Investigating Populations - Key Terms

HabitatAbundanceRandom samplingSystematic samplingFrequencyPercentage coverMark-release-recapture

Studying Habitats

• When studying a habitat, ecologists will first estimate the populations of the species living there.

• The abundance of each species can never be known exactly, but sampling can give reasonably accurate estimates.

Why would it be wrong to try to count every individual of a population?

• Small samples are studied at random locations, and then scaled up to fit the entire habitat.

• There are of course, a range of ecological techniques at an ecologist’s disposal.

Definitions

Write a definition for the terms:

- Habitat

- Abundance

Introducing Sampling TechniquesThe approach to sampling can be in one of two ways:

1. Random2. Systematic

Random Sampling:This is usually employed when trying to eliminate bias. Two numbered axis can be laid out over the sample area. Generation of random numbers provides co-ordinates for areas to study.

Systematic Sampling:A similar grid is laid over the entire area, but samples are taken at regular intervals. Time-consuming... But more reliable?

These two approaches are realised using the following apparatus.

7 of 39 © Boardworks Ltd 2008

Another random sampling technique is random walking.

This involves chosing a random number between 0 and 360 to act as a compass bearing, then chosing another random to determine how many paces to walk before reaching the sample point.

Random walking

start

sample point

Quadrats• A quadrat is just a fancy square used by biologists/ecologists.• There are two types of quadrat:

Frame QuadratPoint Quadrat

How would you use each of these in the field?

9 of 39 © Boardworks Ltd 2008

Random sampling and quadrats

More About QuadrattingThree things to consider when using quadrats:

1. The size of the quadrat:Depends on the size of species being investigated, or what kind of groups or colonies the species live in.

2. The number of samples being taken in the area:The more samples you take in the habitat, the more reliable the results will be - depends if time is an issue.

3. The position of each quadrat:Producing unbiased results within a small time-frame is the best idea. Random sampling would work well.

A problem that arises during quadrat sampling is the clumping of plants. To get around this... We measure the ‘mean density’ or

‘percentage cover’ instead.

How could you use a quadrat to estimate the population of daisies in this field?

Random Sampling• Use 2 tape measures at right angles along adjacent

sides of the field.• Use a random number generator (e.g. on your

calculator) to generate pairs of numbers.• Use these pairs as coordinates to locate a random

point on the field.• Place the quadrat and count the number of daisies

within.• Repeat so you have at least 10 results.• Scale up to find the mean population density – how

would you do this?

Mean Density

• You count all the individuals of a single species in a quadrat. Do this for several quadrats (as painstaking as it may be).

• The quadrat must be of a known size.• Plug the numbers into the following formula:

Estimated mean = Total number of individuals counted density Number of quadrats x Area of quadrat

Let’s have a try!

Transects

• Transect sampling is more of a systematic technique, but can be adapted to a random technique if required.

15 of 39 © Boardworks Ltd 2008

A line transect is useful for examining the effect of a change in habitat on biodiversity; for example, the effect of a stream running through a field or wood.

A line is drawn through the area to be examined. Any species touching the line at fixed intervals (e.g. 1 m) is recorded.

Line transects

16 of 39 © Boardworks Ltd 2008

A line transect does not reflect the density of each species along the line, so is therefore only useful as a very basic analytical tool.

This graph shows the presence of each species along the line of the sample.

Line transect data

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7distance along transect (m)

17 of 39 © Boardworks Ltd 2008

A belt transect is similar to a line transect, but provides more detailed data.

Rather than simply recording the type of species touching the line, quadrats are taken at regular intervals along the line to identify the number/density of the species along the belt.

Belt transects

18 of 39 © Boardworks Ltd 2008

The graph for a belt transect shows the density of the species present in the area, rather than just presence/absence.

Belt transect data

mossgrass reed dandelion clover

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

quadrat no.

no

. in

div

idu

als

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

Transects

• Use a tape measure or transect line.• Allow us to see changes as you move across an

area,e.g. does the population density of bluebells change as you move further into the woods?

• Line transect/belt transect?• With/without quadrats?• Placed randomly

Depends upon what you’re investigating!

What about animals?What we’ve seen up until now is fine for sampling plant populations, but studying animals and insects is trickier.

1. A set of animals are caught and then marked in some way.2. They’re then released back into the community.3. After a specified length of time, the community is revisited and a

number of individuals are caught again. 4. The number of marked individuals is counted.

The population size is calculated:

21 of 37 © Boardworks Ltd 2009

Studying animal populations

22 of 37 © Boardworks Ltd 2009

Field study

23 of 37 © Boardworks Ltd 2009

Common sampling techniques

Learning check – use the book to help you answer the following questions

1. What is the difference between random and systematic sampling?

2. What types of animal can be sampled using a frame quadrat?

3. In the context of quadrat sampling, what is meant by species frequency?

4. If there are 2100 daisies, evenly distributed in a 10 m by 10 m area, what would you expect the species density of the daisies to be?

5. What is meant by percentage cover?

6. If you obtained three ‘hits’ with a needle on a particular species of plant, while using a ten-needle point quadrat, what percentage cover would you record for that plant species?

7. In what kind of environment would you collect samples along a transect line?

8. What precaution must be taken when marking mobile animals as part of the mark–release–recapture technique?

9. When using the mark–release–recapture technique, why must a reasonable length of time be left between release and recapture?

10. If 20 rabbits are marked and released and then, of 15 recaptured a week later, 5 are found to be marked, what would you estimate the size of the rabbit population to be in the area sampled?

20 min

1. What is the difference between random and systematic sampling?In random sampling, sampling points are chosen randomly. In systematic sampling, sample points are taken at regular intervals or in some other fixed pattern.

2. What types of animal can be sampled using a frame quadrat?Sessile, or non-moving, animals and sedentary, or slow-moving, animals.

3. In the context of quadrat sampling, what is meant by species frequency?The number of quadrats in which a particular species is found.

4. If there are 2100 daisies, evenly distributed in a 10 m by 10 m area, what would you expect the species density of the daisies to be?21 per m2.

5. What is meant by percentage cover?The proportion of an area covered by a plant or sessile or sedentary animal.

Learning check

6. If you obtained three ‘hits’ with a needle on a particular species of plant, while using a ten-needle point quadrat, what percentage cover would you record for that plant species?30%

7. In what kind of environment would you collect samples along a transect line?One in which there is a transition between communities along an environmental gradient, e.g. a beach.

8. What precaution must be taken when marking mobile animals as part of the mark–release–recapture technique?The marking must not affect the animals’ mobility or survival chance.

9. When using the mark–release–recapture technique, why must a reasonable length of time be left between release and recapture?To allow marked animals to mix in with the unmarked population.

10. If 20 rabbits are marked and released and then, of 15 recaptured a week later, 5 are found to be marked, what would you estimate the size of the rabbit population to be in the area sampled?60

Learning check

Key words & definitions

Key word Definition

Habitat The place where an organism normally lives, which is characterised by physical conditions and the species of other organisms present.

Random sampling Random sampling is used to avoid any bias in collecting data. Avoiding bias ensures that the data obtained is valid.

Systematic sampling

Samples are taken at regular intervals within a set sampling area. Time-consuming... But more reliable?

Abundance Counting the number of individuals of a species in a given space.

Frequency Frequency is the likelihood of a particular species occurring in a quadrat. It gives a quick idea of the species present and their general distribution within an area. However it does not provide information on the density and detailed distribution of species.

Percentage cover Is an estimate of the area within a quadrat that a particular plant species covers. Advantage – data be collected rapidly & individual plants do not need be counted Disadvantage – less useful organisms occur in several overlapping layers.

Mark-release-recapture

Known number animals caught, marked and released. Some time later given number of individuals are collected randomly and mark recorded.