Measuring the size and distribution of populations of organisms
I can describe how to identify species, estimate the population size of a species and how to investigate the effect of a factor on the distribution of this species.
Measuring the size and distribution of populations of organisms
I can describe how to identify species, estimate the population size of a species and how to investigate the effect of a factor on the distribution of this species.
These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- Keys can be used to identify organisms in their habitat.
- It is not possible to count all the organisms in a population, so we use sampling to estimate population size.
- Sampling organisms in habitats (e.g. a river using kick sampling and a net).
- Sampling animals using a pooter.
- Estimating populations using capture-mark-recapture.
Keywords
Classification key - A classification key is a series of questions about the features of organisms that help us to classify them correctly.
Population - A group of organisms of the same type in the same place is called a population.
Estimate - Estimate means to give an approximate value, for example, you can estimate the population of fish in a lake by sampling.
Sampling - Sampling is a survey of plants and/or animals which provides information about the populations of organisms.
Common misconception
Many pupils believe that in order to determine a population size within a habitat, all organisms within a habitat have to be counted.
Populations can be estimated using sampling techniques. As long as a sample size is large enough, it will provide a reliable estimate of the population size. Pupils should understand that counting all individuals in a habitat is very difficult to do.
Licence
This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).
Lesson video
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Starter quiz
6 Questions
a feature that helps an organism to survive in a habitat
when the person carrying out an investigation affects the outcome
the range of different living organisms (species) that live in a place
the mass of living material in one or more organisms
Exit quiz
6 Questions
