On Tuesday, we visited the Amersham Field Studies Centre to carry out our practical work for the Ecology topic in our Biology A-level. We learnt how to carry out systematic sampling, using point frame quadrats along a belt transect, and we also used random sampling with quadrats to compare the ground flora in a mature and young woodland to find out if there was a difference in the diversity of flora in the two woodlands. It was really interesting to learn how to identify various woodland plant species and their names from identification keys, another ecology skill, as well as using our data to calculate Simpson’s Diversity Index. We also particularly enjoyed (some of us more than others) carrying out mark, release and recapture of woodlice. This involved catching woodlice in the morning, marking them and releasing them back into the woodland before recapturing them later in the day to estimate the population size of woodlice in a specific area. Some of us had creative ways of catching woodlice like using chopsticks! We really enjoyed the day and all the different fieldwork activities especially in the shade of woodlands that helped us in the hot weather!

Maya and Matilda