Practical: Determining Distribution & Abundance (Edexcel A (SNAB) A Level Biology)

• Finding out about the abundance and distribution of species can be achieved by counting all of the organisms present in a habitat
• This is possible for areas that are very small or where the species are very large
• For larger and more complex habitats it is not possible to find, identify, and count every organism that is present
• When this is the case sampling can be used to make an estimate for the total species numbers

Sampling

• Sampling is a method of investigating the abundance and distribution of species and populations
  
• There are two different types of sampling
  • Random
  • Systematic
• In random sampling the positions of the sampling points are selected at random
  • This method avoids bias by the person that is carrying out the sampling
  • Bias can affect the results e.g.
    • A student might choose to carry out samples in a particular location because it looks interesting, and this might give the impression that the habitat contains more species than it really does
• In systematic sampling the positions of the sampling points are located at fixed intervals throughout the sampling site
  • This avoids accidentally missing out sections of habitat due to chance
  • Systematic sampling allows researchers to investigate the effect of the presence of certain environmental features on species distribution e.g. by taking samples along a line that extends away from an environmental feature such as a river
    • A line of this type is known as a transect
• When a sampling area is reasonably uniform then random sampling is the best choice
• Random sample sites can be selected by
  • Laying out a grid over the area to be studied
  • Generating random number co-ordinates 
  • Placing sample sites in the grid squares that match the random number co-ordinates

Random sampling involves selecting sample sites at random while systematic sampling involves placing sample sites at regular intervals.

Determining distribution and abundance

• The distribution and abundance of a species in an area can be assessed using different practical methods:
  • Frame and point quadrats
  • Line and belt transects

Frame quadrats

• A frame quadrat is a square frame that is placed within the area to be studied to provide a sample
  • Quadrats are used to study the distribution of sessile organisms
  • Quadrats can be different sizes depending on the species being studied
    • A 1 m² quadrat can be used to study small organisms such as herbaceous plants in a grassland or limpets on a rocky shore
    • A 400 m² quadrat can be used to study large organisms such as trees
      • Quadrats like this will usually be marked out with string rather than a frame!
• Frame quadrats can be placed in a habitat randomly, e.g. using random co-ordinates, or systematically, e.g. along a transect

A frame quadrat can be used to measure abundance and distribution

• Scientists can record different types of data from a frame quadrat depending on the aim of a study and the species involved
  • Presence or absence of a species
  • Species frequency; how many individuals are in the quadrat
  • Species abundance; measured on a scale called the ACFOR scale on which species are recorded as being abundant, common, frequent, occasional, rare, or none
  • Percentage cover; the percentage of the quadrat covered by a species
    • Quadrats can be divided up into smaller squares to allow percentage cover to be assessed more easily

Abundance in a frame quadrat can be assessed by measuring percentage cover

Point quadrats

• A point quadrat is a vertical frame with holes across the top through which pins are lowered
  • This is useful in areas with dense plant cover as the ground may be difficult to study using a frame quadrat 
  • Point quadrats can be placed in a habitat randomly, e.g. using random co-ordinates, or systematically, e.g. along a transect
• When a lowered pin touches a species, that species is recorded as being present
  • If several species are touching the pin then all of those species are recorded
• Point quadrats can be used to measure abundance in the following ways
  • The number of individuals of a species present
    • Each individual that touches a pin is recorded 
  • Percentage cover of a species
    • The number of pins touched by a species is divided by the total number of pins used
    • Most point quadrats have ten pins, so if all the pins are used then a species touching one pin counts as 10 percent cover

Point quadrats can be used to measure the number of individuals of a species or percentage cover.

Transects

• Transects are lines laid out across a site that can be used to measure abundance and distribution across a habitat
  • Transects are useful for determining how species abundance and distribution might change along a gradient e.g. at increasing distances from a field margin or perpendicular to the water's edge on a rocky shore
• To carry out a transect, a tape measure is laid out along the gradient of interest, and samples are taken along the line
• There are different ways of carrying out transect studies
  • Continuous line transect
    • Every species touching the tape measure is recorded
  • Interrupted line transect
    • Species touching the line at regular intervals, e.g. every metre, are recorded
  • Continuous belt transect
    • Frame quadrats are placed end-to-end along the line 
  • Interrupted belt transect
    
    • Frame or point quadrats are placed at regular intervals, e.g. every metre, along the line

Interrupted line and belt transects can be used to measure abundance and distribution of species along a line across a habitat

Measuring abiotic factors

• The distribution and abundance of species in a habitat are affected by abiotic factors
• When investigating the impact of an abiotic factors on species abundance and distribution it is important to measure the relevant abiotic factors at the sample sites
  • It is only necessary to record relevant abiotic factors
    • A study may only be interested in one particular abiotic factor
    • Some abiotic factors may not be relevant in certain habitats e.g. water turbidity (cloudiness) will not be relevant in a woodland habitat
• Abiotic factors can be measured using specialised equipment and techniques

Measuring Abiotic Factors Table

Representing results

• The results of an investigation into the distribution and abundance of organisms can be represented visually using a type of graph known as a kite diagram
• Kite diagrams can show both distribution and abundance
  • The distribution of a species along a transect can be shown by its position along a central horizontal line in each section of a kite diagram
    • Each section represents a different species 
    • The distance along the transect is given on the x-axis, to which the horizontal line is parallel
  • The abundance of a species can be shown by the width of the 'kite' around the central horizontal line
    • The shape is referred to as a kite because it extends an equal distance on each side of the central horizontal line
• Additional sections can be added to a kite diagram to show the changes in abiotic factors at different points along a transect e.g. the height above sea level or the pH of soil

Kite diagrams can be used to provide a visual representation of both abundance and distribution of species, as well as changes to abiotic factors such as elevation