ACTIVITY 2: BIOTIC data

Purpose:

To consider the biotic factors that make up an ecosystem

Procedure:

1. Go to Site One within the located area of the field trip

2. Put on gloves and grab a white tray. At the site, hold the tray with both hands and fill the
tray half way.

3. At the same site, grab a sweeping net and dunk the head of the net in the water and gently
sweep the net back and forth at least 3 times. Take the net out and place it on top of the
tray.

4. With gloves, flip the net inside out and gently shake the net in the water of the tray.
Students should take photos as evidence as the water contained must be tipped back into
its site at the end of the day.

5. Count up the species you may find in the white tray and record the data in the table below.

6. Repeat steps 2 to 5 for Site 2

Table for Site 1

Habitat location
(Frequency tally) TOTAL
SPECIES
1 2 3

Alderfly larvae

Beetle larvae

Biting midge larvae

Blackfly larvae

Cased caddis fly larvae

Caseless caddis fly larvae

Damselfly nymph

Diving beetle
Dragonfly nymph

Flatworm

Freshwater clam

Freshwater louse

Freshwater shrimp

Greater water boatman

Leech

Mayfly nymph

Mosquito larvae

Non biting midge larvae

Phantom midge larvae

Pond skater

Pond snail

Ramshorn snail

Rat-tailed maggot

Stonefly nymph

True worm

Water beetles

Water flea

Water mite

Water spider
 Table for Site 2

Habitat location
(Frequency tally) TOTAL
SPECIES
1 2 3

Alderfly larvae

Beetle larvae

Biting midge larvae

Blackfly larvae

Cased caddis fly larvae

Caseless caddis fly larvae

Damselfly nymph

Diving beetle

Dragonfly nymph

Flatworm

Freshwater clam

Freshwater louse

Freshwater shrimp

Greater water boatman

Leech

Mayfly nymph

Mosquito larvae

Non biting midge larvae

Phantom midge larvae

Pond skater

Pond snail
Ramshorn snail

Rat-tailed maggot

Stonefly nymph

True worm

Water beetles

Water flea

Water mite

Water spider

Questions:

1. List other biotic factors you can see or hear within the habitat

2. Which environment has the greatest number of organisms? Justify your answer
with evidence.

3. Which environment has the greatest number of different organisms i,e, the
greatest diversity? Justify your answer with evidence.