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

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