Ecological sampling of living organisms | Science | Quizalize & Oak National Academy

Starter quiz

Match the word to its meaning.
- biodiversity
  
  ⇔
  
  the range of different species that live in a place ✓
- habitat
  
  ⇔
  
  where an organism lives ✓
- conservation
  
  ⇔
  
  activities that protect biodiversity and the environment ✓
- extinction
  
  ⇔
  
  the permanent loss of a species ✓
What word means the mass of living material in one or more organisms?
- 'biomass' ✓
In a food chain there are a number of trophic levels. Which tropic level does a food chain diagram always start with?
- producer ✓
- primary consumer
- secondary consumer
- tertiary consumer
- apex predator
Look at the pyramid of biomass. Which organism is a producer?
- organism A ✓
- organism B
- organism C
- organism D
Which statement about pyramids of biomass is true?
- Pyramids of biomass only show the numbers of organisms present.
- A bar higher up the pyramid can be longer than a bar lower down.
- Pyramids of biomass are always a pyramid shape. ✓
An adaptation is a feature that organisms have to help them live in a particular place. Match each adaptation with how it helps the organism to survive.
- long roots
  
  ⇔
  
  helps a plant get water from deep underground ✓
- thick fur
  
  ⇔
  
  helps to insulate an organism in a cold environment ✓
- wide feet
  
  ⇔
  
  helps by preventing sinking into soft ground such as sand ✓
- big leaves
  
  ⇔
  
  helps to trap more light to make food ✓
- sharp spines
  
  ⇔
  
  helps to protect against being eaten ✓

Exit quiz

Which of the following is true when explaining why scientists sample populations?
- It is usually easy to count all of the organisms in a population.
- Sampling helps scientists in conservation activities. ✓
- Sampling is slower than counting all the organisms in the population.
- It is not possible to estimate the population size from a sample.
What piece of apparatus is used to suck up and sample small animals?
- 'pooter' ✓
What is the name of this sampling method?
- pitfall trap ✓
- pooter
- quadrat
- net
Which two of the following organisms might be sampled using this sampling technique?
- aphids ✓
- sparrows
- whiteflies ✓
- grass snakes
- mice
A quadrat is used to survey which types of organisms?
- only plants
- plants and all types of animals
- only animals
- plants and slow-moving animals ✓
10 snails were caught and marked in a mark-capture-recapture experiment. Two days later in a second catch 8 snails were caught. 4 of these were marked. What is the population of snails in the habitat?
- 2
- 20 ✓
- 40
- 80

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Lesson Details

Key learning points

Sampling is used to obtain estimates of populations within an area because it would be impossible to count them all.
There are lots of different sampling methods that can be used to sample plants and animals.
Sampling is essential for conservation to monitor populations and compare them.

Common misconception

Pupils often associate the use of quadrats to survey plants in one type of habitat. Pupils do not consider how they can be used to sample sedentary animals, e.g. barnacles or limpets on a rocky shore.

During the slidedeck there is reference to how quadrats can be used to sample plants and sedentary animals in different habitats.

Keywords

Quadrat - A quadrat is a square frame which is used to sample populations of plants or slow-moving animals.
Pooter - A pooter is a piece of equipment used to suck up and sample small animals.
Mark-release-recapture - Mark-release-recapture is a way that is used to estimate the number of individuals in a population.
Pitfall trap - A pitfall trap is used to sample small ground living animals.
Sampling - Sampling is a survey of plants and/or animals which provides information about the populations of organisms.