Organisms and Evolution - Field Techniques Flashcards
(36 cards)
What are examples of hazards in field work?
Adverse weather conditions,
Difficult terrain,
Problems associated with isolation,
Contact with harmful organisms
What is risk?
The likelihood of harm arising from exposure to a hazard
What do risk assessments involve?
Identifying control measures to minimise risk
What are some control measures?
Appropriate equipment, clothing, footwear, and means of communication
In what manner should sampling of wild organisms be conducted?
In a manner that minimises impact on wild species and
habitats
Why must consideration be given to rare and vulnerable species and habitats?
They may be protected by legislation
What must be considered when choosing a sampling technique, point count, transect or remote detection?
It must be appropriate to the species being sampled
What is a point count?
A point count involves the observer recording all individuals seen from a fixed point count location.
This can be compared to other point count locations or with data from the same location gathered at other times
What sampling technique should be used for plants and other sessile or slow-moving organisms?
Quadrats, of suitable size and shape, or transects
What sampling technique is used for mobile species?
Capture techniques such as traps and nets
What sampling techniques are used for elusive species?
Direct sampling - camera traps
Indirect sampling - scat sampling
How can identification of a sampled organism be made?
Using classification guides, biological keys, or analysis of DNA or protein
How can organisms be classified?
By taxonomy or phylogenetics
What does taxonomy involve?
The identification and naming of organisms and their classification into groups based on shared characteristics
What is classic taxonomy classification based on?
Morphology
What is phylogenetics?
The study of the evolutionary history and relationships among individuals or groups of organisms
What does phylogenetics use to make classifications?
Phylogenetics uses heritable traits such as morphology, DNA sequences, and protein structure to make inferences about an organism’s evolutionary history and create a phylogeny (or phylogenetic tree) — a diagrammatic hypothesis of its relationships to other organisms. Genetic evidence can reveal relatedness obscured by divergent or convergent evolution
What are examples of taxonomic groups?
Nematodes, arthropods and chordates
What are model organisms?
Those that are either easily studied or have been well studied
Why are model organisms used?
Information obtained from them can be applied to other species that are more difficult to study directly
What information can the presence, absence or abundance of indicator species can give?
Information of environmental qualities, such as presence of a pollutant
What kind of species can be used to monitor an ecosystem?
Susceptible and favoured
What does abundance or increased population indicate?
It is favoured by the conditions
What does absence or decreased population indicate?
A species is susceptible to some factor in the environment.
