Advanced Higher/ A-Level Biology course notes. Concise notes covering the topic of field techniques for biologists. Notes are easy to follow, highlight key-points, and give supportive question examples where appropriate.
FIELD TECHNIQUES FOR BIOLOGISTS
1 a Health 31 Safety
HAZARD the SITUATION that could cause harm
RISK the LIKELIHOOD OF HARM arising from exposure to a hazard
RISK ASSESSMENT involves IDENTIFYING CONTROL MEASURES to minimise risk
Fieldwork may involve a wider range of hazards compared with working in the laboratory. Additional
hazards and risks associated with fieldwork include:
◦Difficult Terrain — how the land lies
◦Adverse Weather conditions — these can change quickly in the field
◦Isolation — areas where fieldwork is carried out can often be isolated
◦Tidal changes — these can change very quickly
◦Contact with harmful organisms — harm such as bites, scratches, poisoning and disease
infection may be caused by plants or animas.
Bukka AassetssaMutaNEt Oof FtELDW0RKm
Risk assessments should have a level of detail that is appropriate to the types of hazards and the size
of the risks. Risk assessments that are cluttered with minor concerns are not helpful as they are less
likely to be followed in practice.
A suitable and sufficient risk assessment:
◦Identifies significant foreseeable hazards associated with the field trip, including travel to and
from the location.
◦Evaluates the associated risks
(how likely)
◦Evaluates the severity of the hazards
(how harmful)
◦Identifies appropriate control measures
to reduce the level of risk or hazard
(control measures can include appropriate
equipment, clothing, footwear and means
of communication)
◦Records these safe work practices
, 1 b Sampling of Wild Organisms
Sampling is the gathering of data from part of a population. Sampling can eliminate the need to
measure and record every member of a population, as long as the sample selected is representative of
the variation in the population being studied.
In many studies, the sampling of wild organisms can be achieved through the use of observations, in
other cases, the organisms have to be captured and they may or may not to be released later,
depending on the type of study. Whatever the study design, the sampling must be carried out in a
manner that minimises any impact on the wild species and habitats.
MINIMISING THE IMPACT OF SAMPLING
In any scientific study, it is important that the
measurement method selected does not influence
the value of that measurement. In sampling, scientists
In particular it is essential
must consider whether the sample being measured will
to consider whether the samping
be affected by the sampling procedure and, if it is, involves a RARESPECIES or
whether that will have any impact on the results being VULNERABLE HABITATS that
gathered and any potential conclusions being made. If
are protected by legislation
sampling is invasive and involves the temporary or
permanent removal of individuals from a population, the
benefits of the study must outweigh any negative impact
of sampling.
Rare species are those that are found at low density or thosewhose total population
is small Vulnerable habitats are those that are easily damaged by human activities
Sampling in either of these cases may be illegal unless carried out under license
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