OCR Gateway GCSE Biology - B6.1 Sampling techniques

Pooter

suck on the mouthpiece to draw insects into the holding chamber (a filter stops organisms from entering your mouth)

Sweep nets

sweep a large net through the air to catch flying insects or those in long grass

Kick sampling

“kick” a river bank or bed to disturb mud or vegetation. Hold a net downstream to capture any organisms released into the flowing water

Tree beating

stretch a large white cloth under a tree (or bush). Then shake or beat the tree to dislodge invertebrates, which will fall onto the cloth

Pitfall traps

dig a hole in the ground, which crawling invertebrates such as beetles, spiders and slugs can fall into. Cover the hole with a roof so that the trap does not fill with rain water