Title : Ecological Study

Aim: To study and determine species density, abundance and diversity of the grass community
on the Northern lawn of the Bishops’ High School.
Objectives: 1) To construct a quadrat in order to carry out an ecological study 2) To identify the
different species of grass found in the Northern Lawn of the Bishops’ High School using the
quadrat to find their abundance, diversity and density.
Layout of Study Area:

Google Map image showing study area

Drawing using Study Area
Pictures of Quadrat and various Species of Grass
Methodology:
1) Using 4 pieces of wood of equal length, and twine, a quadrant was assembled, where the
twine formed 9 squares.
2) The area of study chosen was the Northern Lawn of The Bishops High School.
3) The quadrant was then thrown; the various species of grass were identified and the
amount of grass present in each square were noted and tabulated according to the species
of grass to which they belonged.
4) Step 3 was repeated two more times, where after the Species Density, Species Diversity
and Species Abundance were all calculated to analyze the species of grasses present in
the Northern Lawn of The Bishops High School.
 Presentation of Findings

Table Showing the number of various species of Grass counted for the first throw of the
Quadrant
TRIAL 1

SPECIES

SQUARE A B C D

1 0 5 13 13

2 0 4 4 11

3 0 4 8 7

4 0 6 7 1

5 0 3 8 1

6 0 2 5 3

7 0 2 7 0

8 0 2 4 7

9 1 6 5 5
Table Showing the number of various species of Grass counted for the second throw of the
Quadrant
TRIAL 2
SPECIES
SQUARE A B C D
1 0 5 5 4
2 0 4 8 1
3 0 7 5 3
4 0 4 6 2
5 0 4 10 1
6 0 1 12 3
7 0 5 6 5
8 0 7 3 8
9 0 9 11 11

Table Showing the number of various species of Grass counted for the third throw of the
Quadrant
TRIAL 3
SPECIES
SQUARE A B C D E
1 0 0 6 0 1
2 2 1 5 0 0
3 0 9 4 0 0
4 1 3 3 0 0
5 0 3 5 0 0
6 1 1 7 0 1
7 1 2 7 0 1
8 0 4 5 0 0
9 0 5 10 0 0
 Analysis and Calculations

Species Diversity

Trial 1
N(N-1) n(n-1) ∑n(n-1)
144(143) 1(0) 0 7038
20592 34(33) 1122 D = ∑n(n-1) / N(N-1)
61(60) 3660 D = 7038/20592
48(47) 2256 D = 0.3418
7038

Trial 2

D = ∑n(n-1) / N(N-1)
N(N-1) n(n-1) ∑n(n-1) D = 7766/22350
150(149) 0 7766 D = 0.3478
22350 2070
4290
1406
Trial 3

D = ∑n(n-1) / N(N-1)
N(N-1) n(n-1) ∑n(n-1) D = 3430/7656
88(87) 20 3430 D = 0.4480
7656 756
2652
0
2

Species Density
-2
Species Density = 88+150+144 = 127.3 grass m
3
Species Density = Total no. of individuals
No. of random quadrat tosses

Species Abundance

S = number of individuals per species

So Number of individuals
Species
Throw 1
S = 144/4 = 36
Throw 2
S = 150/4 = 37.5
Throw 3
S = 88/5 = 17.6
Ecology is often referred to as the "study of distribution and abundance". This being true, we
would often like to know how many of a certain organism are in a
certain place, or at a certain time. Therefore, we usually have toestimate the abundance of organisms by
sampling them, or counting a subset of the population of interest. Obviously, we would like our method for
sampling the population to produce a good estimate. Random sampling avoids the source of bias. A random
sample is one where every potential sample plot within the study area sample has an exactly
equal chance of being chosen for sampling. Random sampling is not the same as haphazard
sampling. The usual sampling unit is a quadrat. Quadrats normally consist of a square frame, the
most frequently used size being 1m.
Quadrats do not have to be square but there must be known. Other quadrat shapes commonly
included circle and rectangles. The purpose of using a quadrat is to enable comparable samples
to be obtained from areas of consistent size and shape. Rectangular quadrats and even circular
quadrats have been used in some surveys. It does not really matter what shape of quadrat isused,
provided it is a standard sampling unit and its shape and measurements are stated in any write-
up. It may however be better to stick to the traditional square frame unless there arevery good
reasons not to, because this yields data that is more readily comparable to other published
research. Choice of quadrat size depends to a large extent on the type of survey being conducted.

Species diversity refers to the measure of diversity in an ecological community. Species diversity
takes into consideration species richness, which is the total number of different species in a
community. It also takes into account evenness, which is the variation of abundance in
individuals per species in a community.
Species abundance is the number of individuals per species, and relative abundance refers to the
evenness of distribution of individuals among species in a community.
Species Density is the average number of individuals for the amount of throws or trials taken.
Sources of Errors
1) One of the main sources of error occurred when deciding whether an individual is within or
outside the quadrat frame. This type of error is called called "boundary decisions" and protocols
should be discussed to ensure consistent decisions.
2) A further common source of error is due to differences in observer’s opinion, that is,
identifying a species as either A or B since they may look the same at times.
3) Two plants may have been counted as one if their roots were very close to each other .
4) Quadrat throws were biased.
5) Some of the squared were not of the same size since the polythene string moved at times.

Limitations:
1) A further common source of error is due to differences in observer’s opinion, that is,
identifying a species as either A or B since they may look the same at times.
2) Two plants may have been counted as one if their roots were very close to each other.

Precautions:
1) Protocols should be discussed to ensure consistent decisions when determining whether an
individual is within or outside the quadrat frame.
2) Ensure that plants are counted from the roots upwards so that different leaves of one plant
may not be counted as two different plants of that species.
3) Ensure that the throwing of the quadrat is random, therefore, do not throw quadrat in an area
that you think is easier to study.
4) Ensure that the materials used to make the quadrat are sturdy to prevent shifting of the squares
when throwing the quadrat.

Conclusion
In conclusion, the distribution in grass in the northern lawn of The Bishops High School was
studied and the species density, species abundance and species diversity were also found
Name: Keron Niles
Teacher: Lakeram Singh