STEP 3a: Plot Your Data
Your final step will be to graph your data so that you
can see trends over time in the relative abundance of the three organisms
in the quadrat. Relative abundance is the number of individuals of a
species compared to the abundance of all the other species. Your graphs
will look similar to those that marine ecologists make after actually
measuring the amount of cover.
Graphs
for Plotting -
Open and print
timeline graphs (pdf, 136Kb). You'll plot your data from the table
on these graphs.
Glossary Express
Abundance—the total number of individuals
of a species present in an area.
Cover—referring to the amount of plants or other organisms
that are occupying the ground, a rock or other surface.
Ecology—the study of the
relationship among organisms and between organisms (the biological environment)
and their physical environment.
Relative Abundance—the proportion or numbers
of a species compared to the total number of individuals of all the species
in the community or sample.
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