B6

Investigating distribution and abundance

Abundance - How many individuals you find in an area

Distribution - Where an organism is found in a habitat

You take ‘ Samples ‘ Since it too time consuming to measure the number of individuals and distribution.

Sampling means only counting a subset of the organisms in a habitat

Two main ways to measure sampling

1. Quadrats - to measure abundance

2. Transects - to measure how distribution changes

Other type of sampling :

Pooter

Pooter is used to catch small insect.

A pooter consists of a container , containing two tubes. The ‘ Trapping tube ‘ is placed near the object and ‘ mouthpiece tube ‘ in our mouth and inhale.

The ‘ Mouthpiece tube has a piece of cloth for any insects to be sucked into the mouth

Pitfall Traps

Pitfall traps are used for ground-level animals such as insects or snails.

Pitfall trap is a container that sunk into the ground. And over the trap you place a cover which prevents rain from entering.

Nets - Sweep nets , Pound net

Sweep net - A net with a strong cloth to collect insects from long grass

Pond net - A net used for collecting insects , water snails etc from pounds and rivers