Day 4
AT HOME
Finish Parking Lot Diversity if you were unable to complete it in class.
Using Simpson's Diversity Index, compare Sites A and B from our meadows we analyzed last class. The data for each quadrat can be accessed below.
Using Simpson's Diversity Index, compare Sites A and B from our meadows we analyzed last class. The data for each quadrat can be accessed below.
IN CLASS
Measuring Biomass
Methods for estimating the biomass and energy of trophic levels in a community include measurement of dry mass, controlled combustion and extrapolation from samples. Data from these methods can be used to construct ecological pyramids.
Dry weight measurements of quantitative samples could be extrapolated to estimate total biomass. Biomass is calculated to indicate the total energy within in a living being or trophic level. The greater the mass of the living material the greater the amount of energy present.
Biomass - The mass of organic matter present in organisms or ecosystems, usually per unit area.It is taken as the mass of an organism minus the water content (dry weight biomass). This is because water varies from organism to organism. Additionally, it has no energy nor is it organic. To obtaining dry weight biomass, the sample is heated at a temperature (80 degrees C) which is hot enough to evaporate the water, but not hot enough to burn tissue. This is left for a specific period of time and re-weighed. The process is then repeated until no further weight loss is recorded. Biomass is usually represented per unit area so that comparisons can be made between trophic levels. Dry-weight measurements can be extrapolated to estimate total biomass.
Methods for estimating the biomass and energy of trophic levels in a community include measurement of dry mass, controlled combustion and extrapolation from samples. Data from these methods can be used to construct ecological pyramids.
Dry weight measurements of quantitative samples could be extrapolated to estimate total biomass. Biomass is calculated to indicate the total energy within in a living being or trophic level. The greater the mass of the living material the greater the amount of energy present.
Biomass - The mass of organic matter present in organisms or ecosystems, usually per unit area.It is taken as the mass of an organism minus the water content (dry weight biomass). This is because water varies from organism to organism. Additionally, it has no energy nor is it organic. To obtaining dry weight biomass, the sample is heated at a temperature (80 degrees C) which is hot enough to evaporate the water, but not hot enough to burn tissue. This is left for a specific period of time and re-weighed. The process is then repeated until no further weight loss is recorded. Biomass is usually represented per unit area so that comparisons can be made between trophic levels. Dry-weight measurements can be extrapolated to estimate total biomass.