Ecobeaker: Prairie Sampling

 
Review:
 
  1. Read Background in workbook.
  2. Start EcoBeaker on computer.
  3. Load Prairie Sampling.
  4. 50m x 50m Prairie Study Area with Prairie Dock (population size = 230).
  5. Take sample using 10m x 10m quadrat.
  6. How many plants are in your sample? (10)
  7. What is your scaling factor? (50 * 50) / (10 * 10) = 2500 / 100 = 25. (sampling effort = 100)
  8. Record data in table.
     Trial 1Trial 2Trial 3Trial 4Trial 5 Trial 6Trial 7Trial 8Trial 9Trial 10
    Number Sampled 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10
    Scaling Factor 25 25 25 25 25 25 25 25 25 25
    Population Estimate 250 250 250 250 250 250 250 250 250 250
  9. Run 10 trials.
  10. Sampling Parameters -> increase number of quadrants to 5 - Set.
  11. New scaling factor 2500 / 500 = 5. (sampling effort = 500)
     Trial 1Trial 2Trial 3Trial 4Trial 5 Trial 6Trial 7Trial 8Trial 9Trial 10
    Number Sampled 43 43 43 43 43 43 43 43 43 43
    Scaling Factor 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5
    Population Estimate 215 215 215 215 215 215 215 215 215 215
  12. Sampling Parameters -> increase number of quadrants to 10 - Set. New scaling factor 2500 / 1000 = 2.5. (sampling effort = 1000)
     Trial 1Trial 2Trial 3Trial 4Trial 5 Trial 6Trial 7Trial 8Trial 9Trial 10
    Number Sampled 88 88 88 88 88 88 88 88 88 88
    Scaling Factor 2.5 2.5 2.5 2.5 2.5 2.5 2.5 2.5 2.5 2.5
    Population Estimate 220 220 220 220 220 220 220 220 220 220
  13. Graph Population Estimate vs. Sampling Effort' compare with actual population size.
  14. Briefly describe the relationship between sampling effort and variability in population size estimate. Larger sampling effort should yields less variability and better estimate of population size.
  15. Now try patchy distribution. Markers -> Three Species: big bluestem, butterflyweed, prairie phlox.
  16. Population Sizes: 80 each, but random, patchy, even distribution.
  17. Prairie Study Area:
    Random: butterflyweed
    Patchy: prairie phlox
    Even: big bluestem
     
  18. Repeat quadrants for all 3 species.