Biodiversity, Sampling & MEasuring biodiversity OCR AS unit 2 Biology

Species: Is a group of individual organisms very similar in appearance, anatomy, physiology, biochemistry and genetics, whose members are able to interbreed freely to produce fertile offspring

Habitat: is the place where an organism lives
Often what an organism adapts to

Biodiversity: is the variety of life - the range of living organisms to be found

Sampling:
measureing the biodiversity of a habitat by observing and identifiying

Random sampling: means studying a small part of the habitat and assuming it contains a representative set of species that can be applied to the whole habitat. the sites must be chosen at random

Sampling for plants
Using random quadrats
Quadrat: a square frame used to define the size of the sample area
Place the quadrat randomlly i the habitat and imagine the area as a large grid and  identify and measure abundence of the plants found within the frame

Using a Transect
Transect: A line taken across the habitat. You stretch a tape across the habitat and take samples along the line
Redorc the plants at intervals touching the line.
Or it can be used to positiion the Quadrant

Sampling animals
Problems:
animals move and attempts to observe the animals in the habitat will disturb it
Large animals…