A

The amount of light that is scattered by the suspended particles in a water sample usually 90* to the angle which it entered the water

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4
Q

What does increased turbidity cause in the experiment?

A

More light to scatter so the light reading decreases

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5
Q

What is needed for the turbidity laboratory experiment?

A

A dark room with no other light source for representative results
Light source
Tube to provide beam of light
Glass container (flask)
Light meter

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6
Q

What do the light readings provide from the turbidity test?

A

Relative values of the concentration of the suspended particles in the water samples

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7
Q

What factors must be standardised in effect of turbidity on light penetration test?

A

Brightness of the light bulb
Colour of light emitted by the light bulb
Distance to the sample holder
Material used to produce the calibration samples

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8
Q

How can noise level be measured?

A

An electronic sound level meter or a mobile phone
If uncalibrated meters are used then the same one should be sued to collect all the results

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9
Q

Why must you use the same uncalibrated equipment at each location?

A

Will ensure the degree of error in the results is constant so they can be compared with each other

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10
Q

what can a high or low pH conditions do to plants?

A

can denature proteins
inactivate enzymes

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11
Q

what must be considered when chosing a plant species for the effect of pH on germination?

A

small seeds
genetic uniformity
high normal germination rate
rapid germination
might not need to produce results directly applied to natural ecosystem

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12
Q

what is the number seeds and replicates needed for the effect of pH on seed germination?

A

each test must use enough seeds to produce results that can be distinguished from each other if there is a real difference
not so much that unnecessary work is needed
must be replicated so anomalies can be identified and results statistically valid

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13
Q

What should the pH range be for effect on pH on germination be?

A

pH range should fully cover range at whihc germinaiton can occur
established with prelimary study
should be below lowest pH at which germination occurred and above highest pH germination occurred

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14
Q

how long should the effect of pH on germination study be?

A

should be continued until it is clear that seeds that haven’t germinated aren’t going to
possibility pH may delay germinaiton must be accounted for

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15
Q

what must be standardised in the effect of pH on germination study?

A

temperature- ideally constant (form natural germination)
nutrient supply- not needed for germination only needed if gronw beyond initial stage
soil as growth medium repliactes natural condiotns but may effect pH

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16
Q

What materials are tested in the insulation practical?

A

felt
bubble wrap
foil
carboard

17
Q

What is the null hypothesis for the insulation practical?

A

that there will be no difference in insulating material

18
Q

What is the alternative hypothesis for insulating practical?

A

that there is a difference in insulating material

19
Q

What equipment is used in the insulating practical?

A

4 beakers
4 petri dishes
kettle
4 thermometers

20
Q

What is the methodology for the insulation practical?

A

leave water in kettle till boiled
Fill beakers with boiling water to 150ml
immediately place lid on beaker and put thermometer through hole in the lid
Leave for 10 minutes taking reading from thermometer every 1 minute

20
Q

What is the methodology for the insulation practical?

A

leave water in kettle till boiled
Fill beakers with boiling water to 150ml
immediately place lid on beaker and put thermometer through hole in the lid
Leave for 10 minutes taking reading from thermometer every 1 minute

21
Q

What equipment was standardised in the insulation practical?

A

Beaker (standard volume)
thermometer (pre standardised)
Beakers fully covered in 1 layer of insulating material
Temperature of room consistent

22
Q

What could have been done to improve accuracy of insulation practical?

A

Thermometer only had whole *C no decimal readings
leave until room temperature (longer time)
Putting insulation material on the lid

23
Q

What statistical test would you use for the insulation practical?

A

Chi-squared using physical drop in temp

24
Q

How could you measure phosphate concentrations in a river?

A

Phosphate kit- colour indicator solution and comparing it to a colour chart
when water added with solution leave for 10 mins so the solution can settle

25
Q

What is a coliform count?

A

test for specific pathogen (E-coli)
If high that means the fertiliser in fields was organic (bacteria will breakdown organic)

26
Q

What does BOD stand for?

A

Biochemical Oxygen Demands

27
Q

What does BOD measure?

A

Measures the quantity of oxygen used by micro organisms in the oxidation of organic matter

28
Q

What does a high BOD mean?

A

There are lots of micro organisms in the water (more organic matter as food)

29
Q

What is the method for BOD measurement?

A

Use a dissolved oxygen meter
Calibrated (leave in air until shows 21 or degree of error)
Lower till line into water
Wait until the value stops fluctuating
Do 3 times in same location (average)

30
Q

What does COD stand for?

A

Chemical oxygen demand

31
Q

What is COD?

A

a measurement of the oxygen required to oxidise soluble and particulate organic matter in water

32
Q

What does a high COD mean?

A

greater amount of oxidizable organic matter in sample

33
Q

What general features make species suitable to be in the biotic index?

A

All have distinct and varying tolerance levels
Identifiable
Wide distribution (i.e. Scotland and England)

34
Q

Why might biotic index be preferred to measuring pollutants directly?

A

Can find out past and present water quality
Impact of the pollution on water quality