ecology
DESCRIPTION
ECOLOGY. Study of an Ecosystem. Preparation Fieldwork Follow-up activities Report writing. Preparation. Learning objectives Advance planning Safety. Quantitative Study. Syllabus 1.5.3. Quantitative Study of plants and animals of a sample area of the selected ecosystem. - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
Study of an Ecosystem Preparation
Fieldwork
Follow-up activities
Report writing
Preparation Learning objectives
Advance planning
Safety
Quantitative Study
Syllabus 1.5.3 Quantitative Study of
plants and animals of a sample area of the selected ecosystem
Transfer Results to• Diagrams• Graphs• Tables• Histograms• Other relevant
mode
Quantitative Study
No. of organisms present
Quadrat
Quadrat
Usually square shaped
Can be used to measure: Frequency % Cover
A frame that forms a known area
Frequency The chance of finding a named
organism within the sample area in a number of quadrats
May be expressed as a percent of the total number of quadrats sampled
Frequency Procedure Throw the quadrat randomly in the
sample area Record the presence or absence of a
named organism within each quadrat Repeat for a number of throws Tabulate results
Frequency tableOrganism 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Total Frequency % Frequency
Quadrat throw
thrownquadratsofNoorganismcontainingquadratsofNoFrequency
..
If percentage is required multiply frequency by 100
Frequency Procedure Throw the quadrat randomly in the
sample area Record the presence or absence of a
named organism within each quadrat Repeat for a number of throws Tabulate results
Plot Graph
X axis = Organisms
Y axis = % FrequencyOrganisms
%Frequency
Tabulation of results
Auto Calculations
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
% Frequency
Buttercup Daisy Dandelion Grass
Plant name
% Frequency
% Frequency
Organism Name % Frequency 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Total Frequency % FrequencyButtercup 50% Y N N Y Y N Y N Y N 5 5/10 50
Daisy 40% N Y N N N Y Y N Y N 4 4/10 40Dandelion 60% Y N N Y Y Y N Y Y N 6 6/10 60
Grass 40% N N Y Y N N N Y Y N 4 4/10 40
Quadrat Throw
% Cover Quadrat divided
into a grid Intersections
form sampling points
Plant scores a hit if touched by the needle
Canopy organisms / all organisms
% Cover An area of ground occupied by aerial
parts of individual plants of the
species examined and counted
Expressed as a percentage of the total
quadrat area
% Cover procedure Throw a quadrat at random
Record the plant hit at each sampling
point
Repeat for a number of throws
Tabulate results
% Cover table
100sintpoof.nootalΤ
hitsof.NoCover%
Plant Name 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Total Hits Total Points % CoverQuadrat throw
% Cover procedure Throw a quadrat at random
Record the plant hit at each sampling
point
Repeat for a number of throws
Tabulate results
Tabulation of results
AutoCalculations
% Cover
20%
12%
14%
46%
8%ButtercupDaisyDandelionGrassOther
Plant Name % Cover 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Total Hits Total Points % CoverButtercup 20% 10 6 1 8 2 1 5 5 7 5 50 250 20%Daisy 12% 1 6 2 2 4 4 2 4 3 2 30 250 12%Dandelion 14% 2 6 6 1 4 4 2 3 1 6 35 250 14%Grass 46% 12 5 12 14 15 14 15 13 11 4 115 250 46%Other 8% 0 2 4 0 0 2 1 0 3 8 20 250 8%
Quadrat Throw
Data Presentation ICT contributes to display, calculation and
analysis of data. (example Excel)
012345678
Density/m2
Buttercup Daisy Dandelion Grass
Plant Name
DensityDensity
Graphs
Plant Name % Frequency 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Total % FrequencyButercup 50% Y N N Y Y N Y N Y N 5 50%
Daisy 40% N Y N N N Y Y N Y N 4 40%Dandelion 60% Y N N Y Y Y N Y Y N 6 60%
Grass 40% N N Y Y N N N Y Y N 4 40%
Quadrat Throw - % Frequency
SpreadsheetsCalculationsAnalysis
1.5.7 Analysis
Prepare a brief report of the results obtained
Syllabus page 14
Report writing Option A Presentation of results and analysis of
all ecology fieldwork together in portfolio format
Option B Presentation of results of
each individual ecology activity separately in regular practical notebook with one common analysis
Option AA portfolio should contain
Title page
Introduction
Site description
Methods used
Results
Analysis
Presentation of results of each individual ecology activity
separately in regular practical notebook with one common
analysis
Option B