Distribution and Abundance

Aim: To measure the abundance of Dandelion weeds (Part 1) and to determine the distribution of the vein-leafed weed along a transect using a drawn profile sketch (Part 2). Risk Assessment: Identify: Rulers can hurt someone if thrown with force, allergies may be triggered, and insects have harmful bites or stings. Assess: Rulers may hit someone when thrown, allergies may be triggered outdoors and cause harm, and insects such as bees and spiders may bite and sting. Control: Watch for any people in the area before throwing the ruler, if previously known allergies exist make sure that all necessary precautions or medicine is taken or do not sit on the grass, and beware not to purposefully stay in an area where there is a harmful insect. Results: The organism studied was the vein-leafed weed. Total area studied was 100m2, the quadrat size was 1m2 and the six quadrats were studied. Quadrat Number Present 1 2 2 0 3 0 4 35 5 0 6 1 Total no. in six quadrats 38 Density= no. of organisms present / area 100/6 X 38 = 633.33 (C2DP)

Discussion: Part 1: 1. What is the absolute abundance in the total area of study? The absolute abundance in the total are of study was 100/6 X 38 = 633.33 (C2DP), or 633 correct to nearest whole number. 2. Why is it important to make replicate counts? It is important to make replicate counts for accuracy to double check the given amount. One wrong count may change the final results when a formula is involved in the final calculation. 3. How does the density of your species compare with that of another species sampled in the same area? Without any actual quantitative data, it is believed to be that this weed was far less common than the other species of weed. 4. Describe your plant species in terms of- rare, occasional, common, and very common. This plant species was found occasionally, and in some places very rarely found, while at others it was very common. In some places they were grouped together but in other places they were not there. 5. Describe the method you would use to determine the abundance of a matted grass. The method that would be used to determine the abundance of a matted grass would be the qualitative method of percentage cover which is an estimate of how much area that particular plant takes up in a quadrat.

Part 2: 1. Why is the plant confined to this distribution? Answer in terms of factors of the environment. The plant may be confined to this distribution due to its availability or accessibility to rainfall, the soil type that is in the area, it may have only been planted in that area, or that the water was best available in that area. 2. Is the spacing of the plants within the distribution uniform? The spacing of the plants within the distribution is not uniform as in some places, 35 of the plant were found, whereas in other places only 0, 1, or 2 were found. Conclusion: There was uneven distribution of that particular weed, as well as uneven abundance of the species.