NAME: Carl Blake

PRACTICAL # 2

DATE: WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 24, 2024

SKILLS ASSESSED: ANALYSIS & INTERPRETATION

TITLE: ECOLOGY

AIM: To collect data on species in their natural habitat using a quadrat

APPARATUS: vegetative area, quadrat (length 1 m), notepad, pencil, ruler.

METHODS:

1. A 1 m² quadrat was constructed

2. A suitable location around the school compound was chosen to carry out the study.

3. The quadrat was randomly tossed 10 times within the sampling area.

4. For each quadrat toss, the number of each species present in the quadrat was counted and

recorded in a table.

5. The data collected was used to calculate the species cover, species density, and frequency.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION:

In ecology, there are fundamental terms such as species, environment, habitat, population,

community, and ecosystem that provide an understanding of the complex relationships between

organisms and their surroundings.A species is a group of organisms with shared ancestry capable

of interbreeding producing fertile offspring. The environment includes all of the conditions that

influence an organism's life, whereas a habitat refers to the exact place where an organism lives.

A population is defined as all members of a single species occupying a specific habitat, whereas
a community is the total collection of populations from different species coexisting in the same

area. An ecosystem is the dynamic interplay between living species and their abiotic

environment, forming a complex web of interactions required for life to exist.

Central to ecological studies is the utilization of tools like the quadrat, a square frame of known

area typically ranging from 0.25 to 1 square meter. Quadrats play an important role in ecological

research as they allow for systematic sampling and analysis of specific habitats. Scientists use

quadrats by randomly tossing them throughout a study area, allowing data to be collected on the

species present. This method allows scientists to accurately estimate population densities,

distribution patterns, and abundance levels of both flora and immobile or slow-moving animals

within an ecosystem. By employing quadrats, ecological studies gain invaluable insights into the

spatial dynamics and ecological processes governing diverse habitats, thereby aiding in the

conservation and management of ecosystems worldwide.

 RESULTS:

TABLE SHOWING THE VARIOUS SPECIES FOUND IN SAMPLING AREA

Species Number of individuals or percentage cover in each Calculation of Species Data

quadrat
Total Species Species Frequency/%
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 of Cover/% Density/ # of
10 individuals per
quadrats m2

9 0 0 3 2 0 4 2 4 6 30 3 70
Ant

Beetle 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0.2 10

Plant A 20 0 10 50 30 0% 0 0 50 60% 220% 22 60

% % % % % % % %

Plant B 50 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% 60 10% 0% 0% 120% 12 30

% %
SAMPLE CALCULATIONS:

● Quadrat area

1 x 1 = 1 m²

● Total area sampled by (TEN) 10 quadrats

1 x 10 = 10 m²

● Density of ONE (1) species

Density of Ants

(Total # of individual in all quadrats) / (total quadrat area) = X per m²

30 ants/10 m² = 3 ants per m²

● Frequency of ONE (1)species

Frequency of Ants

(# of quadrats a species was found in)/(# of quadrats thrown) x 100 = x%

7/10 x 100 = 70%

● Species cover of ONE (1) species

Species cover of Plant A

(Total # percentage of species cover)/(# of quadrats thrown) = x%

(220%)/(10) = 22%
DISCUSSION

Analysis of the species data in the ecological study area has revealed some interesting patterns in

density, frequency, and cover across ten quadrats. Among the species observed, ants have the

highest density, with an average of 3 ants per square meter. They also have the highest frequency,

occurring in 70% of the quadrats, indicating a strong presence throughout the study area. On the

other hand, beetles have a much lower density of 0.2 beetles per square meter and a frequency of

20%, suggesting a less widespread distribution.

In terms of species cover, Plant A stands out as the most dominant species, covering 22% of the

sampled habitat. In comparison, Plant B has a lower species cover of 12%. This indicates that

Plant A has a greater influence and presence in the ecosystem.

The use of quadrats in this study has proven to be advantageous for assessing species diversity in

a systematic manner while preserving the integrity of the ecosystem. Additionally, considering

alternative sampling methods like transect and point quadrat sampling highlights the versatility

of approaches in studying ecosystems. The numerical data obtained from these methods enables

a comprehensive analysis of the ecological dynamics within the study area, providing valuable

insights for ecological research.

LIMITATION(S):

The presence of sunlight and the resulting heat may have caused organisms that prefer dark and

moist environments to seek shelter, in order to avoid drying out. This behavior can pose a

limitation when collecting accurate data from the quadrat throws.

SOURCE(S) OF ERROR:

Human error may have influenced the study as the researchers may not have uniformly

considered sun-lit areas, potentially introducing bias in quadrat throws and subsequently

affecting the reliability of the obtained results.

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, our study involving analyzing the plants located behind the school yard using the

quadrat sampling method was successful. This approach enabled us to gather information about

the plant population, including their abundance, distribution, and spatial coverage. Through this

study, we gained insights into the specific locations of different plant species and their respective

populations. Our findings demonstrated the importance of using methods like quadrat sampling

to gather accurate and comprehensive information about a particular area.

MARK SCHEME: ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION

Criteria Mark

Definition of terms 2

Calculations 3

Discussion of findings 4

Limitations relevant to experiment 1

Total 10