Unit 1 - Sampling plants & animals (Week 2)

Question 1

What is qualitive sampling?

Answer 1

descriptive ie one that involves the assessment of
specimens to determine presence/absence or descriptions of the
species eg distribution, taxonomy, growth rates, feeding habits etcSampling which provides a species list

Question 2

What is sampling?

Answer 2

Sampling is when data is gathered on a small componant and used to represent the whole population.

Question 3

What is a limitation of sampling?

Answer 3

If you choose an area that would be bias, you need to make sure that it is random. This eliminates the bias in the representation.

Question 4

What is quantative sampling?

Answer 4

numerical ie counts. Used to inform about
frequency, density, biomass, age composition, productivity etc

Question 5

Name the 2 ways that sampling can occur and describe them

Answer 5

Random - no real sampling strategy involved though, to make sampling really random a random number generator could be used to inform team where to
sample.

*Systematic – samples/sampling points are chosen at equally distributed intervals

Question 6

What is Invasive sampling?

Answer 6

The animlas are handled by the scientists which may cause stress and alter natural behaviour

Question 7

What is non-invsive sampling?

Answer 7

The animals are not handled by the scientists e.g they can analyse droppings, dna, footprints etc

Question 8

What is the Trent Biotic Index?

Answer 8

A measure of the level of pollution in water based on the presence or absence of certain indicator species
0 = highly polluted, 15 = clean water

Question 9

What is capture-mark-recapture

Answer 9

A method of estimating population size by
capturing, marking then recapturing animals

Question 10

Explain Simpsons Biodiversity Index

Answer 10

A measure of biodiversity which takes into account the total numberof species as well as the relative abundance of each individual
species