A quadrat is a square frame which is used to sample populations of plants or slow-moving animals.

A species is a group of organisms that are able to reproduce with each other to produce offspring that are also able to reproduce.

Bias is when a person carries out an investigation and affects the outcome

Ecological sampling using a quadrat

Science

Pupils will learn about biotic and abiotic components of an ecosystem, measuring population size, interdependence and competition in ecosystems, how changes in biotic and abiotic factors affect communities, the cycling of carbon and water, and the role of microorganisms in cycling materials through ecosystems.

Pupils learnt about interdependence in ecosystems, covering food webs and food chains along with predator-prey relationships. The effect of the use of pesticides on organisms such as pollinating insects and top predators through bioaccumulation.

This unit examines environmental changes and their impact on species' survival and adaptation, potentially leading to extinction. It also develops skills for interpreting data and observations, evaluating errors, and using SI units and IUPAC chemical nomenclature in scientific contexts.

Biodiversity

Physical activity and equipment requiring safe use

What word means that a person carries out an investigation and affects the outcome?

A piece of apparatus used to collect soil.

A straight line along which organisms are sampled.

put them at regular intervals e.g. 10 paces apart

use a random number generator to select the positions

What is the **best** way to ensure random placing of quadrats?

The more samples you take, the more valid your results will be.

This means that everyone in the group gets to throw the quadrat.

Oak pupils are carrying out a random quadrat survey on the school field. Why is it important that they take as many samples as possible?

To estimate the different species that live in a habitat.

To sample and monitor butterfly populations. 

To estimate the percentage coverage of a species in a habitat.

Which of the following is **not** a use of quadrats?

Ten quadrats of 1 m² were placed in a field with an area of 100 m². On average, 6 dandelion plants were found in each quadrat. How many dandelion plants are there in the field?

Which piece of apparatus could you use to sample plants and slow-moving or sedentary animals?

A feature that an organism has which helps it live in a particular place is called an ...

so that organisms in the trap are not harmed

so that scientists collect results quickly

Why do pitfall traps need to be checked regularly?

20 beetles were caught and marked in a mark-release-recapture experiment. Two days later in a second sample 10 beetles were caught, only 1 had a mark. What is the population of beetles in the habitat?

helps to capture sunlight which is used to make food

puts predators off eating it as this is a warning signal

provides shelter and protection for offspring 

Match the adaptation with how it helps an organism to survive.

Content guidance

Risk assessment required - equipment

Adult supervision required

This lesson will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.

Ecological sampling using a quadrat

Lesson outcome

Content guidance

This lesson will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.