ECOLOGY MODULE
FIELDWORK REPORT
FOR LEAVING CERTIFICATE STUDENTS
ECOSYSTEM _____________________
HABITAT
_____________________
Name _________________________
School _________________________
Date
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Experiments covered
-To
-To
-To
-To
-To
-To
carry out a quantitative survey of the habitat
carry out a qualitative survey of the habitat
use simple keys to identify any five flora
use simple keys to identify any five fauna
use various pieces of apparatus to collect animals in an ecosystem
investigate three abiotic factors in the habitat
Procedure for Habitat Study
• Orientation
10 min
• Set Pitfall Traps
10 min
• Quadrat study - % Cover
25 min
• Quadrat study - % Frequency
10 min
• Identify and Describe 5 Plants
15 min
• Identify and Describe 5 Animals
20 min
• Line Transect
• Collect Pitfall Traps
15 min
5 min
2
Site Description
Location:________________________________________________________
Weather:________________________________________________________
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Type of habitat:____________________________________________________
Habitat Map
Legend
3
Quadrat Study % Cover - Quantitative
QUADRAT THROW - % Cover
PLANT
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10 Average % Cover
Note: Average % cover = total % in which a plant is present (sum of all quadrats)
total number of quadrats
Graph of results
Average
% Cover
of plants
Plant name
Comment on your results:
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4
Quadrat Study Method
Describe how you carried out your % Cover survey
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Diagram of equipment used
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Quadrat Study % Frequency
PLANT
1
2
QUADRAT THROW – Absent / Present
3
4
5
6
7
8
9 10 % Frequency
Note: % frequency = number of quadrats in which a plant is present
total number of quadrats
x
100
1
% Frequency
Graph of results
Plant type
Comment on your results:
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Describe how you carried out your % frequency study.
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Diagram of equipment used
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Plant Identification - Qualitative
Describe the plant in a way that lets you remember it, i.e. grows close to the
ground/grows high, leaves dark/light green, leaves hairy/smooth/waxy/spiky/rough
etc. Mention one adaptation of the plant. Example: Ivy. Adaptation - can climb up
trees to reach sunlight. Leaves are dark green so are rich in chlorophyll.
1.
Name
____________________________
Description___________________________________________________
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Adaptation___________________________________________________
2. Name
_____________________________
Description___________________________________________________
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Adaptation___________________________________________________
3. Name
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Description___________________________________________________
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Adaptation___________________________________________________
4. Name
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Description___________________________________________________
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Adaptation___________________________________________________
5. Name
_____________________________
Description___________________________________________________
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Adaptation___________________________________________________
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L
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5.
4.
3.
2.
1.
e.g: Garden
Spider
ANIMAL
Carnivore
Predator
ROLE
Orb web for
catching prey
ADAPTATION
House fly
FEEDS ON
Robin
EATEN BY
On bushes and
other vegetation
MICROHABITAT
Animal Identification - Qualitative
Line Transect - Qualitative
Plant
1
2
3
Line Transect
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Record Abiotic Factors in the habitat
1
2
3
Abiotic Factors
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Light (lux)
Soil temp
Air temp
Soil pH
Describe your results
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10
1
1) Name:
Collection Apparatus
DIAGRAM
Use:
Example:
2) Name:
DIAGRAM
Use:
Example:
3) Name:
DIAGRAM
Use:
Example:
DIAGRAM
4) Name:
Use:
Example:
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Energy Flow in the Habitat
Food Chain 1
Food Chain 2
Habitat Food Web
Pyramid
of
Numbers
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Analysis and Assessment of Results
Overall Conclusions
 Possible sources of error e.g: observer bias, weather
 Season
 Relevance of abiotic factors
 Identification of local ecological issues. e.g. human impact
Example: Because it is late in Autumn there is a lot of leaf litter and other detritus on
the ground.
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