GCSE Biology Required Practical: Measuring Population in a Habitat

Key Stage 4

Meaning

Estimate the size of a population of a species within a habitat using sampling techniques and investigate a factor affecting population size.

Method

Investigate the population of a species within a habitat using random sampling.

1. Gently throw a quadrat to fall in a random position on a field of grass.
2. Count the number of daisies within the quadrat.
3. Repeat steps 1 and 2 ten times.
4. Calculate the mean number of daisies.
5. Use the following equation to estimate the number of daisies in the field:

Estimated population = \(\tfrac{area sampled}{total area}\) x number of daisies