Measuring abiotic and biotic factor in the wetlands
Keywords:
The following words
must be used throughout this
practical activity:
Aim:
Abiotic (Non living)
Habitat
Biotic (Living)
Organism
Consumer
Producer
1.
To study a wetlands habitat and identify the biotic and abiotic factors that affect the survival
Environmental
Ecosystem
of organisms.
2.
Food chains
To draw food chains and a food web to show the interactions of plants
and animals withinFood
this web
ecosystem.
Materials:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
Notepad, pencils and pens
A wetlands to study
Thermometers
Universal indicator
Universal indicator chart
barium sulphate powder
plastic petri dish
Secchi Disk
Hand lens
Plastic spoons
Ice cube tray
Pond organism poster
Teachers bucket of wetland water
Method:
1.
Describe the environmental conditions of this habitat by answer a-d in RESULTS TABLE 1
a) Test air temperature by leaving the thermometer in the open for 5 minutes
b) Test water temperature by sitting in the water until the alcohol stops moving.
c) Describe the amount (%) of cloud cover
d) Is it wet or dry day?
2.
Look around you and take note of all the biotic (living) and abiotic (non-living) parts of the
ecosystem. Complete RESULTS TABLE 2
3.
Walk along the wooden landing and drop the Secchi disk over the side. Lower it carefully into
the water until you can no longer see the black and white quarters. Pull the disk back out and
record how much string was in the water. RECORD IN RESULTS TABLE 1
4.
Collect a large beaker of water from the wetlands (this will be used back in class to test water
pH and salinity, see below).
5.
Now collect a sample of teaspoon size amount of soil from near the edge of the wetlands and
place it on the plastic petri dish. This will be used back in class to test soil pH.
Back in class- METHOD
Water pH
1. Pour 5 ml of wetlands water into a test tube.
2. Add 3 drops of universal indictor.
3. Use the universal indicator chart to determine the pH of the water. Record in Results table 1.
Soil pH
1.
2.
3.
4.
On the plastic petri dish place 1 teaspoon of soil.
Sprinkle some barium sulphate powder over the soil.
Add 5 drops of universal indicator over the powder.
Compare the colour of the powder with the colour chart given. Record your results in Table
1.
Results:
Table 1- Abiotic factors tests
RESULTS
Air temp
Water temp
Cloud cover %
Wet or dry day?
Secchi disk - Turbidity
(Cm of string used)
Water pH
Soil pH
Table 2 - Abiotic and Biotic factors at the wetlands
(Your teacher may let you use a hand lens to examine the pond water back in class)
BIOTIC
ABIOTIC
Discussion:
1.
Define the term Biotic:
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
Define the term Abiotic:
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
2.
Did you see any animals? Why was it necessary to look for ‘signs’ of animal life?
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
3.
(a)
Use the list of biotic factors in the your results table to draw two food chains.
Eg.
Grass  Rabbit  Fox
Food chain 1:
Food chain 2:
(b)
From the food chains you have drawn above, identify one of each of the following:
(i)
Producer ____________________________________________
(ii)
Consumer ___________________________________________
4.
Why does turbidity affect what organism living in the environment?
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
5.
How does soil and water pH affect an organism’s survival?
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
6.
Why would the organism seen in the wetlands change during the year?
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
Conclusion:
Use the following words to complete the first part of the conclusion:
Environment
Biotic
Abiotic
A section of the St Monica’s College wetlands was observed and the
_________________ and ____________________ factors of the ______________________ were
noted._____________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
________________.