Sampling plants Flashcards
(18 cards)
what is a quadrat
a quadrat is a small frame used to define the size of the sample area
how do you prepare to sample plants
wear-
suitable footwear
suitable clothing
have-
camera to record specimens
clipboard, pen and paper
apparatus needed
why must a percentage cover be calculated when sampling plants
Because plants are too small or numerous to be counted individually, therefore it may be best to calculate a percentage ground cover to measure the abundance of species in an area
how can a quadrat help students estimate percentage ground cover
some quadrats are divided into small squares with string-
describe the structure of a point frame
frame holding a number of long needles
how can you use a point frame to help measure percentage cover
lower the point frame into the quadrat.
Any plant touching the needles of the point frame.
each individual plant touching the needle can be seen as a 1% cover, as if the frame has 10 needles and is used 10 times it will have 100 readings.
what is a transect
a line taken across a habitat, samples are taken along the line
what is the common object used as a transect
Tape measure
how do you use a transect
- place the transect
- record plants touching the lines at the set intervals
what’s the difference between a continuous belt transect and a interrupted belt transect
a continuous belt transect is when quadrat samples are placed beside the belt transect and moved along, to study the area by the belt in detail
an interrupted belt transect is when you use a quadrat at set intervals along the belt transect
what type of data does a belt transect provide
Quantitative data- Numerical data which can be analysed statistically.
when studying an uneven habitat, what sampling would be more beneficial
non random.
opportunistic
stratified
systematic
what is one important aspect when studying any habitat
consider the effect of your own presence and any disturbance that could be made
what types of disturbance can be made from a human to a habitat
trampling, picking flowers, quadrat placing
how can coordinates be generated randomly for random quadrat sampling
random number generator on calculator
why is percentage ground cover important to measure
measures the abundance of species in an area (plant species).
why is it important to sample to measure biodiversity of a habitat (EXAM)
Taken off mark scheme-
- sample is representative of whole area
- sample provides an estimate of biodiversity
- impossible to count every individual, or would be very time consuming
EXAM- what is the difference between richness and eveness, and why is it needed to measure biodiversity
richness- number of SPECIES in a habitat
eveness- abundance of EACH species in a habitat
needed-
- both richness and eveness are needed to reveal dominance
- idea that high biodiv is associated with high species richness and eveness.
