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Lab Report

Umut Deniz Ceylan conducted a study to estimate the population size and density of dandelions around Barton Hall on an RC campus. Samples were taken using 1m2 quadrats in 8 randomly selected locations. The average number of dandelions per quadrat was calculated to be 18.625. Using this average and the total area sampled, the total dandelion population was estimated to be 5971. Previous years' data on dandelion counts per quadrat showed fluctuations that align with the population patterns of r-selected species adapted to unstable environments.

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282 views

Lab Report

Umut Deniz Ceylan conducted a study to estimate the population size and density of dandelions around Barton Hall on an RC campus. Samples were taken using 1m2 quadrats in 8 randomly selected locations. The average number of dandelions per quadrat was calculated to be 18.625. Using this average and the total area sampled, the total dandelion population was estimated to be 5971. Previous years' data on dandelion counts per quadrat showed fluctuations that align with the population patterns of r-selected species adapted to unstable environments.

Uploaded by

denois95
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Umut Deniz Ceylan Advanced Biology 03 Ms.

Almas Lab report: Estimating the population size and density Introduction:

26.09.2011

In this activity, we estimate the population size and density of dandelion (karahindiba) Taraxacum officinale around Barton Hall on RC campus.

A flowering dandelion Materials: 1m2 quadrats Paper, pencil, marker Tape measure (5 meters) Calculator

A dandelion clock

Procedure: With fixed, stationary organism such as trees or barnacles, it is possible to count the individuals in an area if the area is small. However, if we need to estimate the number of trees in a 100 hectare forest or of barnacles on a rocky shore, it is only necessary to count several sample area. From the numbers in the sample areas you can estimate the total number or we can work out the average population density of the trees per hectare or barnacles per square meter. We will follow the following procedure: 1. Define and measure the whole area (A) in which the population is to be estimated. 2. Choose a small sampling unit (area a). This is an area in which you expect to be able to see and count all individuals. We will use a quadrat which is a rectangle with an area of 1 square meter as our sampling unit.

3. Choose a sample size (n). This is the number of quadrats that you will select in area A. The selection of quadrats must either be random (if you can select a lot of quadrats) or representative (if you are restricted to only a few). Since you are a small section and you will work in pairs, the highest number of quadrats we can use is 8 so it will be representative. 4. Count the number of individuals in each quadrat. 5. Find the average number of individuals per quadrat. To do this, divide the total number of individuals by the number of quadrats. 6. Calculate the estimated number of individuals (N) in the whole area, as follows: Total population = Average number per quadrat Total area/Area of quadrat. Calculation: By taking the equation Total population = Average number per quadrat Total area/Area of quadrat as a base we will find the total number of the dandelions. Average number of dandelions per quadrat was (33+23+13+10+11+11+23+25)/8=18.625, total area was 86.19+96.06+145.8-(1.72+0.59+0.7155+0.8152+0.8934+0.583+0.4415+1.6845)=320.6069 m2 and the area of one quadrat was 1m2. The total population we got was 18.625320.6069/1=5971. Discussion: Quadrat (1 m2 ) number 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Number of dandelions (year 2007) 42 42 25 38 29 38 10 5 18 Number of dandelions (year 2008) 3 4 6 5 2 8 9 7 10 Number of dandelions (year 2009) 21 21 27 27 32 34 21 5 12 Number of dandelions (year 2010) 5 8 10 17 33 17 19 13 9

The number of dandelions per quadrants across the years is seen above. When we compare the results we got to the previous years ones, we can see that the size of the population has been continuously fluctuating. The highest numbers were recorded in 2007 with the following year showing a steep drop in the number of dandelions. The year after that there is a great

increase in the number of dandelions and the year after that it decreases noticeably once again with the average number of dandelions per quadrats becoming 14.55. We see with our calculations that even though the increase is more slight the number of dandelions once again increased to 18.625 per quadrant, following the fluctuating pattern. These patterns match closely with those of r-selection species with their inhabitation of fluctuating environments, rapid development and great number of offspring since they are able to make big changes in the size of the population in a relatively short time.

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