(10) Studying the Ecology of a Habitat
Control Variables:
• Abiotic factors: light, temperature, humidity, O2 concentration, pH
Measures:
Percentage Cover (Subjective)
• An estimate of the area within a quadrat covered by a particular species
• Qualitative description of percentage cover is taken in each quadrat; e.g. abundant, common,
frequent, occasional or rare
• Easy, but subjective
Percentage Cover (Objective)
• An estimate of the area within a quadrat covered by a particular species
• Quantitative description of percentage cover is taken in each quadrat; e.g. the number of pins that
touch a given species on a point quadrat
Percentage Frequency
• Percentage probability of a particular species occurring in a quadrat
• Measure number of presences or absences of selected species in a quadrat
Local Frequency
• The number of squares on a quadrat in which a species is found
• Reduces the possibility that rare species are not sampled, like with point sampling methods
Density
• Number per unit area
• Only applicable if it is feasible to count every individual organism in one area
Diversity Index
• Describes the relationship between the number of species in a community and the number of
individuals in each species
• Measures species richness and species evenness
Data:
• Results of investigations into the abundance and distribution of organisms can be plotted onto a kite
diagram
Abiotic factors can also be plotted onto the kite diagram
• Use statistical tests (t-test, chi-squared or correlation coefficient) to test your conclusions
Validity:
• Abiotic factors constantly change
• Organisms can change locations
• Assumes that the sampling units are representative of the population
Control Variables:
• Abiotic factors: light, temperature, humidity, O2 concentration, pH
Measures:
Percentage Cover (Subjective)
• An estimate of the area within a quadrat covered by a particular species
• Qualitative description of percentage cover is taken in each quadrat; e.g. abundant, common,
frequent, occasional or rare
• Easy, but subjective
Percentage Cover (Objective)
• An estimate of the area within a quadrat covered by a particular species
• Quantitative description of percentage cover is taken in each quadrat; e.g. the number of pins that
touch a given species on a point quadrat
Percentage Frequency
• Percentage probability of a particular species occurring in a quadrat
• Measure number of presences or absences of selected species in a quadrat
Local Frequency
• The number of squares on a quadrat in which a species is found
• Reduces the possibility that rare species are not sampled, like with point sampling methods
Density
• Number per unit area
• Only applicable if it is feasible to count every individual organism in one area
Diversity Index
• Describes the relationship between the number of species in a community and the number of
individuals in each species
• Measures species richness and species evenness
Data:
• Results of investigations into the abundance and distribution of organisms can be plotted onto a kite
diagram
Abiotic factors can also be plotted onto the kite diagram
• Use statistical tests (t-test, chi-squared or correlation coefficient) to test your conclusions
Validity:
• Abiotic factors constantly change
• Organisms can change locations
• Assumes that the sampling units are representative of the population
