2.1 Field techniques for biologists Flashcards

(46 cards)

1
Q

What does a risk assessment do?

A

Identifies potential sources of harm and controls measures

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2
Q

What are some aspects of fieldwork which can present a hazard?

A

Adverse weather conditions, difficult terrain, isolation, contact with harmful organisms

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3
Q

What is terrain?

A

The type of ground where fieldwork will occur

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4
Q

Why is it important to sample?

A

To know what kind of plants and animals are in a particular habitat and how many there are of each species

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5
Q

How should sampling be carried out?

A

In a manner which minimises impact on wild species and habitats

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6
Q

What is point-count sampling?

A

Observer recording all individuals seen from a fixed point count location.

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7
Q

When are Quadrats and Transects used?

A

When sampling plants and slow moving organisms

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8
Q

What is a transect?

A

A straight line across a large area which measurements are taken at regular intervals

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9
Q

What can be used to capture mobile species?

A

Traps and nets

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10
Q

What can be used to sample elusive species?

A

Camera traps and scat sampling

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11
Q

How can identification of a sample be made?

A

Classification guides, biological keys, analysis of DNA or proteins

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12
Q

What are classification guides?

A

Often focus on one class of organisms from one geographical location, allows separation of similar species using descriptions of key features, habitat preferences and illustrations

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13
Q

What are biological keys?

A

Use more specialist identification information, the features which allow species level identification are the focus

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14
Q

What is DNA or protein analysis?

A

Useful technique to identify visually similar species, also allows identification from remains

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15
Q

How can organisms be classes?

A

Taxonomy and phylogenetics

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16
Q

What is Taxonomy?

A

The science of classifying living things (Domain, Kingdom, Phylum, CLass, Order, Family, Genus, Species)

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17
Q

What is Phylogenetics?

A

The study of evolutionary history and relationships among individuals or groups of organisms

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18
Q

What traits do phylogenetics use?

A

Heritable traits such as morphology, DNA sequences and protein structure to make inferences about an organisms evoluationary history

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19
Q

What is a phylogeny/phylogenetic tree?

A

A diagrammatic hypothesis of an organisms relationships to other organisms

20
Q

What can genetic evidence reveal?

A

Relatedness obscured by divergent or convergent evolution

21
Q

What is divergent evolution?

A

Groups from the same common ancestor evolve and accumulate differences resulting in the formation of new species

22
Q

What is convergent evolution?

A

The independent evolution of similar features in different species

23
Q

What is a model organism?

A

Non-human species which is extensively studied to understand certain biological phenomena, findings can be applied to species which are harder to study directly

24
Q

What are examples of taxonomic groups?

A

Nematodes, Arthropods, Chordates

25
What are Nematodes?
Parasitic roundworms
26
What are Arthropods?
Invertebrates with jointed pairs of legs and segmented bodies
27
What are Chordates?
Animal group containing sea squirts and vertebrates
28
Why should populations be monitored?
To detect changes in populations over time
29
What is an indicator species?
Species whos presence, absence or abundance can give information of environmental qualities, such as presence of a pollutant
30
What type of species can be used to monitor populations?
Susceptible and favoured species
31
What does absence or reduction in a population indicate?
The species is susceptible to some factor in the environment
32
What does abundance or increased population indicate?
Favoured by the conditions
33
What are some methods of marking?
Banding, tagging, surgical implantation, painting, hair clipping
34
What is mark and recapture used for?
Estimating population size
35
What is the equation for mark and recapture?
N= MC/R, where N is total population, M is the marked sample, C is a second sample captured, R is individuals who were recaptures
36
What does mark and recapture assume?
All individuals have an equal chance of capture, no immigration or emigration, no birth or death, samples can fully and randomly mix with the total population
37
What is an ethogram?
Comprehensive list, inventory, or description of all the behaviours of an organism
38
What is a state of an organism?
A behaviour that occurs for an extended duration e.g. walking, foraging, sleeping
39
What is an organism event?
Behaviours that are short in duration and generally counted rather than times e.g. yawning, sneezing
40
What measurements are used to quantify animal behaviour?
Latency, frequency and duration
41
What is latency?
The time between the stimulus occurring and the response behaviour
42
What is frequency?
The number of times a behaviour occurs during an observation period
43
What is duration?
The length of time each behaviour occurs during an observation period
44
What is a time budget?
Diagram which shows the proportion of time spent on each behaviour
45
What is anthropomorphism?
The attribution of human traits, emotions or intentions to non-human entities
46
What can anthropomorphism lead to?
Invalid conclusions