Measuring ecosystems. Experiment 1 - Surveying You will make an accurate to scale drawing of the...
If you can't read please download the document
Measuring ecosystems. Experiment 1 - Surveying You will make an accurate to scale drawing of the ecosystem we are going to study. The drawing will need
Experiment 1 - Surveying You will make an accurate to scale
drawing of the ecosystem we are going to study. The drawing will
need to have accurate measurements (+/- 01m) to show key distances.
You will need to record the accurate positions of the 8 key
(identified by your teacher) trees.
Slide 3
Make a plan.. Now using your plan go and measure what you think
will be needed to produce your plan. Then using your measurements
and a relevant method (electronic or by hand) make your accurate
drawing.
Slide 4
Experiment 2 Measuring trees For each of the 8 key trees we
will measure: 1.The trunk diameter, 2.The average crown diameter,
3.The tree height. You will need to record your data using a
relevant method. Dont forget units!
Slide 5
Measuring trunk diameter Diameter of a tree gives an indication
of its age. C = D or D = C/ D C
Slide 6
Measuring tree height H = tree height L = distance from the
tree you measured the angle () at (in meters). H = h1 + h2 h1 is
your eye height (in meters) h2 = L x tan() ()()
Slide 7
Experiment 3 measuring canopy The measurements for the canopy
in all 4 directions North, East, South and West gives you an
ability to estimate the approximate ground area the tree covers and
so an ability approximate the solar energy absorbed by the tree.
NorthSouth
Slide 8
Tree calculations and presentation of data. To present your
processed the data: On the initial survey you completed you need to
record the trees vital statistics and the canopy as a scaled kite
diagram positioned where the tree was. E.g.: D = 0.15m H= 8.5m N S
E W D = Trunk diameter at 1m from the ground H = tree height
Slide 9
Experiment 3.- Measuring Biodiversity SIMPSONS DIVERSITY INDEX
To calculate Simpson's Index for a particular area, the area must
first be sampled. The number of individuals of each species present
in the samples must be noted. For example, the diversity of the
ground flora in a woodland, might be tested by sampling random
quadrats. The number of plant species within each quadrat, as well
as the number of individuals of each species is noted. There is no
necessity to be able to identify all the species, provided they can
be distinguished from each other. To work out SBI we will need to
measure: N = total no. of all species n = no of individuals of a
particular species High value of D = diverse ecosystem /stable, low
value = not diverse ecosystem / unstable Diversity is a measure of
a) the no. of different species b) the evenness each species
Slide 10
Which is the most diverse, Meadow 1 or 2? Numbers of
individuals Flower Species Meadow 1Meadow 2 Daisy30020
Dandelion33549 Buttercup365931 Total1000 Animal type Number of
individuals Goldfish24 carp5 Frogs6 Water boatman 1500 Water
snail1200 Water flea2500 Species Number (n) n (n-1) Woodrush22
Holly8 Bramble1 Yorkshire fog 1 Sedge3 Total (N) N = N- 1 = N(N-1)
= n(n-1) = D = 15 14 210 2+56+0+0+6 =64 3.28 Lets do a bit of
practice .. Now work out the SBI for the pond.
Slide 11
Your task. Compare the SBI for a 2 different flowerbed or grass
areas and compare them. (one of the flower bed areas must be the
one in the corner nearest administration!) Points to consider:
1.you have to compare the same area to make it a fair test. 2.Do
not destroy or trample any of the beautifully cared for plants in
your efforts
Slide 12
Experiment 4 Soil analysis Soil has many of the abiotic factors
that will affect plant growth from pH to nitrate and water
availability. It also has a major function in nutrient cycling and
is a major store for organic matter. This experiment will show you
ways to measure all of this. Bed rock Illuvial zone Elluvial zone
Organic zone
Slide 13
Using the soil test kits. The soil test kits allow you to test
for: 1.Soil pH 2.Potassium (K) 3.Phosphorus (P) 4.Nitrate Use the
Soil Auger to get your small sample and follow instructions in the
pack to measure your nutrient contents.
Slide 14
Measuring water, organic and mineral contents - method Take a
250ml beaker, weigh it, record this value. Half fill the beaker
with soil, weigh it, record this value. Heat the beaker over a
bunsen burner for 10 minutes to dry it (stirring occasionally),
leave it to cool, weigh it, record this value. Pour the soil onto a
metal tray and spread it out. Using a bunsen burner very carefully
apply the flame directly to the soil it will glow red hot, (this
will burn off the organic matter) Leave it to cool. Carefully (so
as not to lose any soil) put the soil back in the beaker and
reweigh it, record this value.
Slide 15
Record the data in a suitable format. From the data you have
recorded work out: 1.The original mass of the soil, 2.The mass of
water lost from the soil with the first heating, 3.The mass of
organic matter lost from the soil by the second burning, 4.The
inorganic matter left behind after all else is removed. Decide on a
suitable way to present this data graphically hint - the original
mass of the soil would be 100% of the soil and everything else
would be a proportion of that original mass. Measuring water,
organic and mineral contents - data
Slide 16
Each of the 4 experiments will be assessed using the following
rubric