Ecology Field Work

My Lockdown Habitat
Junior Science
 Ecology
• Ecology is the study of the
relationships of living things with
one another and their
environment.

• A habitat is a place where a

plant or animal lives, e.g.
woodland or rocky seashore.
• The study of a local habitat is
called
Field work.
 Studying a Lockdown Habitat
The study of a habitat involves the following:
1. Take an image or make a map of the habitat.
2. Observe, measure and record the physical
factors
3. Make a collection of plants and animals, using
suitable methods and pieces of equipment.
4. Identify the plants and animals.
5. Carry out quantitative sampling methods of the
plants and animals.
 Making a Map
• Your study should
contain a simple map
showing the main
features of the habitat.
i.e. walls, fences, trees,
hedges.
• Photographs can be
taken as well.
 Measuring the Physical Environment

• The non-living features are also called abiotic

features and include:
– TEMPERATURE
- of the AIR, WATER and SOIL
– HUMIDITY
– LIGHT INTENSITY
– SOIL pH
– WIND Direction

Note: Go to the Weather app on you phone

- it can provide with all the above information
 Identifying Organisms
• Organisms form the BIOTIC (living)
component of a habitat.
• Organisms can be
identified by using a
suitable identification key.
• In general plant and
animals should not be
removed from a habitat,
• Take some photographs or if too tricky
find some suitable images on line.
 Some Woodland Plants

Herb Robert Primrose Plantain

Dog Violet Dandelion Bluebell

 Some Woodland Plants

Wild Garlic Wood Anemone Yarrow

Hogweed

Cow slip Goose Grass

 Some Trees

Horse chestnut Sycamore

Pine (many
species)

Oak Beech
 Photographing Animals
Pooter

• There are many different way to catch

invertebrates. Pitfall Trap
• But we want you to try and get some
photos instead.
• If you find this too trick perhaps find
Sweep Net
some images of the insects you would
normally find in your habitat.

Butterfly Net
 Some Birds

Robin
Starlings Magpie

Hooded Crow Black Crow Blue Tit

 Some Invertebrates

Slug
Bees Woodlice

Spiders Worms Beetles

 Some vertebrates

Squirrels Fox Badger

Mice Rat Deer

 My Lockdown Habitat
• Create a slide show of you habitat
• Outline the abiotic factors
• Include information about the biotic
factors (plants, trees and animals)
• Any interactions, adaptations or
interdependcies.
• Any interesting facts