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An ecologist working in the field might seek to answer the following questions:
What are the components of the ecosystem?
what are the biotic components (what organisms live there?)
what are the abiotic components?
How many of the different organisms live there? (abundance)
Where are they found within the ecosystem? (distribution)
What is influencing their abundance and distribution?
(how do the organisms interact with each other and the abiotic factors?)
How are the organisms adapted to living in their niche within the ecosystem?
Given the time, skills and equipment available to us, it is not possible to even come close to answering
all of these questions. However, through this field trip you will gain some understanding of the biotic
and abiotic components of the site, and the skills and equipment that ecologists often employ in their
work.
In the space below, for your own reference, record information about the equipments/tools or procedures
as well as the safety aspects that you will receive during the briefing.
2. Imagine looking at your selected area from the top down. Draw in the vegetation present as seen
from that view in the box provided below. Use symbols and a key to mark the vegetation; do not
attempt to make actual drawings.
Fiona Hong 2017
YOUR OVERVIEW PLAN EXAMPLE
Key
Canopy foliage
Small tree
Tall grass
KEY
The Purtinga Woodland area is dominated by a collection of large eucalyptus trees. Planted in
amongst these larger trees are a number of smaller trees, bushes, grasses and sedges. These
plantings began around 2007 when a large number of woody weeds were removed from the area.
Even though the Purtinga area is relatively small, there is quite a number of different habitats within this
ecosystem and consequently a large variety of organisms living there. It would, therefore, be a time-
consuming task to attempt to survey this entire area. In order to simplify our study of the creek we will
use a transect line.
A transect is a small sample of the area being studied. It involves marking out a straight line or strip
across the area and noting the biotic and abiotic components within this sample site. The result
provides a snapshot of a small cross-section of the whole ecosystem.
1. Select a site and set up transect line
The transect line should span across the creek and extend up to the banks and higher ground on both
sides to reflect the difference in biodiversity present in different microhabitats (eg. In water, moist
soil, dry land). Choose a site which would provide a good representation of the vegetation in the
area.
Set up your transect line. To do this you will need a 10m length of red/white tape or twine rope.
Stretch this across the creek in a perpendicular angle. The tape/rope can be pulled taut across the
creek. You may pin the line down using the rods provided.
Using the ruler provided, work out the profile of the area at the sites. Try to be as accurate as you can
with your diagram, which must be drawn to scale. (Example and space provided in the next pages)
On your sketch, mark in the position and height of the various forms of vegetation that are present
along your transect. A key should be used to identify the different plants on your sketch.
You may wish to use a camera to photograph your sampling sites. Please be very careful with
cameras and phones at the creek you wont want to drop it into the water.
10 m 7m 5m 3m 1m 0m
zone 3 zone 2 zone 1 zone 2 zone 3
Key
In your creek transect site you are to measure and record the following abiotic features. Present your
measurements in an appropriate form (eg. Table, chart)
Date/Time: record the date and time of day that you are recording the following.
Weather conditions: make a note of the weather conditions at the time of recording.)
1. Water temperature
Hold the bulb of the thermometer 2cm under the surface of the water to record the temperature.
2. Air temperature
Dry off the bulb of the thermometer and then hold it in the air to record the temperature.
3. Rate of flow of water
Measure out a certain distance of clear water around your transect. Place a cork or other floating
object in the water and record how long it takes to travel this length of water (making sure that it
doesnt get snagged on any object). Express the rate of flow in metres per second.
4. Depth of water
Using the ruler or a suitable stick, measure the depth of water in the deepest part of your
transect (as best you can without falling in!).
5. pH value of water
Dip a pH test strip into the water making sure the entire strip is exposed to the water. Using the
reference chart, determine the pH value.
**NOTE**
You may choose to collect some samples of the water from the creek or soil from both sites for further
investigation. You may also like to take photos of specimen or organisms as part of your data collection.
**NOTE**
You may choose to collect some samples of the water from the creek or soil from both sites for further
investigation. You may also like to take photos of specimen or organisms as part of your data collection.
Abiotic Factor Dry Woodlands Purtinga Creek Purtinga Creek Purtinga Creek
Zone 1 Zone 2 Zone 3
Air Temperature
Water / Soil
Temperature
Rate of flow of
water
Depth of water
pH value of water /
soil
Moisture content
of soil
Light Intensity
(UV)
Organism Description of organism (eg. small thick oval-shaped leaves; thin woody stem)
Organism Description and location along the transect line (eg. 2m mark)