4.3 - Measuring Populations and Biodiversity

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What is Random Sampling?

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A technique used to select a subset of individuals from a population in such a way that every individual has an equal chance of being chosen, which helps to eliminate observer bias.

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What does Simpson's Index measure?

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A measure of biodiversity that accounts for both species richness and evenness, providing a value that indicates the likelihood of two individuals randomly selected from a sample belonging to the same species.

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How is biodiversity defined?

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The variety of life in a particular habitat or ecosystem, including the number of species, their relative abundance, and the genetic diversity within those species.

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What is the Lincoln Index used for?

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A method for estimating the population size of mobile organisms by capturing a sample, marking them, and then recapturing another sample to see how many marked individuals are present.

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What is Quadrat Sampling?

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A technique used to study the distribution of organisms in a specific area by dividing the area into smaller sections (quadrats) and counting the number of individuals within those sections.

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What is Transect Sampling?

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A method used to study the distribution of organisms along a linear path, where data is collected at regular intervals along the transect line.

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What is species richness?

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The number of different species present in a given area or ecosystem.

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What is species evenness?

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A measure of how equal the abundances of different species are in a community, indicating the distribution of individuals among the species.

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Why is it important to account for observer bias in ecological studies?

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Observer bias can lead to inaccurate data collection and analysis, affecting the reliability of the study's conclusions.

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What is the significance of biodiversity in ecosystems?

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Biodiversity contributes to ecosystem resilience, productivity, and stability, providing essential services such as pollination, nutrient cycling, and habitat provision.