Biology cycle test

Sampling
Automaticity

Starter: Identify any

abiotic and biotic
factors in the picture

Extension: How
might changes in
these influence
population size?
 Specification points - Lesson outcomes

4.2 practical: investigate the population size of an organism in

two different areas using quadrats

TS only: 4.4B practical: investigate the distribution of

organisms in their habitats and measure biodiversity using
quadrats
 Prior learning

An ecosystem describes the living organisms and nonliving factors in

their environment

A habitat is a place where an organism lives

Abiotic factors are nonliving factors that influence an environment,

biotic factors are living factors

Organisms are adapted to their environment

A community is all the organisms in a habitat, and a population is the

total number of individuals of one species in an area
 What is sampling?
Count how
many daisies
you see in the
picture…

… Impossible!
 What is sampling?
Since it is so difficult to count how many organisms
live in a habitat, ecologists use a technique called
sampling.
This is usually done for plants, or organisms that do
not move much.
A sample is a smaller, representative part of the
population.
 What is the method for sampling?
To take a sample, you use a piece of equipment
called a quadrat

You must be able to spell the

word quadrat correctly.
 What is the method for sampling?
Generally, in schools, you use a 0.5 x 0.5m quadrat,
or a 1 x 1m quadrat, but this may vary depending on
the size of the area you want to investigate..

To calculate the area of a

quadrat - width x length/
0.5 x 0.5 = 0.25m2
1 x 1 = 1m2
 What is the method for sampling?
When taking a sample, quadrats must be placed
randomly.
This is to avoid bias, and to ensure validity

A biased sample is one which has not been taken

randomly. For example, if someone wanted to prove
a certain fertiliser caused increase growth of plants,
they would select areas to sample with more plants.
 What is the method for sampling?
To place quadrats
randomly, you need
to place 2 tape
measures at right
angles.
 What is the method for sampling?
You then use a
random number
generator (from the
internet or a book)
to generate a set of
coordinates.
 What is the method for sampling?
Walk along for the
first number, and up
for the second.
Place the quadrat.

In this example, the

coordinates were
8,10
 What is the method for sampling?
You need to repeat
this process to
improve reliability.

Usually in sampling,
10 samples are
taken, and an
average calculated.
Practical: Using quadrats to compare the size
of a plant population in two areas of a field.

This is one of the practicals you need to know!

Enquiring
Practical: Using quadrats to compare the size of a plant
population in two areas of a field.

Imagine you are

investigating the number
of dandelion plants in a
B field.

Part A is much more

trampled on that part B.
A
Practical: Using quadrats to compare the size of a plant
population in two areas of a field.

Hypothesis:
The dandelion population
in area A is much smaller
B than in area B

You can investigate this by

carrying out a random
A sample in each area.
Practical: Using quadrats to compare the size of a plant
population in two areas of a field.

● Place 2 tape measures at random in area A

● Generate random numbers to use as coordinates
● Place quadrat
● Count number of dandelions
● Repeat in the same section a further 9 times.
● Move the tape measures to area B
● Repeat the process in area B
Task: Sampling method (paper quadrats)

Coordinates Number of each species

Daisy Dandelion Thistle Moss

Average
Online: Sampling method (paper quadrats)

Roll a dice twice, recording each number

Your first number is your x coordinate, the second is
your y coordinate
Find the square
Count how many of each species are in the square.
Repeat 4 more timed.
Suggest reasons for your results.
Which square is more biodiverse?
Practical: Using Quadrat Number of ________ Number of ________
quadrats to compare the in area A in area B

size of a plant population 1

in two areas of a field. 2

3
Results table:
4

5
Challenge: How could
6
you use your results to
7
estimate the number of
plants in the whole field? 8

10

Mean:
Plenary: Describe how you could estimate the
population size of plantain in a very large field practice

Quadrat

Random

Number generator

Count

Repeat (10) times

Plenary: Describe how you could estimate the
population size of plantain in a very large field practice

Place several quadrats

In random places around a section
of the field (2 tape measures at
right angles for sample area)
(generated using a random number
generator)
Count the number of plantain in the
quadrat
Multiply the mean number of
plantain per m2 to by the area of the
field
 Learning review

Biologists use quadrats to take a sample to estimate population size in

an area

The quadrats are placed randomly, using random numbers generated

by a random number generator

Count the number of the organism you are investigating

Repeat at least 10 times for reliability