AICE MARINE: Scientific Method, Sampling methods, & practical skills Vocab

Mark-release-recapture

Estimates population size with harmless substance, then are recaptured.

Lincoln INdex

Measures population usually in the capture-mark-recapture method.

N = n₁ x n₂ / m₂

Discrete data

Whole numbers only
Ex: number of books.

Continuous data

Data as any value, including fractions/decimals. Ex: temperature

Form quadrat

Plastic or metal square that sets a standard unit of area for study of distribution of marine organisms

Transect

Rope/tape marked at regular intervals that sets standard distances for study of marine organism distribution.

Line transect

Sampling method involving counting of species that touch the transect

Continuous sampling

Samples taken along whole transect length

Systematic sampling

Samples are taken at fixed intervals along the trnasect

Belt transect

Sampling method involving counting of species in frame quadrants placed adjacent to the transect.

Random sampling

Samples taken at random places in sample site

Ethical method

Evaluates and chooses ways to protect the natural habitat under investigation.

Safe method

Identifies potential hazards and then reducing their risk of occuring.

Kite graph

A graph of distribution and abundance of organisms in the littoral zone that allows zonation patterns to be easily seen

Simpson’s index of diversity(D?):

Biodiversity measure that accounts for both species richness and evenness

Hypothesis

Testable explanation for a question/problem

Null Hypothesis(H₀) -

States there is no correlation between two sets of variables.

Alternative Hypothesis

States there is no significant correlation between two variable sets.

Scatter Plot Graph

Graph of 2 variable sets plotted to indicate if there is a relationship between them.

Bar charts

Graph drawn to show relationship between one continuous(quantitative, any number including fractions/decimals) and discontinuous(qualitative) variable.

Line graph

Graph drawn to show relationship between two continuous variables.

Histogram

Graph drawn to show frequency of one continuous(quantitative) variable.

Spearnman’s rank correlation

Math tool used to find out if there is a correlation between two variables when they are not normally distributed.

Critical values of r_s definition

Indicated when calculated Spearman’s rank is sufficient to suggest a correlation between two sets of variables.

Theory

Well-substantiated explanation of aspect of the natural world that has been tested and confirmed through observation/experimentation.

Qualitative data

Non-numerical data, such as traits or descriptions.

QUantitative data

Numerical data, such as time, amount, etc.

Independent Variable(IV):

Variable being manipulated by researcher. Found on x-axis

Dependent Variable(DV):

Changed in response to IV. Is the variable being measured.

Control Variables

Elements that are constant and unchanged throughout the course of the experiment.

Control Experiment

Group within an investigation or study that gets exact same treatment as experimental groups w/ the exception of variable being tested.

Anomaly(Anomalous)

Result or observation that deviated from what’s normal/expected.

• In experimental results, it is usually the one repeated result that does not fit the pattern of others.

The dependent variable is located on the ____
And the independent on the ____

Dependent: Y axis
Independent: X axis