SEKOLAH MENENGAH

KEBANGSAAN LAKI-LAKI
METHODIST
JALAN HANG JEBAT,
50150 KUALA LUMPUR

PROPOSAL ABOUT:

THE STUDY OF EDAPHIC FACTORS

THAT INFLUENCE THE
DISTRIBUTION OF PLANT SPECIES
AND SOIL ORGANISM IN FOREST
RESEARCH INSTITUTE MALAYSIA
(FRIM), KEPONG
2010/2011

Members: Teh Choon Siang (Group Leader)

See Bee Ying
Tin Yen Ru
Deirdre Lee Shu Yi
 CONTENTS
Indeks Page Number
Chapter 1: Introduction………………………………….……………
1. Ecology……………………………………….………
2. Ecosystem……………………………………….……
3. Niche and habitat……………………………………..
4. Abiotic and biotic factors……………………………..

Chapter 2: The Research………………………………………………

1. Introduction of ecological study………………..……..
2. Problem Statement………………………..…………...
3. Hypothesis………………………………..…………....
4. Objective………………………………..……………...
5. Area of study…………………………………………...
Chapter 3: Methodology…………………...…………………………...
1. Soil analysis………………….………………………….
 Soil sampling technique
 Determination of the texture of soil
 Determination of water content of soil
 Determination of organic matter content
 Determination of air content of soil
 Determination of soil pH
2. Determination of the type of organism...............................
3. Determination of the density of plant species in a habitat...
 Quadrat sampling technique
Chapter 4: Apparatus and Materials...........................................................
Chapter 5: Conclusion.................................................................................
Chapter 6: Appendix....................................................................................
 CHAPTER 1
INTRODUCTION

1. ECOLOGY
Concept of Ecology
Ecology (from Greek: οἶκος, “house” or “living relations”; -λογία, “study of”) is the
scientific study of the relation of living organisms to each other and their surroundings.
Ecology includes the study of plant and animal populations, plant and animal communities
and ecosystems. Ecologists study a range of living phenomena from the role of bacteria in
nutrient recycling to the effects of tropical rain forest on the Earth’s atmosphere.
The word “ecology” (“oekologie”) was first used by the German scientist Ernst Haeckel
1834–1919. Haeckel was a zoologist, artist, writer, and later in life a professor of comparative
anatomy.

Ecology is a sub-discipline of biology, which is the study of life, branching out from the
natural sciences in the late 19th century. Ecology is not synonymous with environment,
environmentalism, natural history or environmental science. Ecology is closely related to the
biological disciplines of physiology, evolution, genetics and behavior.

Ecology seeks to explain about the life processes and adaptations of the distribution and
abundance of organisms based on the movement of materials and energy through living
communities. By doing so, we able to understand about the succession development of
ecosystems, and the abundance and distribution of biodiversity in context of the environment.

There are many practical applications of ecology in conservation biology, wetland

management, natural resource management (agriculture, forestry, fisheries), city planning
(urban ecology), community health, economics, basic & applied science and it provides a
conceptual framework for understanding and researching human social interaction (human
ecology).
2. ECOSYSTEM

Ecosystem is a natural system consisting of ecological communities of living

organisms(biological communities) interacting with each other and with the abiotic (non-
living) components of the environment to form a stable and equilibrium system

An ecosystem is a dynamic system. The dynamic of an ecosystem can be disturbed if there

are changes in biotic or abiotic environment. Examples of ecosystem are the pond, lake,
ocean, grassland and tropical forest.

Overview

The entire array of organisms inhabiting a particular ecosystem is called a community. In a

typical ecosystem, plants and other photosynthetic organisms are the producers that provide
the food. Ecosystems can be permanent or temporary. Ecosystems usually form a number of
food webs.

Ecosystems are functional units consisting of living things in a given area, non-living
chemical and physical factors of their environment, linked together through nutrient cycle
and energy flow in Natural places such as Terrestrial ecosystem and Aquatic ecosystem.
Aquatic ecosystem has 2 type of ecosystem which is Lentic, the ecosystem of a lake, pond or
swamp and Lotic, the ecosystem of a river, stream or spring. Besides that, there is Artificial
ecosystem, which is environments created by humans.

Central to the ecosystem concept is the idea that living organisms interact with every other
element in their local environment. Eugene Odum, a founder of ecology, stated: “Any unit
that includes all of the organisms (ie: the “community”) in a given area interacting with the
physical environment so that a flow of energy leads to clearly defined trophic structure, biotic
diversity, and material cycles (i.e.: exchange of materials between living and nonliving parts)
within the system is an ecosystem.

Because we share the world with many other species of plants and animals, we must consider
the consequences of our actions. Over the past several decades, increasing human activity has
rapidly destroyed or polluted many ecological habitats throughout the world. It is important
to preserve all types of biomes as each houses many unique forms of life. However, the
continued heavy exploitation of certain biomes, such as the forest, freshwater, and marine,
may have more severe implications.

Forests are important as they are home to the most diverse biotic cosystem s in the world.
Hidden within these biomes are potential medicines and many thousands of unseen and
undiscovered species. Also, forests have a global climate-buffering capacity, so their
destruction may cause large-scale changes in global climate.

Logging has depleted many old-growth temperate forests. The increased demand for homes,
paper, and other wood products have not allowed for much conservation. More recently,
people have begun to realize that logging has cleared much of these forests. Wiser use of the
forests and efforts to replant trees have helped to slow down the depletion of these
communities.
Tropical forests have fallen victim to timber exploitation, slash and burn farming, and
clearfelling for industrial use or cattle ranching, particularly in Latin America. Our increasing
demand for meat products has spurred these events. For years, this destruction was cosystem
at a rapid rate. Over half of the world’s original tropical forests are already gone. Public
attention to this exploitation have helped to alleviate the problem somewhat, though many
challenges are still to be faced.

The freshwater and marine biomes are probably the most important of all the biomes. Their
medium, water, is a major natural resource. Water is the basis of life, it supports life, and
countless species live in it for all or part of their lives. Freshwater biomes supply us with our
drinking water and water for crop irrigation. The world’s oceans have an even greater effect
on global climate than forests do. Water has a high capacity for heat, and because the Earth is
mostly covered with water, the temperature of the atmosphere is kept fairly constant and able
to support life. In addition to this climate-buffering capacity, the oceans contain several
billion photosynthetic plankton which account for most of the photosynthesis cosystem on
Earth. Without these, there might not be enough oxygen to support such a large world
population and complex animal life.

Freshwater biomes have suffered mainly from pollution. Runoff containing fertilizer and
other wastes and industrial dumpings enter into rivers, ponds, and lakes and tend to promote
abnormally rapid algae growth. When these algae die, dead organic matter accumulates in the
water. This makes the water unusable and it kills many of the organisms living in the habitat.
Stricter laws have helped to slow down this thoughtless pollution.

Overfishing and pollution have threatened to make oceans into ecological disaster areas.
Industrial pollutants that are dumped upstream of estuaries have rendered many marine
habitats unsuitable for life. Again, tighter regulations have been used to prevent further
destruction of the ocean biomes.

By educating people about the consequences of our actions, we can all gain a better
understanding of how to preserve the Earth’s natural biomes. The areas that have been
destroyed the most will never regain their original forms, but conservation will help to keep
them from getting worse.

Water covers 71% of the Earth’s surface. Image is the Earth photographed from Apollo 17.

Every part of the planet, from the polar ice caps to the Equator, supports life of some kind.
Recent advances in microbiology have demonstrated that microbes live deep beneath the
Earth’s terrestrial surface, and that the total mass of microbial life in so-called “uninhabitable
zones” may, in biomass, exceed all animal and plant life on the surface. The actual thickness
of the biosphere on earth is difficult to measure. Birds typically fly at altitudes of 650 to
1,800 meters, and fish that live deep underwater can be found down to -8,372 meters in the
Puerto Rico Trench.

There are more extreme examples for life on the planet: Rüppell’s Vulture has been found at
altitudes of 11,300 meters; Bar-headed Geese migrate at altitudes of at least 8,300 meters
(over Mount Everest); Yaks live at elevations between 3,200 to 5,400 meters above sea level;
mountain goats live up to 3,050 meters. Herbivorous animals at these elevations depend on
lichens, grasses, and herbs.
Microscopic organisms live at such extremes that, taking them into consideration puts the
thickness of the biosphere much greater. Culturable microbes have been found in the Earth’s
upper atmosphere as high as 41 km (25 mi) (Wainwright et al., 2003, in FEMS Microbiology
Letters). It is unlikely, however, that microbes are active at such altitudes, where
temperatures and air pressure are extremely low and ultraviolet radiation very high. More
likely these microbes were brought into the upper atmosphere by winds or possibly volcanic
eruptions. Barophilic marine microbes have been found at more than 10 km (6 mi) depth in
the Marianas Trench (Takamia et al., 1997, in FEMS Microbiology Letters). Microbes are not
limited to the air, water or the Earth’s surface. Culturable thermophilic microbes have been
extracted from cores drilled more than 5 km (3 mi) into the Earth’s crust in Sweden (Gold,
1992, and Szewzyk, 1994, both in PNAS), from rocks between 65-75 °C. Temperature
increases with increasing depth into the Earth’s crust. The speed at which the temperature
increases depends on many factors, including type of crust (continental vs. oceanic), rock
type, geographic location, etc. The upper known limit of microbial is 122 °C (Methanopyrus
kandleri Strain 116), and it is likely that the limit of life in the “deep biosphere” is defined by
temperature rather than absolute depth.

Our biosphere is divided into a number of biomes, inhabited by broadly similar flora and
fauna. On land, biomes are separated primarily by latitude. Terrestrial biomes lying within
the Arctic and Antarctic Circles are relatively barren of plant and animal life, while most of
the more populous biomes lie near the equator. Terrestrial organisms in temperate and Arctic
biomes have relatively small amounts of total biomass, smaller energy budgets, and display
prominent adaptations to cold, including world-spanning migrations, social adaptations,
homeothermy, estivation and multiple layers of insulation.

3. NICHE AND HABITAT

Niche
A niche refers to the functional role of an organism in its ecosystem and the habitat or
physical area where it lives and grows.
An organism’s ecological niche is defined by the natural habitat in which the species lives,
The periods of time during whichit occurs in that habitat (in its life cycle) and it active there,
The way it utilises the environmental resources, for example, the type of food it cosumes, its
trophic level in the food chain and interaction with other species in the cosystem.

Two different species cannot coexist stable if they were to occupy identical ecological niches.
They will compete in all aspects of their life and the superior competitor will cause the
exclusion of the less competitive species from the same niche.
If two species have a similar but not identical niche, they will only compete for certain
aspects, for example, for food and breeding places in the overlapping regions of the niche. As
they do not compete in other ways, they usually can coexist with each other.

Habitat

Habitat is the natural place where an organism or individuals of a population normally live.
The living place is characterised by physical (abiotic) or biotic factors that influence the life
of the organism.

Example of habitat include ponds, rivers, lakes, deserts and tropical rainforests.

Definition

The term “population” is preferred to “organism” because, while it is possible to describe the
habitat of a single black bear, it is also possible that we may not find any particular or
individual bear but the grouping of bears that constitute a breeding population and occupy a
certain biogeographical area. Further, this habitat could be somewhat different from the
habitat of another group or population of black bears living elsewhere. Thus it is neither the
species nor the individual for which the term habitat is typically used.

Microhabitat

Microhabitat is a particular location where an individual species is normally found. The term
microhabitat is often used to describe the small-scale physical requirements of a particular
organism or population. A microhabitat is often a smaller habitat within a larger one.
For example, Woodlice may be found in the shady and moist microhabitat beneath rotting
wood and leaves on the ground and In a river which exists different microhabitats due to
different speed of water flow, oxygen level, pH of water, and organic matter in localised
areas of the river.
4. Abiotic and Biotic Factors

Abiotic Factors

Abiotic factors are those non-living physical and chemical factors which affect the ability of
organisms to survive and reproduce. Some Abiotic Factors that influence the ability of
organism to survive and reproduce are such as light intensity, temperature range, type of soil
or rock, pH level , water availability, dissolved gases and level of pollutant.

Abiotic factors vary in the environment and determining the types and numbers of organisms
that exist in that environment.   Factors which determine the types and numbers of organisms
of a species in an ecosystem are called limiting factors.   Many limiting factors restrict the
growth of populations in nature.  An example of this would include low annual average
temperature average common to the Arctic restricts the growth of trees, as the subsoil is
permanently frozen.

Biotic Factors

Biotic factors are all the living things or their materials that directly or indirectly affect an
organism in its environment.   This would include organisms, their presence, parts,
interaction, and wastes.  Factors such as parasitism, disease, and predation (one animal eating
another) would also be classified as biotic factors. Some Biotic Factors that affect organism
in its environment are such as parasitism, disease and predation.

A System

Biotic and abiotic factors combine to create a system or more precisely, an ecosystem. An
ecosystem is a community of living and nonliving things considered as a unit.

The Impact of Changing Factors

If a single factor is changed, perhaps by pollution or natural phenomenon, the whole system
could be altered. For example, humans can alter environments through farming or irrigating.
While we usually cannot see what we are doing to various ecosytems, the impact is being felt
all over. For example, acid rain in certain regions has resulted in the decline of fish
population.
CHAPTER 2
RESEARCH
1. INTRODUCTION OF ECOLOGICAL STUDY

The area of study is at Forest Research Institute Malaysia (FRIM), Kepong. It is

located in the Suburd City in Petaling Jaya. Approximately 16km north west of the capital
city, which is 20km away from MBSSKL. From Kepong is atropical forest contains a wealth
of flora and fauna with approximately 15000 species of plant through of layman in botanic,
all of them look like greeneries. Visitors will enjoy the pristine freshness of the morning air
and amazed by the arboretums or living museum of trees and at the same time learn more
about forest. Walk through the many nature trails and discover the many species of flora and
fauna here. Hence, Forest Research Institute Malaysia in Kepong is an ideal place to do
research as the environment here is free from human activity such as logging.

The purpose of the study is mainly to fulfil the requirements of compulsory practical
for taking Biology Exam at a pre-university level, STPM in the year 2010/2011. These
practical will be carried out during the end term school holidays in 2010. The field work for
this study will be done in 10 days including the tests that need to be carried out in the school
laboratory. In Forest Research Institute Malaysia (FRIM), there are total of 8 zones. In this
research, only 3 zones are chosen which is Zone A, Zone B and Zone C (refer to appendix).
Since this study focusing on distribution of different plant species, all the edaphic factors and
how they affect the distribution are investigated. The edaphic factors are water content, soil
pH, air content, organic matter content and component of soil such as sand, stone and clay.
They is a total of 9 species of plants are selected to study about its distribution in each zone.
Besides plant distributions, the types of soil organisms in each zones are also identified.
2. PROBLEM STATEMENT
The Forest Research Institute Malaysia (FRIM) is a large terrestrial area where there are
many plants of different species thrive here. The animals found are mostly insects and birds.
This study is carried out to investigate the dominant plants that are found in this area. The
dominant plants are found scattered in different zones. Other factors might influence this
distribution. This study will focus on the edaphic factors which are soil, air content in the
soil, organic matter content and the pH value of the soil.
3. HYPOTHESIS
1) H0: The percentage of sand, clay and stone (texture) in the soil sample will not affect the
distribution of the plants and soil organisms
H1: The percentage of sand, clay and stone in the soil sample will affect the distribution
of the plants and soil organisms

2) H0: The percentage of water content in the soil sample will not affect the distribution of
the plants and soil organisms
H2: The percentage water content in the soil sample will affect the distribution of the
plants and soil soil organisms

3) H0: The percentage of organic matter content in the soil sample will not affect the
distribution of the plants and soil organisms
H3: The percentage of organic matter content in the soil sample will affect the distribution
of the plants and soil organisms

4) H0: The percentage of air content in the soil sample will not affect the distribution of the
plants and soil organisms
H4: The percentage of air content in the soil sample will affect the distribution of the
plants and soil organisms

5) H0: The pH value in the soil sample will not affect the distribution of the plants and soil
organisms
H5: The pH value in the soil sample will affect the distribution of the plants and soil
organisms
4. OBJECTIVE

The goals intended to be obtained from this task based on academic are:

1. Learning the basic principle of ecology through student’s own effort

1.1 Elements of ecosystem: biosis and abiosis
1.2 Dynamic relationship of elements and flow of energy through ecosystem

2. Using the simple apparatus and instruments in ecological studies

3. Learning the methods of collecting and analysing ecological data

4. Writing an ecological study report

5. Inculcating nature loving altitude

6. Inculcating good moral values – cooperation, independence, and self-confidence

The goals intended to be obtained from this task based on hypothesis are:

First objective is to find out the percentage of sand, clay and stones (texture) in the soil
sample collected from the area of study which will affect the distribution of the plants and
soil organisms

Second objective is to find out the percentage of water content in the soil sample
collected from the area of study which will affect the distribution of the plants and soil
organisms

Third objective is to find out the percentage of organic matter content in the soil sample
collected from the area of study which will affect the distribution of the plants and soil
organisms

Fourth objective is to find out the percentage of air content in the soil sample collected
from the area of study which will affect the distribution of the plants and soil organisms

Fifth objective is to find out the pH value in the soil sample collected from the area of
study which will affect the distribution of the plants and soil organisms
 Sixth objective is to find out the factors that affect the population of plants in the area of
study which will affect the distribution of the plants and soil organisms

Seventh objective is to find out the type of soil organisms in the area of study which will
affect the distribution of the plants and soil organisms
5. AREA OF STUDY

Forest Research Institute Malaysia (FRIM), Kepong

FRIM or Forest Research Institute of Malaysia is a must for all nature lovers who are
in the capital city of Kuala Lumpur. It is located in the suburb city of Petaling Jaya,
approximately 16km north west of the capital city. It was founded in the year 1929 and is one
of the leading institutions in tropical forestry research both locally and abroad. This 600
hectares tropical forest contains a wealth of flora and fauna with approximately 15,000
species of plants though for a layman in botanic, all of them look like greeneries.

As you enter FRIM, you will be amazed by the arboretums or living museum of trees.
walk through the many nature trails and discover the many species of flora and fauna here.
remember to go to the information counter for a briefing and purchase some brochures on the
plants that you will encounter before you move out to explore the surrounding area.

The Reason Choose FRIM A Our Research Place

FRIM gives opportunity to visitor to learn much further of forest and at the same time
relaxing in environment that does not polluted. With offers various outdoor activity and also
general study, FRIM affords be focus destination to tourists shelf also environmentalist.
Apart from that, FRIM can be made into site to range of activities such as family day, camp,
and others more.
As Taman Hutan's Science, FRIM welcomes arrival of visitors to be looking natural beauty.
By luxuriated in, educational visit can be organized with as many as one group 20-40 people.
This visit give opportunity to understand of forest ecosystem and various his important
function. We will go to FRIM from 25th of November until 3rd of December.

Operating Hours and Fees

The operating hours of the park is from 8:00am to 6:00pm daily. However, take note that the
canopy walkway operating hours is from 9:30am to 2:30pm. If you are driving, the entrance
fee to the park is RM5/car else the fee charged is RM1/person. The address and contact
number of the FRIM Park:

Forest Research Institute Malaysia

Kepong,
52109 Selangor Darul Ehsan,
Tel : +603 6279 7000
Getting Here

FRIM is located along the Selayang-Kepong Highway. You can take the KTM Komuter train
from the Kuala Lumpur Railway station or any KTM Komuter station that is in the vicinity
and head for Kepong station. Once you reach Kepong station, alight from the train and take a
taxi to FRIM.
 CHAPTER 3
METHODOLOGY
Soil Analysis

Soil Sampling Technique and Dertermination Of The Texture Of Soil

The metal cylinder is pressed into the soil. The piston is used to remove the soil sample from
the cylinder. The soil sample is added to the measuring cylinder and covered with water. The
contents is shaked vigorously. Then the mixture is allowed to settle out according to density
and surface area of particles for 4 hours. the volume of the various fractions of soil sample is
measured.

Determination Of Water Content Of Soil

An aluminium foil pie dish is weighed while still empty. The mass is recorded. the broken-up
soil sample is added to the pie dish and weighed. The mass is recorded. The pie dish
containing the soil sample is placed in the oven at 110 oC for 24 hours. Then the sample is
removed from the oven and cool in desiccators. The sample is weighed after cool, and the
mass is recorded. The sample is returned to the oven at 110 oC for a further 24 hours. Stages
(d) and (e) is repeated until consistent weighings are recorded (constant mass). The mass is
recorded .

Determination Of Organic Matter Content

The crucible and lid is heated strongly in the Bunsen flame to remove all traces of moisture.
Then the crucible and lid is placed in the desiccator to cool. The mass (a) is weighed and
recorded. The dried soil sample (kept from the previous experiment) from the desiccators is
dried and weighed. The mass (b) is recorded. The soil sample is heated in the crucible,
covered with the lid, to red-heat for 1 hour to burn off all the organic matter. Then the soil
sample is allowed to cool for 10 min and remove to the desiccator. The crucible and sample is
weighed after cool. (c) and (d) is repeated until constant mass is recorded.

Determination Of Air Content Of Soil

The empty can open end uppermost is placed into the 500 cm 3 beaker and the beaker is filled
with water above the level of the can. The water level is marked in the beaker. The can
containing the water is removed carefully and this volume of water is measured in a
measuring cylinder. The volume (a) is recorded. The water level in the beaker will fall by an
amount corresponding to the volume of water in the can. The base of the can is perforated
using a drill, making about eight small holes. Then the open end of the can is pushed into soil
from which surface vegetation has been removed until soil begins to come through the
perforations. The can is gently dig out, turn it over and soil from the surface is removed until
it is level with the top of can. The can of soil with open end uppermost is gently placed back
into the beaker of water and will be used to replace the air which was present in the soil. The
water level in the beaker will be lower than the original level because water will be used to
replace the air which was present in the soil. Water is added to the beaker from a full 100 cm 3
measuring cylinder until the original level is restored. The volume of water added (b) is
recorded.
Determination Of Soil pH

About 1 cm3 of soil and 1 cm3 of barium sulphate, which ensures flocculation of colloidal
clay is added to the test-tube. Then 10 cm 3 of distilled water and 5 cm 3 of BDH universal
indicator solution is added. The test-tube is sealed with the bung and shaked vigorously to
allow contents to settle for 5 min. The colour of liquid in the test-tube is compared with the
colours on the BDH reference colour chart and read off the corresponding pH. The
experiment on soil samples from different areas is repeated.

Determination Of The Types Of Soil Organisms

An appreciable amount of soil from the collected soil sample was placed on the sieve of the
Tullgren funnel which was clamped to a retort stand. Then, a lamp was fixed above the soil
sample. The apparatus was left under the light for 24 hours. After that, the 4% formalin
solution was poured into the beaker and was placed under the Tullgren funnel to collect
whatever terrestrial organism that has escaped from the soil sample. The organisms were
then observed with a magnifying glass or a microscope. The organisms were identified and
drawn.

Determination of the density of plant species in a habitat

A field area to be studied was picked which is Forest Research Institute Malaysia. The area
under study was then determined. The plant species in the garden was collected and
examined. 10 plant species was then selected and determined. The plant species were named
and recorded in the table. The quadrat was picked at 10 random places. The occurrence of the
selected plants in the quadrat was marked (/) and the results were recorded in the table. The
length area of coverage of each species in the quadrat was estimated and recorded in the
table. Step 6 and 7 were repeated for quadrat 2 until quadrat 10. The percentage of relative
species coverage, relative density and relative frequency of each plant species were
determined.
 CHAPTER 4
Materials And Apparatus
4.1 SOIL SAMPALING TECHNIQUE
APPARATUS QUANTITY

Hammer 1

Metal cylinder and piston (to dig out soil) 1

Plastic bag (to preserve soil sample) 9

MATERIAL QUANTITY

Soil sample 500g

4.2 DETERMINATION OF THE TEXTURE OF SOIL

APPARATUS QUANTITY

500 cm3 measuring cylinder 1

MATERIAL QUANTITY

Soil sample 100 cm3

Water 300 cm3

4.3 DETERMINATION OF THE WATER CONTENT OF SOIL

APPARATUS QUANTITY

Aluminium foil pie dish 1

 Electronic balance 1

Oven 1

Desiccator 1

Tongs 1

Thermometer 1

MATERIAL QUANTITY

Soil sample 80g

4.4 DETERMINATION OF THE ORGANIC MATTER CONTENT OF SOIL

APPARATUS QUANTITY

Desiccator and lid 1

Crucible and lid 1

Tripod stand 1

Bunsen burner 1

Asbestos mat 1

Fireclay triangle tongs 1

MATERIAL QUANTITY

Dried soil sample (retained from experiment 4.3)

4.5 DETERMINATION OF AIR CONTENT OF SOIL

APPARATUS QUANTITY

Tin can of volume abut 200 cm3 1

500 cm3 beaker 1

Metal seeker 1
 Drill 1

100 cm3 measuring cylinder 1

MATERIAL QUANTITY

Water 1000 cm3

4.6 DETERMINATION OF SOIL pH

APPARATUS QUANTITY

Long test-tube 1

Test-tube rack 1

Spatula 1

10 cm3 pipette 1

MATERIAL QUANTITY

BDH Universal Indicator 5 cm3

Barium sulphate 1 cm3

Soil sample 1 cm3

4.7 DETERMINATION OF THE TYPES OF SOIL ORGANISMS

APPARATUS QUANTITY

Tullgren funnel 1

Retort stand and clamp 1

Beaker 3

Magnifying glass 1

Microscope 1
 Glass slide 3

MATERIAL QUANTITY

Alcohol 30 cm3

4.8 DETERMINATON OF THE DENSITY OF PLANT SPECIES IN A HABITAT

QUADRANT SAMPLING TECHNIQUE

APPARATUS QUANTITY

Quadrant measuring 1m2 1

CHAPTER 5
CONCLUSION
 Ecology concerns with the associations and interactions of the organisms and the
environment in general. The living place or dwelling place of an organism is called habitat.
Within a given habitat there exist variations or micro habitats. In a given habitat we can
observe physical environment (abiotic) and living organisms (biotic). There is
interdependence between organisms of a habitat.
The major habitats are the aquatic, terrestrial and arboreal. The organisms influence the
physical environment influences the organisms and their distribution in different habitats. The
abiotic components of an ecosystem are dividing int 2 types. Climatic, including temperature,
light, wind, gases, humidity, rain and water which include wave action and water currents and
edaphic factors including soil, substratum, topography, background minerals and pH. The
edaphic factors will affect the population of plants in the area of study.
The adaptations shown by organisms living in a given habitat such as aquatic, xeric or
mesic are unique and enable the organisms to live in that particular physical environment.
Each and every organism has a role to perform called niche. The types of soil in the area of
study through observation and collection of data will affect the distribution of plants
CHAPTER 6
Appendix
REFERENCE LINK

1. Lee Ching, J. Arunasalam, Longman, Pre-U Text STPM Biology Volume 2, PEARSON
MALAYSIA SDN. BHD.

2. http://www.eoearth.org/article/Ecology

3. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ecosystem

4. http://www.abheritage.ca/abnature/Ecosystems/intro.htm

5. http://regentsprep.org/regents/biology/units/ecology/biotic.cfm

6. http://www.water.rutgers.edu/Rain_Gardens/factsheet29.pdf

7. http://web1.msue.msu.edu/imp/modzz/00001813.html

8. http://www.landfood.ubc.ca/soil200/components/air.htm

9. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soil_pH

10. http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_types_of_organisms_are_found_in_soil

11. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Species_distribution

12. http://www.malaysiavacationguide.com/frim.html

13. http://www.expat.com.my/Forest%20Research%20Institute%20of%20Malaysia
%20FRIM.htm

14. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ecology
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