Measuring Abiotic Factors

By: Ayesha and Maryam 

 Random and Systematic Sampling
Sampling is a method of investigating the abundance and distribution of
species and population.
There two different types of sampling are:
Random: Systematic:
• Here the positions of the sampling • In this type the positions of the sampling points are
points are completely random or due to chosen, they are determined by experimenter
chance. • This may cause the results to be unrepresentative,
• This means there will be no bias by the as they may be bias.
person carrying out the experiment,
which could affect the results.
 Measuring Temperature
Method of measurement: thermometer

Standard thermometer is used to measure

the air temperature

It must be kept in the shade, away from the

sun to avoid any errors
 Measuring pH
Method of measurement: chemical pH tests
based on pH indicators; pH meters

Soil moisture and soil pH meters are used

by simply pushing the probe into the soil
and reading the meter.

Errors can be made when measuring

abiotic factors when the soil moisture or pH
meter probes are not cleaned between
readings.

The reliability of the results can be checked

by taking many readings and obtaining an
average.
 Measuring Wind Speed
Method of measurements: anemometers

An anemometer is an instrument that measures wind

speed and wind pressure. As the wind blows, the cups
rotate, making the rod spin.

The stronger the wind blows, the faster the rod spins.
The anemometer counts the number of rotations, or
turns, which is used to calculate wind speed

Use a red marker or red paint and put a large X on one

of the cups. Take your anemometer outside and
measure the wind speed.

To do so, count the number of times the cup with the

red mark passes in front of you in 30 seconds. Multiply
by two to get revolutions/rotations per minute (rpm).
 Measuring Slope of an Incline
Method of measurement: Clinometers

Clinometers are instruments used for measuring the angles of

slope, elevation, or depression of an object with respect to
gravity.

Most clinometers accurately measure a complete range of

motion, and measurements are very easy to quantify and
evaluate.

Hold the clinometer out at arm’s length and sight along it, until
your eye and your arm make a straight line to the top of the
tree.

Someone else should then read off the angle made by the
plumb line on the protractor (Z)
 Measuring Light Intensity
Method of measurement: Light meter

Light Meters can measure the amount of light falling on a subject

(incident light), or being reflected by a subject (reflective light).

By converting these measurements, it defines what would be the

most beneficial shutter speed and f/stop to use for that given
subject.

The meter is held at the soil surface and pointed in the direction of
the maximum light intensity and the meter is read.

Errors can be made when measuring light intensity by accidentally

shading the light meter. The reliability of the results can be checked
by taking many readings and obtaining an average.
 Measuring Oxygen Levels in Water 
Method of measurement: digital oxygen probe

In an electrochemical DO sensor, dissolved oxygen

diffuses from the sample across an oxygen
permeable membrane and into the sensor.

Once inside the sensor, the oxygen undergoes a

chemical reduction reaction, which produces an
electrical signal. This signal can be read by a
dissolved oxygen instrument.