How Big is My Population?

Name: Joanna Asuelo

Go to: http://mathbench.umd.edu/modules/env-science_sampling/page01.htm 1: Counting Big Populations: How do scientists estimate the size of a large population? They take random samples. 2: Sampling on a grid: To count the dandelions, we'll first create a grid, then use the computer's random number generator to tell us which grid squares to count. We'll do this 10 times, because, as you'll see, the counts in the different grid squares will vary a lot. After you count 10 squares, you'll use the average number per square to estimate the population of the entire lawn. How many dandelions are there on the grid? 100 3: Scaling it Up: What does it mean that we scaled it up? To multiply the average number of a sample square by the number of total squares in an area. 4: Keeping it Random: Why is it important to randomly select segments to count? It is important to be random because you can have experimenters bias and not have an equal chance of being selected. 5: When Size Matters: What is the simpliest way to determine the appropriate sample size? The simpliest way is to graph a running average from the samples. 6: Bare Bones Sampling: What is the difference between measuring abundance versus Presence/absence? Measuring abundance is the actual numbe of individuals that are being measured. This method takes a very long time. Presence/absence is when the organisms are harder to count, so you sample many small areas/points and record whether there were the organisms. 7: Collecting P/A Data: Counting Moss.. How do we estimate sample size? We estimate a sample size by randomly picking many points to sample. 8: Impervious Surface: How do we estimate impervious surface? Explain. We estimate impervious surface by using points on the ground that prevents rainwater from naturally soaking. 9: Getting Fancy: What are the steps for conducting a simple transect? 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Randomly select a starting point. Randomly choose a direction Lay out a transect Determine where along the transect you will collect your sample data Lay out a sample frame

10: Try a Transect:

Summary: Explain what you learned by doing this activity. I learned random sampling is sometimes more complicated. They are just sometimes points, especially in concrete jungles. Random sampling must be random or else it will not be very accurate data. To use transect sampling, there are five steps that you can use a year later.