2.1 Organisms and Evolution: Field techniques Flashcards
2.1 (42 cards)
what are the hazards that may arise in fieldwork?
adverse weather conditions
terrain
isolation
contact with harmful organisms
risk:
the likelihood of harm arising from a hazard
risk assessment:
involves identifying risks and control measures to minimise them
what are some examples of control measures used in fieldwork?
appropriate equipment
clothing and footwear
means of communication
how should sampling on fieldwork be carried out?
in a manner that minimises the impact on wild species and habitats
where must consideration be given to?
rare and venerable species and habitats protected by legislation
explain the difference between hazard and risk:
a hazard is a harmful side-effect of apparatus or procedure, risk is the likelihood of harm arising
What should you think about when picking a method like point count, transect, or remote detection?
the chosen technique must be appropriate to the species being sampled
what is meant by a point count and how can it be used?
involves the observer recording all individuals seen from a fixed location, this can be compared with data from the same location gathered at other times
what are quadrats and transects often used for sampling?
plants and other sessile/slow moving organisms
what sampling techniques are used for mobile species?
capturing techniques such as traps and nets
how can elusive species be sampled?
using camera traps or scat samples
explain what is meant by protective legislation:
laws in place to protect environments, habitats and species
describe two precautions that can minimise the impact on species being sampled in the field:
observe rather than capture
return samples to habitat as soon as possible
what is a line transect in comparison to a belt transect?
a line transect is a single line with species touching the line at stations counted in; a belt transect is a wider zone with quadrats used at stations
describe a frame quadrat and the type of species it could be used for:
a square frame of known area used to sample plants/sessile/slow moving species
what is meant by an elusive species:
a species that is difficult to observe: rare/inaccessible habitat/nocturnal
(can use a camera trap/remote detection)
how can an organism in sample be identified?
using classification guides
biological keys
DNA or protein analysis
dichotomous key
how can organisms be classified?
in terms of taxonomy and phylogenetics
what is meant by phylogenetics?
the study of the evolutionary history and relationships among individuals or groups of organisms
what is taxonomy?
the identification and naming of organisms and their classification into
groups based on shared characteristics
How is phylogenetics changing how organisms are classified?
it is changing the traditional classification of many organisms
Why is it helpful to know taxonomic groupings?
it helps scientists predict things about an organism by comparing it to better-known (model) organisms in the same group
what is a model organism?
Model organisms are those that are either easily studied or have been well studied
