stpm biology practical 20
TRANSCRIPT
Area to be studied: School Compound Members: Yap Yee Sheng
(910522145163) Tham Weng
Chen(910915145527) Muhammad Basrul
(910130145607) Chong Dik Tseng
(911109145703)
Objectives
Learning the basic principles of ecology through students’ own effort
Elements of ecosystem: biosis and abiosis Dynamic relationship of elements and flow of energy
through ecosystem Using the simple apparatus and instruments in
ecological studies Learning the methods of collecting and analyzing
ecological data Writing an ecological study report Inculcating nature loving attitude Inculcating good moral values such as cooperation,
independence, and self-confidence
Date: 11-12/11/09 Period: 2 day Activity: Soil Analysis
soil sampling determination of the texture of soil determination of water content of soil determination of organic matter content determination of air content in soil determination of soil pH
Date: 17-20/11/09 Period: 3 days Activity: Determination of the density
of plant species in a habitat quadrat sampling technique sampling technique using line transect
1. Soil Sampling Technique
PS: How to obtain soil? Apparatus:
Metal cylinder Piston
Procedure:a) Press the metal cylinder into the soil.b) Using the piston, remove the soil sample
from the cylinder.
2. Determination of the texture of the soil
PS: How is the texture of the soil. Apparatus:
› 500cm3 measuring cylinder› 100cm3 soil sample› 300cm3 water
Procedurea) Add the soil sample to the measuring cylinder and cover with
water.b) Shake the contents vigorously.c) Allow the mixture to settle out, according to the density and the
surface area of particles, for 48 hours.d) Measure the volume of various fractions of soil sample.e) f) Results Formula:g) Calculate the percentage of stone, sand, and clay components of
the soil sample.
3. Determination of water content of soil
PS: What is the percentage of water content of soil? Apparatus:
› Aluminium foil pie dish› balance› oven› desiccators› tongs› thermometer
Procedure:a) Weigh an aluminium foil pie dish while still empty. Record the mass (a)b) Add the broken-up soil sample to the pie dish and weigh. Record the mass (b)c) Place the pie dish containing the soil sample in the oven at 110°C for 24 hours.d) Remove the sample from the oven and cool in the desiccator.e) Weigh the sample when cool, and record the mass.f) Return the sample to the oven at 110°C for a further 24 hours.g) Repeat stages (d) and (e) until consistent weighing is recorded (constant mass).
Record the mass (c).h) Calculate the percentage water content as follows:i) Retain the soil sample in the desiccator for experiment 4.
4. Determination of organic matter content
PS: What is the organic matter content of the soil? Apparatus and Material:
› Desiccators and lid› Tripod› Bunsen Burner› Asbestos mat› Fireclay triangle tongs› Dried soil sample
Procedure:a) Heat the crucible and lid strongly in the Bunsen Flame to remove all traces of moisture.
Place in desiccator to cool. Weigh and record the mass (a)b) Add the dried soil sample (kept from the previous experiment) from the desiccators
and weigh. Record the mass (b)c) Heat the soil sample in the crucible, covered with the lid, to red-heat for 1 hour to burn
off all the organic matter. Allow to cool for 10 minutes and remove to the desiccators.d) Weigh the crucible and sample when cool.e) Repeat (c) and (d) until constant mass is recorded.f) Calculate the percentage of organic content as follow:g) Repeat the experiment on soil sample taken from different areas to demonstrate
variation of organic content.
5. Determination of air content in soil
PS: What is the percentage of air content in soil? Apparatus:
› tin can of volume about 200cm3
› 500cm3 beaker› Metal seeker› Water
Procedure:a) Place the empty can open end uppermost into the 500cm3 beaker and fill the beaker
with water above the level of the can. Mark the water level in the beaker.b) Carefully remove the can containing the water and measure this volume of water in a
measuring cylinder. Record the volume (a). The water level in the beaker will fall by the amount corresponding with the volume of water in the can.
c) Perforate the base of the can using a drill, making about eight small holes.d) Push open the end of the can into the soil from which surface vegetation has been
removed until the soil begins to come through the perforations. Gently dig out the can, turn it over and remove the soil from the surface until it is level with the top of can.
e) Place the can of soil, with open end uppermost, gently back into the beaker of water and loosen soil in the can with the seeker to allow air to escape.
f) 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.
g) Add water to the beaker from a full 100cm3 measuring cylinder until the original level is restored. Record the volume of water added (b).
h) The percentage of air content of the soil sample can be determined as follows:i) Repeat the experiment on soil samples from different areas.
6. Determination of soil pH
PS: What is the pH of the Soil? Apparatus
› long test-tube› test-tube rack› spatula› 100cm3 pipette› Universal indicator
Procedure: a) Add about 1cm3 of soil to the test-tube and 1cm of barium sulphate, which ensures
flocculation of the colloidal clay.b) Add 10cm3 of distilled water and 5cm3 of BDH universal indicator solution. Seal the
test-tube with the bung. Shake vigorously and allow contents to settle for 5 minutes.
c) Compare the colour of liquid in the test tube with the colours on the BDH reference colour chart and read off the corresponding pH.
d) Repeat the experiment on soil samples from different areas. Results:
› State the pH value of the soil.
Apparatus and materials:› Tullgren funnel› Retort stand› Beakers› Magnifying glass› Microscope, glass slide› Baermann funnel› 4% formalin solution
Results:a) List down the types of animals such as Nematoda,
Annelida, Myriapoda, Insecta, Mollusca, and Amoeba.b) State the name of the above animals and draw the
appearance of the animals.
Determination of the density of plant species in a habitat
PS: What is the density of plant species in a habitat?
1. Quadrat sampling technique
Apparatus:› Quadrats measuring 1m2
Procedure:a) Systematic sampling procedure –
quadrats are placed at the same intervals along transects which runs across the investigated area at the same intervals.
b) Random sampling procedure – using random number table
Results:› Student’s name: ___________________› Date:___________________› Habitat: __________________________› Location/Place: ____________________› Type of plant: ______________________› Quadrat size: ______________________
Table of the data for the measurements of each species cover in quadrat sampling
No. Species cover (base/air) in quadrat Total species cover for 10 quadrats
Percentage Cover (%)1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
12345678910
2. Sampling method using line transect
Apparatus:› Rope (15.30 meters)
Procedure:a) Determine a base line along the border of the area
under the investigation.b) Choose a series of points along the base line either
randomly or systematically. These points are used as the starting points for the transects to run across the area being investigated.
c) Record only the plants which touch the line as seen vertically above or below the transect line.
d) 10 – 20 lines are placed randomly in the area to provide enough samples to investigate the community.
Results:› Student’s name: ___________________ › Date: _________________› Habitat: __________________________› Location/Place: ____________________
Type of plant: _____________________› Distance of each interval: ____________› Total number of intervals: ___________› Total length of line transect: __________
Calculate the frequency of a species using the following formula:
Calculate % of surface area cover of each species
Calculate the relative species cover
Summary of the measurements obtained by the line transect technique
No. Name of Species Number of intervals where the species are recorded.
Percentage cover
Relative cover
Frequency
12345678
3. Sampling method using Belt transect
Apparatus:› Strip of 0.5 width
Procedure:› Run the strip trough the habitat by setting
up two line transects.