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Quadrat sampling experiment 1.0 Introduction 1.1 Background The experiment is done during the 4th week of classes. We did the quadrat sampling with hopes we can find out some information about populations in our college here,Mara Banting College. To give enligtenment, “A quadrat is a small, typically rectangular plot used in ecology and geography to isolate a standard unit of area for study of the distribution of an item over a large area. The quadrat is suitable for sampling plants, slow-moving animals (such as millipedes and insects), and some aquatic organisms”i. But in our experiment, we only focus on two species of plant, which is Mimosa Pudica sp. Or known usually in Malaysia as “Pokok Semalu” due to it’s shy and unique characteristics And a common cowgrass in Malaysia, or scientifically known as Axonopus compressus. 1.2 Aim To investigate the relationship between the number of populations of Mimosa Pudica sp. And Axonopus compressus in a specific habitat, in Mara Banting College that grows near one to another.   

1.3 Objective To find out the average populations of both species in a specific habitat To observe without specifically analyzing the optimum conditions of the two species to grow in a good manner. To 1.4 Hypothesis

The number of populations for Mimosa Pudica sp. Is less than the population of Axonopus compressus due to lesser space and type of soil that is suitable for the growth of the Mimosa Pudica sp. 2.0 Methodology 2.1 Variables Types of Variables 2.1.1 Independent Variables

2.1.2 Dependent Variables

2.1.3 Controlled Variables

Variables  Number of species found in each quadrats through line transect method  The population calculated found in the habitat from the quadrats through abundace of species -Percentage Coverage -Density -Frequency  The site the experiment was done  The type of species of plant that is observed  The size of the quadrat that is used throughout the experimetn (1m2)

Method to Control Variables  The number of species found in the sites during experiment 

Simple quadrat Sampling method is used to measure the species involved in the experiment

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A specific site is chose,college field Two Species of plant is chosen, Mimosa Pudica sp. as Axonopus compressus. A quadrat with a size of 1m2 is fixed A 30 Metre tape is used,but fixed to

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The distance between one quadrat to another (1m) Line Transect method,that is used throughout the experiment

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1 metre from one quadrat to another The method that is kept constant

2.2 Apparatus & Materials Apparatus and Materials Quadrat to measure the population of species in a particular place 30 metre Tape to apply the line transect method

Units of Measurement 1 metre x 1 metre Metre(m)

2.3 Procedure 1. The quadrat frame is thrown at an open site 2. A line transect is carried out by unrolling the transect line along the gradient identified for 1 metre from one quadrat to another 3. The species touching the line may be recorded along the whole length of the line (continuous sampling). 4. Alternatively, the presence, or absence of species at each marked point is recorded (systematic sampling). 5. If the slope along the transect line is measured as well, the results can then be inserted onto this profile. 6. The line interval, the distance of one quadrat to next, is set, which is 1 metre 7. Step 1 to 5 is repeated until 5th result is obtained Step 2 to 5, is paraphrase from a reliable internet sourceii about line transect method 3.0 Results

3.1 Raw Data Species 1 Mimosa 0.24 pudica sp. Axonopus compressus

0.76

2 0.16 0.70

Quadrat 3 0.07 0.93

4 0.02

5 0.04

Total area covered (m2)) 0.53

0.98

0.78

4.15

Data 1 : Total area covered by the species Species Mimosa pudica sp. Axonopus compressus

1 10 152

2 6 140

Quadrat 3 4 200

4 2 200

5 3 144

Data 2 : Total number of individual species

Total number of individual 25 836

Species

Mimosa pudica sp. Axonopus compressus

1

2

Quadrat 3

X X

X X

X X

4

5

X X

X X

Total number of quadrats which the species found 5 5

Data 3 : Frequency of the species The table of the data collected from the experiment 3.2 Data evaluation table Quadrant Sampling number Mimosa Pudica Sp. ,m2/ % 1 0.24 2 0.16 3 0.07 4 0.02 5 0.04 Total Average 0.11 *The value is obtained through the process of data in Data 1 above

Axonopus compressus ,m2/ % 0.76 0.70 0.93 0.98 0.78 0.83

Diagram 1.0

3.3 Analysis

Average percentage of growth Mimusa Pudica Sp.

Grass

6% 11%

83%

Others

From the pie chart above we can see that the growth of Axonopus compressus is much more than the species of Mimosa Pudica sp. And other species of plant. We can observe ourself that the Axonopus compressus exist everywhere in this planet. Axonopus compressus occupied almost 83% of the place, we did our experiment on to. Meanwhile, Mimosa Pudica sp. Only occupied averaging, 11% out of the total of 5 quadrats we did our experiment in the backyard of Mara Banting College. This is due to the fact that Axonopus compressus grows easily. Paraphrased from a websiteiii, it mentioned that “The Axonopus compressus are very hardy and quick growing type of plant. They can die off if there is no rain and then grow back the next winter when there is rain”. Therefore it is undeniable that the average population of Axonopus compressus from the experiment obtained, is much more than the average population of Mimosa Pudica sp. 4.0 Evaluation Limitations My group become a little bit biased to see first, which place has the higher population of Axonopus compressus and Mimosa Pudica sp. Before we started our experiment firsthand The quadrat frame is made using a few steels and connected by using nut and screw only. This makes the frame less firm and did not have a “perfect square” shape when thrown The limited time given to finish up the experiment restricted us to go much more details about the population of the species The site only cover minority of the field,not all of them The species that is involved in this experiment is not specific

Suggestions to overcome The easiest resolution is by asking other groups to help us and throw the quadrat frame randomly A much more solid quadrat frame is used to have a good square shape

A longer time is given so that the result of the experiment obtained can be more details. A smaller group is form, and spreaded across the field,thus a much more accurate result is obtained from that. Only one specific species is chosen to be involved in future experiment

5.0 Conclusion Our experiment can be considered as a successful experiment.I would say this due to the value and percentage that we obtained (refer diagram Diagram 1.0), represent what we see from our naked eyes and general view. Therefore, this is the reason why i would say the statistics and general knowledge speaks for itself, that we obtained a good result from our experiment. Although the experimental value and percentage seems realistic, but we can obtained more accurate result if, like i mentioned in 4.0, that if we did not become a little biased, we might obtained a more accurate result. Therefore, if we become more strict, we might obtained a more accurate result. Hence, our hypothesis is supported by our result mentioned above.

i

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quadrat http://www.countrysideinfo.co.uk/3howto.htm#SYSTEMATIC SAMPLING iii http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Axonopus compressus ii