Sampling
Starter: Improve the students method to
estimate the number of daisies in a field. Self regulation
Place a quadrant down somewhere in a field, and write down how
many daisies there are. Then do this somewhere else two more
times. Then work out the amount in the field by multiplying how
many daisies you counted by the size of the field.
Place a quadrant down somewhere in a field
Place a quadrat at random coordinates in the field - found from a
random number generator.
and write down how many daisies there are.
Count the number of daisies in the quadrat
Then do this somewhere else two more times.
Repeat this in other random locations many times - at least 10.
Then work out the amount in the field by multiplying how many
daisies you counted by the size of the field.
To estimate the amount, calculate the mean number of daisies per
1m2 and multiply by the area of the field.
Specification points - Lesson outcomes
4.2 practical: investigate the population size of an organism in
two different areas using quadrats
TS only: 4.4B practical: investigate the distribution of
organisms in their habitats and measure biodiversity using
quadrats
Prior learning
Biologists use quadrats to take a sample to estimate population size in
an area
The quadrats are placed randomly, using random numbers generated
by a random number generator
Count the number of the organism you are investigating
Repeat at least 10 times for reliability
Discuss: What sort of questions could
they ask you about this practical?
Plan a method Imagination
Calculate mean number of a population in the field
How to place quadrats
Why use random coordinates (to get representative
results)
How to improve accuracy (place larger quadrats)
Are the results valid (was it a fair test - were all other
variables controlled?)
How do you use Quadrat Number of dandelions
in area A
Number of dandelions
in area B
results from 1 4 10
sampling? 2 7 7
3 1 9
The first thing you 4 0 14
need to do is 5 3 12
calculate a mean for 6 8 7
each area. 7 3 16
8 12 9
Add them, then 9 1 11
divide by how many. 10 6 15
Mean:
How do you use Quadrat Number of dandelions
in area A
Number of dandelions
in area B
results from 1 4 10
sampling? 2 7 7
3 1 9
The first thing you 4 0 14
need to do is 5 3 12
calculate a mean for 6 8 7
each area. 7 3 16
8 12 9
Add them, then 9 1 11
divide by how many. 10 6 15
Mean:
4.5
How do you use Quadrat Number of dandelions
in area A
Number of dandelions
in area B
results from 1 4 10
sampling? 2 7 7
3 1 9
The first thing you 4 0 14
need to do is 5 3 12
calculate a mean for 6 8 7
each area. 7 3 16
8 12 9
Add them, then 9 1 11
divide by how many. 10 6 15
Mean:
4.5 11
How do you use results from sampling?
You then need to use Quadrat Number of Number of
this mean to determine dandelions dandelions
the total population in in area A in area B
the sample area. Mean: 4.5 11
1) Determine mean per 1m2
Mean / quadrat area
4.5 / 0.25 = 18 per m2
How do you use results from sampling?
You then need to use Quadrat Number of Number of
this mean to determine dandelions dandelions
the total population in in area A in area B
the sample area. Mean: 4.5 11
2) Calculate sample area:
2 x 10m tape measures used.
Area sampled = 2 x 10 = 100m2
How do you use results from sampling?
You then need to use Quadrat Number of Number of
this mean to determine dandelions dandelions
the total population in in area A in area B
the sample area. Mean: 4.5 11
3) Work out total population in area sampled
multiply mean per m2 by area sampled:
= 18 x 100m2 = 1800 in area A
Task: Calculate the total number of dandelions
in area B
Quadrat Number of Number of
dandelions in area A dandelions in area B
Mean: 4.5 11
Challenge: This is still just an estimate. Suggest what could
be done to obtain more accurate results.
Quadrat Number of Number of
dandelions in area A dandelions in area B
Mean: 4.5 11
1) Determine mean per 1m2:
11 / 0.25 = 44 per m2
2) Calculate sample area:
10 x 10 = 100m2
3) Total population in area B
44 x 100 = 4400
Task: Analyse your own experiment results.
Write a conclusion - link this back to your hypothesis.
Explain your results - what factor(s) could have
affected the population size?
A level link: Look into how you could estimate
population size of a large, mobile animal, such as foxes.
Logical thinking
Progress check: True or False?
1. Sampling is used to investigate
Speed and accuracy
population sizes in certain areas
2. Samples are taken using a quadrant 1. True
2. False
3. Repeating samples improves reliability 3. True
4. You select where to place your quadrats 4. False
5. Data from sampling can be analysed and 5. True
conclusions can be made
Practice
Task: Answer the exam
question based on the data.
A student investigates the populations of two
species in two fields, A and B. The student
uses a 0.5m x 0.5m quadrat to count the
number of plants of each species in each field.
He takes 5 quadrat samples for each field.
a) Calculate the average (mean) number of
plantain per m2 in field B.
b) Explain how the student should decide to place the quadrats.
Challenge: How would the
sampling method differ if you
c) Describe the differences in the plant populations shown by the wanted to work out
students results a) The percentage cover of
grass
d) Explain how two abiotic factors could cause differences in plantain
populations. b) The biomass of a
species.
5+2+3+7+2=
19
19 / 5 = 3.8
Area of quadrat =
0.5 x 0.5 = 0.25m2
3.8 / 0.25
= 15.2
15.2
He should place them randomly
Using coordinates generated from
random numbers
There is more plants in area B
There is more clover than plantain in
area A
There is a more even population of each
species in area B
If there was more light, water and carbon dioxide , there
would be more plants,
As there would be more photosynthesis
If temperature was higher, there would be more plants
as enzymes that control photosynthesis would work
faster
If there was more minerals, there would be more plants
Such as magnesium, which is needed to make
chlorophyll
Challenge: How would the sampling method differ if you
wanted to work out
a) The percentage cover of grass
b) The biomass of a species.
a) To estimate percentage cover of grass, work out the proportion of
squares in the quadrat filled with grass and determine as a
percentage.
(eg - 15/25 small squares covered in grass, 15 x 4 = 60%)
b) To work out the biomass of a species, collect all inside the quadrat
and weigh on a balance.
The rest of the method would be the same in both cases.
Learning review
Biologists use quadrats to take a sample to estimate population size in
an area
The quadrats are placed randomly, using random numbers generated
by a random number generator
Count the number of the organism you are investigating
Repeat at least 10 times for reliability
To calculate number of organisms:
Mean of all quadrats / area of quadrat x area of field
Practical book - Page 71-72 ESQs
1) A population survey of clover was carried out in an area of grass in a park.
The overall area surveyed was 25,000m2.
100 samples were taken using quadrats that measured 0.5m x 0.5m
The total number of clover plants in the sample was 2650
(a) Estimate the total number of clover plants in the whole area of grass. Show your working (2)
(b) The quadrats were placed randomly within the area. Why was this necessary (1)
(c) The same group also did a survey in an equal sized area of woodland. For that survey, they
used 500 quadrats. Suggest why more were needed in woodland (2)
Practical book - Page 71-72 ESQs
2) A group of students surveyed a field using quadrats to estimate the number of buttercup
plants. They used a sample of 10 quadrats, and sampled by dropping the quadrat over their
shoulder so that they could not see the area where the quadrat would land. When they
presented their results, their teacher said that they had not taken enough samples, and that their
sampling method was not random.
(a) When sampling using quadrats, why is it important to have enough samples? (1)
(b) State a reason why the sampling method was not random (1)
(c) Give one other way in which their sampling technique could produce inaccurate results (1)
(d) Suggest a better method to achieve random sampling (4)
Practical book - Page 73-74 - further application
1) Quadrates were placed at random locations in
an area of National park. The object was to
estimate the total number of a plant species,
Caltha palustris (the marsh marigold) and study
its distribution. The marsh marigold thrives in
damp conditions.
The total area is shown in the diagram, with the
positions of the quadrats used and the numbers
found in each quadrat. The total area measured
is 200m x 200m, and the size of each quadrat
0.5mx0.5m
Practical book - Page 73-74 - further application
(a) Use the data to estimate the number of marsh marigold plants in the total
area. Show your working (4)
(b) Suggest 2 reasons why this estimate may be inaccurate (2)
(c) The scientists also wanted to estimate the number of ladybird beetles in the
area. Suggest why the method used for the marsh marigold would not be
appropriate (1)
Practical book - Page 73-74 - further application
2) Scientists studied the distribution of two
woodland species, the ox/eye daisy and the sweet
woodruff. They were interested in how the level of
light and shade affected the distribution. They found
that the ox-eye were more common in sunny spots,
and the sweet woodruff preferred partial shade. The
graph below shows how the balance of respiration
and photosynthesis varies with light intensity in the
two plants studied. The point at which respiration
equals photosynthesis is called the compensation
point, when there is no net uptake or release of
carbon dioxide.
Practical book - Page 73-74 - further application
(a) Estimate the compensation points for the two plants, A and B (2)
(b) Explain why a plant could not survive in a habitat where the light level never
reached its compensation point (4)
(c) Identify which plant, A or B, is the sweet woodruff. Give reasons for your
answer
Practical book - Page 71-72 ESQs
1) A population survey of clover was carried out in an area of grass in a park.
The overall area surveyed was 25,000m2.
100 samples were taken using quadrats that measured 0.5m x 0.5m
The total number of clover plants in the sample was 2650
(a) Estimate the total number of clover plants in the whole area of grass. Show your working (2)
Area of quadrat = 0.25m2. Total sample area = 0.25 x 100 = 25m2
Total population = 2650 x (25,000 / 25) = 2,650,000
(b) The quadrats were placed randomly within the area. Why was this necessary (1)
To avoid bias
(c) The same group also did a survey in an equal sized area of woodland. For that survey, they
used 500 quadrats. Suggest why more were needed in woodland (2)
Woodland would be a much more varied habitat, so more quadrats needed to get a
representative sample
Practical book - Page 71-72 ESQs
2) A group of students surveyed a field using quadrats to estimate the number of buttercup plants. They used
a sample of 10 quadrats, and sampled by dropping the quadrat over their shoulder so that they could not see
the area where the quadrat would land. When they presented their results, their teacher said that they had
not taken enough samples, and that their sampling method was not random.
(a) When sampling using quadrats, why is it important to have enough samples? (1)
To get a representative sample (reliable results)
(b) State a reason why the sampling method was not random (1)
They chose where to stand / would have seen the area they are going to sample
(c) Give one other way in which their sampling technique could produce inaccurate results (1)
Two or more sample areas can overlap / a particular area could be sampled more than once
(d) Suggest a better method to achieve random sampling (4
Divide a map of the area into a grid, with each square the size of a quadrat. Assign each square a
number. Use a random number generator to select which squares to sample
Practical book - Page 73-74 - further application
1) Quadrates were placed at random locations in
an area of National park. The object was to
estimate the total number of a plant species,
Caltha palustris (the marsh marigold) and study
its distribution. The marsh marigold thrives in
damp conditions.
The total area is shown in the diagram, with the
positions of the quadrats used and the numbers
found in each quadrat. The total area measured
is 200m x 200m, and the size of each quadrat
0.5mx0.5m
Practical book - Page 73-74 - further application
(a) Use the data to estimate the number of marsh marigold plants in the total
area. Show your working (4)
Total area sampled = 200 x 200 = 40,000m2
Area sampled = 0.5 x0.5 x 10 = 2.5m2
Total number of plants in sample = 55
55 x (40,000/2.5) = 880,000
(b) Suggest 2 reasons why this estimate may be inaccurate (2)
They only used a small number of quadrats, and a lot were close to the stream where
there would have been more marsh marigold
(c) The scientists also wanted to estimate the number of ladybird beetles in the
area. Suggest why the method used for the marsh marigold would not be
appropriate (1)
Ladybirds can move
Practical book - Page 73-74 - further application
2) Scientists studied the distribution of two
woodland species, the ox/eye daisy and the sweet
woodruff. They were interested in how the level of
light and shade affected the distribution. They found
that the ox-eye were more common in sunny spots,
and the sweet woodruff preferred partial shade. The
graph below shows how the balance of respiration
and photosynthesis varies with light intensity in the
two plants studied. The point at which respiration
equals photosynthesis is called the compensation
point, when there is no net uptake or release of
carbon dioxide.
Practical book - Page 73-74 - further application
(a) Estimate the compensation points for the two plants, A and B (2)
A = 18 (17.19) B = 11 (10-12)
(b) Explain why a plant could not survive in a habitat where the light level never
reached its compensation point (4)
Photosynthesis produces glucose. Respiration uses glucose to release enegry. Below
the compensation point,m more glucose is being used than is being produced.
Therefore, the plant would not have enough energy to survive
(c) Identify which plant, A or B, is the sweet woodruff. Give reasons for your
answer
It has a lower compensation point, which would indicate that it can survive well in shaded
areas
