2.5 Investigating Ecosystems

Question 1

Sampling/Sampling Strategy

Answer 1

Collecting samples.

A sampling strategy might include number and location of sites visited/sampled.

Question 2

Rationale

Answer 2

The reason for doing something

Question 3

Temporal

Answer 3

Relating to time.

Monitoring can occur over time (temporal) or space (spatial).

Question 4

Spatial

Answer 4

Relating to space

Monitoring can occur over time (temporal) or space (spatial).

Question 5

Monitoring

Answer 5

Can be qualitative or quantitative, but is distinct from observing in that it involves visits over a spatial or temporal (time) gradient.

Question 6

Quality vs quantity

Answer 6

Quality refers to the degree of excellence or superiority of a product, service, or process, while quantity denotes the measurable amount or number of items.

Question 7

Direct Monitoring

Answer 7

Involves the immediate or continuous observation or measurement of a process, activity, or condition using specific tools and techniques to gather real-time data.
Compare with indirect monitoring which uses indicators.

Question 8

Indirect Monitoring

Answer 8

the process of assessing a condition, activity, or process by analyzing related variables or indicators rather than measuring the primary subject directly.

Question 9

Patterns vs Trends

Answer 9

Patterns are a repeated or recurring arrangement of elements (often spatial in arrangement).
Trends occur over time (and indicate a change occurring)

Question 10

Frequency

Answer 10

The rate at which (or how often) something occurs over time or space

Question 11

Abundance

Answer 11

How much of something there is within a sample

Question 12

Density

Answer 12

The abundance of something per unit of sample. For example…. trees per hectare, or grams per litre.
“Concentration” is a term reserved for liquids.

Question 13

Correlation

Answer 13

Where a change in one thing directly influences another thing.
On an x-y axis, a positive correlation is an ascending line, and a negative correlation is a descending one.

Question 14

Stratification (vegetation)

Answer 14

Refers to the layering of a forest or woodland into functional layers along a vertical plane.

Question 15

Quadrat

Answer 15

A square of fixed size used to monitor density and cover of ecosystem elements.
Not to be confused with “quadrants” which do not have set boundaries

Question 16

Line Intercept Method

Answer 16

A approach in which the proportional contribution of elements along a transect is calculated. These could be different species or surface types

Question 17

Transect

Answer 17

A tape laid out and along which measurements are taken over a distance.

Question 18

Random quadrat sampling

Answer 18

When a quadrat location is chosen randomly (such as thrown over a shoulder).

Question 19

Systematic/Continuous quadrat monitoring

Answer 19

When quadrats are used at set intervals within an area or along a tape.

Question 20

Secchi Disk

Answer 20

A device used to measure turbidity. A round disk with a black/white pattern, which is lowered on a graduated rope to the point where the contrast between the black and white can no longer be determined.

Question 21

Biotic Index

Answer 21

a scale for showing the quality of an environment by indicating the types and abundances of organisms present in a representative sample of the environment.

Question 22

Graduated

Answer 22

Something divided into measurements. A ruler is a graduated stick for measuring length. A measuring cylinder is a graduated tube for measuring volume.

Question 23

Indicator

Answer 23

Used as an indirect measure of the condition of a system.
A dying tree might be an indicator of poor soil condition.
The presence or absence of certain macroinvertebrates can be used as an indictor for pollution.

Question 24

Macroinvertebrate

Answer 24

A term often applied to visible, aquatic invertebrate (backboneless) fauna and can include taxa such as snails, worms, prawns, insects etc.

Question 25

Measuring BOD

Answer 25

Measure dissolved oxygen in a sample on two or more occasions, where the sample is left in the dark (so no new oxygen can be created). Calculate the change.

Question 26

Salinity

Answer 26

The amount of salt in a sample. In aquatic systems commonly expressed as ppm (total dissolved solids) or micro Siemens (electrical conductivity)

Question 27

Inpeller

Answer 27

A device used to monitor flow rate, consisting of a propellor spinning on a threaded, graduated rod.

Question 28

Flow velocity

Answer 28

The distance water travels over a certain period of time.

Question 29

Nomadic

Answer 29

moving from one place to another rather than living in one location permanently

Question 30

Migratory

Answer 30

the regular movement of animals or people from one region or habitat to another, typically seasonally or cyclically, in search of food, better conditions, or breeding grounds.

Question 31

Sedentary

Answer 31

organisms that show very limited movement or territorial range, often staying within a specific area or habitat for their entire lives

Question 32

Resident (animal)

Answer 32

one that remains in the same area or habitat throughout the year, without engaging in long-distance migrations.

Question 33

Lincoln Index

Answer 33

Also called capture/ mark/ release/ recapture. A method used in ecology to estimate the total population size of a species within a given area, based on the ratio of marked individuals in a first capture to the total number of individuals (marked and unmarked) in a subsequent capture.

Question 34

Criticisms/Limitations of Lincoln Index

Answer 34

Assumes Equal Catchability – Not all individuals have the same chance of being captured. No Immigration or Emigration – Assumes a closed population, which may not be realistic. No Births or Deaths – Population changes during the study can affect accuracy. Tag Loss or Behavior Change – Marked individuals may be lost or behave differently. Small Sample Size Issues – Can lead to unreliable estimates if too few individuals are captured.

Question 35

Motile

Answer 35

An animal that moves (as opposed to something like coral - which doesn't)

Question 36

Trap Shy

Answer 36

animals or insects that learn to avoid traps after previous encounters or through the avoidance behaviors of their species

Question 37

Predator Naivety

Answer 37

the lack of instinctive fear and appropriate avoidance behaviors in prey animals towards predators, often observed in species introduced to environments where their natural predators are absent.

Question 38

Animal Ethics

Answer 38

refers to the moral principles and considerations guiding the humane treatment, welfare, and use of animals in research

Question 39

Specimen

Answer 39

an individual animal, plant or any other organism collected from the natural environment for study, observation, or preservation in scientific research.

Question 40

Pooter

Answer 40

consisting of a jar with two tubes, one of which is used by the user to suck in air, safely collecting small insects and arthropods into the jar for observation or study without harming them.

Question 41

Kick net

Answer 41

a sampling tool used to collect aquatic invertebrates from the bottom of streams and rivers, by placing the net downstream and disturbing the substrate upstream, causing organisms to be dislodged and swept into the net by the current.

Question 42

Sweep net

Answer 42

a tool consisting of a sturdy, often circular frame attached to a net bag, used by researchers to collect insects and other invertebrates from vegetation by sweeping it through the air or across foliage

Question 43

Harp trap

Answer 43

A harp trap is a specialized trap with vertical strings used to capture bats without injury, commonly for research and conservation.

Question 44

Mist net

Answer 44

A mist net is a fine, nearly invisible net used to capture birds or bats for research, monitoring, or conservation purposes.

Question 45

Pitfall trap

Answer 45

consists of a container buried in the ground with its opening flush with the surface. Animals unknowingly wander into the trap and are unable to escape due to the steep, smooth sides of the container. Often used in conjunction with a drift net.

Question 46

Tree beating

Answer 46

a method used in ecological studies where a sheet or cloth is placed under a tree or shrub, and the branches are then shaken or beaten to dislodge insects and other arthropods onto the sheet for collection and identification.

Question 47

Berlese funnel

Answer 47

A Berlese funnel is a device used to extract small arthropods from soil or leaf litter by driving them downward with heat or light into a collecting container.

Question 48

Thermometer

Answer 48

Measures temperature In degrees Celsius When cited is usually referring to "air temperature" because different surface types absorb different amounts of heat.

Question 49

Hygrometer

Answer 49

A device that measures humidity (the amount of moisture in the air). The units given is usually "%" Impacted greatly by wind

Question 50

Anemometer

Answer 50

Measures wind speed using revolving cups (uses revolutions per minute to convert to km/h). Does not record wind direction - this is recorded by a wind vane

Question 51

Barometer

Answer 51

Measures air pressure (usually in hectopascals or millibars) Can signify changes in weather.

Question 52

Rain gauge

Answer 52

Device that collects and measures rainfall (funnel and graduated receptacle). Measured in mm (or mm/unit of time)

Question 53

Wind vane

Answer 53

Records wind direction. Note: Winds are labelled by the direction they come from, not the direction they are going. Ie a south-westerly wind is coming from the south-west.