Topic 2.

7
Measurin
g
Changes

Students will be able to:

-Describe and evaluate methods for measuring changes in abiotic and biotic components of and
ecosystem along and environmental gradient.
-Describe and evaluate methods for measuring changes in abiotic and biotic components of and
ecosystem due to a specific human activity.-Describe and evaluate the use of environmental impact assessments (EPAs).

ng and evaluation changes along an environmental gr

Environmental Gradient = change in one or more abiotic or biotic
component across a particular area. These are usually found at the edge
of ecosystems.

Gradient = an increase or decrease in the magnitude of a property (e.g.,

temperature, pressure, or concentration) observed in passing from one

Topic 2.7
Measurin
g
Changes

Students will be able to:

-Describe and evaluate methods for measuring changes in abiotic and biotic components of and
ecosystem along and environmental gradient.
-Describe and evaluate methods for measuring changes in abiotic and biotic components of and
ecosystem due to a specific human activity.-Describe and evaluate the use of environmental impact assessments (EPAs).

Line Transects and Belt Transects are used to measure Environmental

Gradients

Topic 2.7
Measurin
g
Changes

Students will be able to:

-Describe and evaluate methods for measuring changes in abiotic and biotic components of and
ecosystem along and environmental gradient.
-Describe and evaluate methods for measuring changes in abiotic and biotic components of and
ecosystem due to a specific human activity.-Describe and evaluate the use of environmental impact assessments (EPAs).

Line Transects and Belt Transects are used to measure Environmental

Gradients

Topic 2.7
Measurin
g
Changes

Students will be able to:

-Describe and evaluate methods for measuring changes in abiotic and biotic components of and
ecosystem along and environmental gradient.
-Describe and evaluate methods for measuring changes in abiotic and biotic components of and
ecosystem due to a specific human activity.-Describe and evaluate the use of environmental impact assessments (EPAs).

Line Transects and Belt Transects are used to measure Environmental

Gradients

Topic 2.7
Measurin
g
Changes

Students will be able to:

-Describe and evaluate methods for measuring changes in abiotic and biotic components of and
ecosystem along and environmental gradient.
-Describe and evaluate methods for measuring changes in abiotic and biotic components of and
ecosystem due to a specific human activity.-Describe and evaluate the use of environmental impact assessments (EPAs).

Line Transect / Belt Transects

- A rope or measuring tape is extended from a fixed
procedure
point along
the length of the environmental gradient.

- All the organisms touching this line or a suitable

places along the
line are counted, recorded and their position noted

- Measurements of factors of interest such as

temperature,
humidity, pH, light intensity or other abiotic factors
are taken at

Topic 2.7
Measurin
g
Changes

Students will be able to:

-Describe and evaluate methods for measuring changes in abiotic and biotic components of and
ecosystem along and environmental gradient.
-Describe and evaluate methods for measuring changes in abiotic and biotic components of and
ecosystem due to a specific human activity.-Describe and evaluate the use of environmental impact assessments (EPAs).

Environmental Impact Assessments

EIAs are reports generated before a large scale project to assess the
positive and negative effects of the project.

Topic 2.7
Measurin
g
Changes

Students will be able to:

-Describe and evaluate methods for measuring changes in abiotic and biotic components of and
ecosystem along and environmental gradient.
-Describe and evaluate methods for measuring changes in abiotic and biotic components of and
ecosystem due to a specific human activity.-Describe and evaluate the use of environmental impact assessments (EPAs).

EIAs should include

- A baseline study to record the current situation
- A report to assess the potential impact of the project
- Prediction of the importance of the likely impacts
- Consideration of how the effects can be limited to
reasonable
levels.
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