Study of an Ecosystem
 Preparation
 Fieldwork
 Follow-up activities
 Report writing
Preparation
 Learning objectives
 Advance planning
 Safety
Quantitative
Study
Syllabus 1.5.3
 Quantitative Study of
plants and animals of
a sample area of the
selected ecosystem
 Transfer Results to
•
•
•
•
•
Diagrams
Graphs
Tables
Histograms
Other relevant
mode
Quantitative Study
 No. of organisms
present
 Quadrat
Quadrat
 A frame that
forms a known
area
 Usually square shaped
 Can be used to
measure:
Frequency
% Cover
Frequency
 The chance of finding a named
organism within the sample area in a
number of quadrats
 May be expressed as a percent of the
total number of quadrats sampled
Frequency Procedure

Throw the quadrat randomly in the
sample area

Record the presence or absence of a
named organism within each quadrat

Repeat for a number of throws

Tabulate results
Frequency table
Organism
1
2
3
4
Frequency 
5
Quadrat throw
6
7
8
9
10 Total Frequency % Frequency
No. of quadrats containing organism
No. of quadrats thrown
If percentage is required multiply frequency by 100
Frequency Procedure
 Throw the quadrat randomly in the
sample area
 Record the presence or absence of a
named organism within each quadrat
 Repeat for a number of throws
 Tabulate results
Plot Graph
%
F
r
e
q
u
e
n
c
y
X axis = Organisms
Y axis = % Frequency
Organisms
Tabulation of results
Organism Name% Frequency
Buttercup
50%
Daisy
40%
Dandelion
60%
Grass
40%
1
Y
N
Y
N
2
N
Y
N
N
3
N
N
N
Y
Quadrat Throw
4 5 6 7
Y Y N Y
N N Y Y
Y Y Y N
Y N N N
8
N
N
Y
Y
9
Y
Y
Y
Y
10 Total Frequency % Frequency
N 5
5/10
50
N 4
4/10
40
N 6
6/10
60
N 4
4/10
40
% Frequency
Auto
Calculations
60%
50%
40%
% Frequency 30%
% Frequency
20%
10%
0%
Buttercup
Daisy
Dandelion
Plant name
Grass
% Cover
 Quadrat divided
into a grid
 Intersections
form sampling
points
 Plant scores a hit if
touched by the
needle
 Canopy organisms /
all organisms
% Cover
 An area of ground occupied by aerial
parts of individual plants of the
species examined and counted
 Expressed as a percentage of the total
quadrat area
% Cover procedure
 Throw a quadrat at random
 Record the plant hit at each sampling
point
 Repeat for a number of throws
 Tabulate results
% Cover table
Plant Name
1
2
3
4
% Cover 
5
6
Quadrat throw
7 8
9 10 Total Hits Total Points % Cover
No. of hits
 100
Τotal no. of po int s
% Cover procedure
 Throw a quadrat at random
 Record the plant hit at each sampling
point
 Repeat for a number of throws
 Tabulate results
Tabulation of results
Plant Name % Cover
Buttercup
20%
Daisy
12%
Dandelion
14%
Grass
46%
Other
8%
1
10
1
2
12
0
2
6
6
6
5
2
3 4
1 8
2 2
6 1
12 14
4 0
Quadrat Throw
5 6 7
2 1 5
4 4 2
4 4 2
15 14 15
0 2 1
8 9 10 Total Hits Total Points % Cover
5 7 5
50
250
20%
4 3 2
30
250
12%
3 1 6
35
250
14%
13 11 4
115
250
46%
0 3 8
20
250
8%
% Cover
8%
20%
Auto
Calculations
Buttercup
Daisy
12%
Dandelion
Grass
46%
14%
Other
Data Presentation
ICT contributes to display, calculation and
analysis of data. (example Excel)
Density
Density
8
7
6
5
Density/m2 4
3
2
1
0
Graphs
Buttercup
Daisy
Dandelion
Grass
Analysis
Plant Name
Calculations
Spreadsheets
Plant Name % Frequency
Butercup 50%
Daisy 40%
Dandelion 60%
Grass 40%
1
Y
N
Y
N
2
N
Y
N
N
3
N
N
N
Y
4
Y
N
Y
Y
Quadrat Throw - % Frequency
5 6 7 8
Y N Y N
N Y Y N
Y Y N Y
N N N Y
9
Y
Y
Y
Y
10 Total % Frequency
N 5
50%
N 4
40%
N 6
60%
N 4
40%
Syllabus page 14
1.5.7 Analysis
Prepare a brief report of the results
obtained
Report writing
 Option A
Presentation of results and analysis of
all ecology fieldwork together in
portfolio format
 Option B
Presentation of results of
each individual ecology activity
separately in regular practical notebook
with one common analysis
Option A
A portfolio should contain
 Title page
 Introduction
 Site description
 Methods used
 Results
 Analysis
Option B
Presentation of results of each
individual ecology activity
separately in regular practical
notebook with one common
analysis