Using Quadrats

• What is distribution?

  Where in a habitat an organism is found
• The distribution of organisms is affected by environmental factors
• What 2 ways are there to study the distribution of an organism?

  • Measure how common an organism is in 2 sample areas and compare them
  • Study how distribution changes in an area
• What is the term for numerical data?

  Quantitative
• What is a Quadrat?

  A square frame enclosing a known area
• How to measure distribution using quadrats:

  • Place a quadrat at a random point within the first sample area
  • Count all the organisms within the quadrat
  • Repeat steps 1 and 2 as many times as you can
  • Work out the mean number of organisms per quadrat in the first sample area
  • Repeat steps 1 to 4 in the second sample area
  • Compare the 2 means