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Lab 2 - Quadrat

Taaboja Brown conducted an ecology study to collect data on species in their natural habitat using quadrats. Various plant and animal species were counted within 10 quadrats of 1 square meter each. Calculations determined species density, frequency, and cover. Ants had the highest density while Plant 1 had the highest cover. The study revealed patterns in species distribution and dominance. Potential limitations included organisms seeking shelter from sunlight during quadrat throws. The aim of collecting species data using quadrats was achieved.

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252 views5 pages

Lab 2 - Quadrat

Taaboja Brown conducted an ecology study to collect data on species in their natural habitat using quadrats. Various plant and animal species were counted within 10 quadrats of 1 square meter each. Calculations determined species density, frequency, and cover. Ants had the highest density while Plant 1 had the highest cover. The study revealed patterns in species distribution and dominance. Potential limitations included organisms seeking shelter from sunlight during quadrat throws. The aim of collecting species data using quadrats was achieved.

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UnknownKid
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© © All Rights Reserved
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Name: Taaboja Brown

PRACTICAL #: 2

DATE: January 24, 2024

SKILLS ASSESSED: ANALYSIS & INTERPRETATION

TITLE: ECOLOGY

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

APPARATUS: Vegetative area, quadrat, notepad, pencil, ruler.

METHOD:

1. A vegetative area was identified:


2. The quadrat was tossed 10 times, at random.
3. For each quadrat toss, the number of each species present was counted and recorded in a
table.
4. The species cover, species density and the frequency of each species present in the
quadrat were calculated.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION:

Ecology is the scientific study of the relationships between living organisms and their
environments. During ecological studies, ecologists use specialized terms, including "quadrat," a
tool crucial in field research. A quadrat is a defined area for systematically studying plants,
helping scientists gather data on species distribution and abundance. Ecologists employ quadrats
within the community to sample vegetation, observe biodiversity, and analyze population
density. Other key terms include "species," for a group of similar individuals capable of
interbreeding, and "environment," denoting the surroundings or conditions in which organisms
operate. "Habitat" signifies the specific location where a plant, animal, or organism resides.
"Population" describes a community of interbreeding animals, plants, or humans. "Community"
is a group of interacting organisms sharing a common location. Lastly, "ecosystem" is a system
formed by interactions between environments and their resident organisms. These clear
definitions, combined with tools like the quadrat, enhance scientific understanding in ecological
discourse.

RESULTS:

TABLE SHOWING THE VARIOUS SPECIES WHICH RESIDE IN A ECOLOGY STUDY


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

Specie Specie Frequ


1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Total s s ency/
of Cover/ Densit %
10 % y/ # of
quadr indivi
ats duals
per m2

Ant 9 3 2 4 2 4 6 30 3 70

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


1

Plant 30% 0% 0% 0% 0% 40% 0% 0% 0% 0% 70% 7 20


2

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


3

Grass 0% 40% 0% 35% 20% 20% 0% 0% 0% 10% 125% 12.5 50


1

Grass 0% 10% 0% 0% 0% 0% 10% 0% 90% 0% 110% 11 30


2

Grass 0% 0% 60% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% 60% 6 10


3

Flowe 0% 0% 5% 0% 0% 40% 0% 0% 0% 0% 45% 4.5 20


r

Grass 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 0.2 10
hoppe
r
Beetle 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 2 0.2 10

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 1


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

(220%)/(10) = 22%

DISCUSSION:

The analysis of species data within the ecological study area reveals distinct patterns in

density, frequency, and cover across ten quadrats. Ants emerge as the most prevalent species,

displaying widespread distribution and concentration. Notably, Plant 1 exhibits the highest

species cover, indicating dominance within the sampled habitat. The strategic use of quadrats

proves advantageous for systematically assessing species diversity without compromising the

ecosystem's integrity. Species density and cover, quantified as individuals per square meter and

percentage cover, offer efficient measures for population evaluation. Importantly, these non-

invasive methods contribute to a nuanced understanding of the ecological significance of each

species. Furthermore, the consideration of alternative sampling methods, such as transect and

point quadrat sampling, underscores the versatility in approaching ecosystem studies. The

numerical data derived from these methods facilitates a comprehensive analysis of the sixth form

block's ecological dynamics, contributing valuable insights to ecological research.

LIMITATION(S):

The presence of sunlight and associated heat might have led organisms that thrive in dark

and moist environments to seek shelter, to avoid desiccation, posing a limitation in obtaining

accurate results 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, the aim of collecting data on various species in their natural habitat using a

quadrat was successfully achieved, providing valuable insights into species density, frequency,

and cover and highlighting the importance of non-intrusive methods in ecological research.

MARK SCHEME: ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION

Criteria Mark

Definition of terms 2

Calculations 3

Discussion of findings 4

Limitations relevant to experiment 1

Total 10

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