STPM Biology Practical 20STPM Biology Practical 20Ecological study of a terrestrial or an

aquatic area.

Area to be studied: School Compound Members: Yap Yee Sheng (910522145163) Tham Weng

Chen(910915145527) Muhammad Basrul

(910130145607) Chong Dik Tseng

(911109145703)

ObjectivesObjectives

Learning the basic principles of ecology through students’ own effort

Elements of ecosystem: biosis and abiosis Dynamic relationship of elements and flow of

energy through ecosystem Using the simple apparatus and instruments in

ecological studies Learning the methods of collecting and analyzing

ecological data Writing an ecological study report Inculcating nature loving attitude Inculcating good moral values such as cooperation,

independence, and self-confidence

TechniqueTechnique

Quadrat sampling Line Transect Belt Transect Tullgren funnel Baermann funnel Observation

Rough planning of workRough planning of work

Date: 4/11/09 Period: 1 day Activity: Planning

Date: 10/11/09 Period: 1 day Activity: Proposal presentation

Date: 11-12/11/09 Period: 2 day Activity: Soil Analysis

soil samplingdetermination of the texture of soildetermination of water content of soildetermination of organic matter contentdetermination of air content in soildetermination of soil pH

Date: 13-16/11/09 Period: 4 days Activity: Determination of the types of

soil organisms

Date: 17-20/11/09 Period: 3 days Activity: Determination of the density of

plant species in a habitat quadrat sampling techniquesampling technique using line transect

Date: Period: 1 day Activity: Report presentation

Soil AnalysisSoil Analysis

1. Soil Sampling Technique1. Soil Sampling Technique

PS: How to obtain soil? Apparatus:

Metal cylinderPiston

Procedure:a)Press the metal cylinder into the soil.b)Using the piston, remove the soil sample

from the cylinder.

2. 2. Determination of the texture of the soil Determination of the texture of the soil

PS: How is the texture of the soil. Apparatus:

› 500cm3 measuring cylinder› 100cm3 soil sample› 300cm3 water

Procedurea) Add the soil sample to the measuring cylinder and cover

with water.b) Shake the contents vigorously.c) Allow the mixture to settle out, according to the density

and the surface area of particles, for 48 hours.d) Measure the volume of various fractions of soil sample.e)  f) Results Formula:g) Calculate the percentage of stone, sand, and clay

components of the soil sample.

Results Formula:Calculate the percentage of stone,

sand, and clay components of the soil sample.

TabulationComponent ( )Weight of component g % of component

1 2 3 AverageStoneSandClay

3. 3. Determination of water content of soilDetermination of water content of soil

PS: What is the percentage of water content of soil? Apparatus:

› Aluminium foil pie dish› balance› oven› desiccators› tongs› thermometer 

Procedure:a) Weigh an aluminium foil pie dish while still empty. Record the mass (a)b) Add the broken-up soil sample to the pie dish and weigh. Record the mass

(b)c) Place the pie dish containing the soil sample in the oven at 110°C for 24

hours.d) Remove the sample from the oven and cool in the desiccator.e) Weigh the sample when cool, and record the mass.f) Return the sample to the oven at 110°C for a further 24 hours.g) Repeat stages (d) and (e) until consistent weighing is recorded (constant

mass). Record the mass (c).h) Calculate the percentage water content as follows:i) Retain the soil sample in the desiccator for experiment 4.

Results formula:

Tabulation ( )Mass g

1 2 3 Average

( )a

( )b

( )c

4. 4. Determination of organic matter contentDetermination of organic matter content

PS: What is the organic matter content of the soil? Apparatus and Material:

› Desiccators and lid› Tripod› Bunsen Burner› Asbestos mat› Fireclay triangle tongs› Dried soil sample

Procedure:a) Heat the crucible and lid strongly in the Bunsen Flame to remove all traces

of moisture. Place in desiccator to cool. Weigh and record the mass (a)b) Add the dried soil sample (kept from the previous experiment) from the

desiccators and weigh. Record the mass (b)c) Heat the soil sample in the crucible, covered with the lid, to red-heat for 1

hour to burn off all the organic matter. Allow to cool for 10 minutes and remove to the desiccators.

d) Weigh the crucible and sample when cool.e) Repeat (c) and (d) until constant mass is recorded.f) Calculate the percentage of organic content as follow:g) Repeat the experiment on soil sample taken from different areas to

demonstrate variation of organic content.

Results formula:

Tabulation ( )Mass g

1 2 3 Average

( )a

( )b

( )c

5. 5. Determination of air content in soilDetermination of air content in soil

PS: What is the percentage of air content in soil?

Apparatus:

› tin can of volume about 200cm3

› 500cm3 beaker

› Metal seeker

› Water 

Procedure:

a) Place the empty can open end uppermost into the 500cm3 beaker and fill the beaker with water above the level of the can. Mark the water level in the beaker.

b) Carefully remove the can containing the water and measure this volume of water in a measuring cylinder. Record the volume (a). The water level in the beaker will fall by the amount corresponding with the volume of water in the can.

c) Perforate the base of the can using a drill, making about eight small holes.

d) Push open the end of the can into the soil from which surface vegetation has been removed until the soil begins to come through the perforations. Gently dig out the can, turn it over and remove the soil from the surface until it is level with the top of can.

e) Place the can of soil, with open end uppermost, gently back into the beaker of water and loosen soil in the can with the seeker to allow air to escape.

f) The water level in the beaker will be lower than the original level because water will be used to replace the air which was present in the soil.

g) Add water to the beaker from a full 100cm3 measuring cylinder until the original level is restored. Record the volume of water added (b).

h) The percentage of air content of the soil sample can be determined as follows:

i) Repeat the experiment on soil samples from different areas.

Results formula:

% volume of air in soil sample

Tabulation( )Mass g

1 2 3 Average( )a( )b

6. Determination of soil pH6. Determination of soil pH

PS: What is the pH of the Soil? Apparatus 

› long test-tube

› test-tube rack

› spatula

› 100cm3 pipette

› Universal indicator  Procedure:

a) Add about 1cm3 of soil to the test-tube and 1cm of barium sulphate, which ensures flocculation of the colloidal clay.

b) Add 10cm3 of distilled water and 5cm3 of BDH universal indicator solution. Seal the test-tube with the bung. Shake vigorously and allow contents to settle for 5 minutes.

c) Compare the colour of liquid in the test tube with the colours on the BDH reference colour chart and read off the corresponding pH.

d) Repeat the experiment on soil samples from different areas.

Results:› State the pH value of the soil.

 

TabulationArea pH

1 2 3 Average Area A Area B Area C Area D

Determination of the types of Determination of the types of soil organismssoil organisms

PS: What are the types of organisms present in soil?

Apparatus and materials:› Tullgren funnel› Retort stand› Beakers› Magnifying glass› Microscope, glass slide› Baermann funnel› 4% formalin solution 

Results:a)List down the types of animals such as Nematoda,

Annelida, Myriapoda, Insecta, Mollusca, and Amoeba.

b)State the name of the above animals and draw the appearance of the animals.

Baermann FunnelBaermann Funnel

Tullgren FunnelTullgren Funnel

Determination of the density Determination of the density of plant species in a habitatof plant species in a habitat

PS: What is the density of plant species in a habitat?

1. Quadrat sampling technique1. Quadrat sampling technique

Apparatus:› Quadrats measuring 1m2

Procedure:a)Systematic sampling procedure –

quadrats are placed at the same intervals along transects which runs across the investigated area at the same intervals.

b)Random sampling procedure – using random number table

Systematic distribution ofquadrats

Random distribution ofquadrats

Results:› Student’s name: ___________________› Date:___________________› Habitat: __________________________› Location/Place: ____________________› Type of plant: ______________________› Quadrat size: ______________________

Table of the data for the measurements of each

species cover in quadrat sampling

.No ( / ) Species cover base air in quadrat Total species cover for 10

quadrats

Percentage (%)Cover1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Results formula:

2. Sampling method using line 2. Sampling method using line transecttransect

Apparatus:› Rope (15.30 meters)

Procedure:a)Determine a base line along the border of the

area under the investigation.b)Choose a series of points along the base line

either randomly or systematically. These points are used as the starting points for the transects to run across the area being investigated.

c)Record only the plants which touch the line as seen vertically above or below the transect line.

d)10 – 20 lines are placed randomly in the area to provide enough samples to investigate the community.

Results:› Student’s name: ___________________ › Date: _________________› Habitat: __________________________› Location/Place: ____________________

Type of plant: _____________________› Distance of each interval: ____________› Total number of intervals: ___________› Total length of line transect: __________

No Name of Species Number of interval1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

12345678910

Calculate the frequency of a species using the following formula:

Calculate % of surface area cover of each species

Calculate the relative species cover

Summary of the measurements obtained by the line transect technique

.No Name of Species Number of intervals where the species are

.recorded

Percentagecover

Relativecover

Frequency

12345678

3. Sampling method using 3. Sampling method using Belt transect Belt transect

Apparatus:› Strip of 0.5 width

Procedure:› Run the strip trough the habitat by

setting up two line transects.

THANK YOU!!!THANK YOU!!!HAVE A NICE DAY.HAVE A NICE DAY.

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