Biology Design Lab

[IBfuxed]

Hey,

So with this biology design lab, our teacher left us this for info:

Design and carry out an investigation into the effect of an abiotic factor on the distribution of a population.

Assessment: D, DCP, CE

Literally, thats all the instructions he gave us, and i really don't get this. Can anybody explain it better, and give some advice, or something? :/

Thanks

[x___x]

Have you by any chance taken the ecology & conservation option (option G)? If yes, this would be really helpful.

Among the assessment statements of that option, there is a statement that goes like: "Explain the factors that affect the distribution of animal species including temperature, water, breeding sites, food supply and territory." There is also another one about the factors affecting the distribution of plants: "Outline the factors that affect the distribution of plant species including temperature, water, light, soil pH, salinity, and mineral nutrients."

So, you can take a certain named species from any kingdom (the easiest to be studied are from animals and plants kingdoms) and see the effect of one carefully chosen abiotic factor. Abiotic factors can be temperature, water availability, ... etc. You can choose the factor you like from the assessment statement !

As for measuring the actual distribution, you might want to try the quadrat sampling method, or you can even try the capture-mark-release-recapture method in different areas and then compare the size of this species in those different areas.

and don't worry, for a design lab, the teacher is not allowed to give you anything more than that. It might not be pleasant for us students, but from the teacher's perspective, they see that a broad research topic gives the students the chance to be creative in developing their own research questions. At least that's what they say

Hope this helps.

Edited July 26, 2010 by x___x

[guibu]

Ya, for example I was asked to do a design lab and all the reacher told us was: Lung capacity