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Leaving Cert Biology: Ecology field study

How often Ecology field study comes up on the Biology papers, every year it was asked, and questions to try.

HL Asked on 7 of the last 10 Higher Level papers, most recently in 2025. most years

OL Asked on 7 of the last 10 Ordinary Level papers, most recently in 2024. most years

June 2027 is the first exam on the new Biology course. These come from the 2016–2026 papers, so read them as a guide.

Ecology field study, Higher Level(6 marks)

Quick ones on Ecology field study.

(a)Device used to suck small insects into a container?
  1. Pitfall trap
  2. Pooter
  3. Tullgren funnel
(b)Apparatus that uses heat and light to extract soil animals?
  1. Beating tray
  2. Pooter
  3. Tullgren funnel
(c)Capture-recapture: 40 marked, 50 caught, 10 marked. Population?
  1. 200
  2. 2000
  3. 100
Show the answers

(a) Pooter

(b) Tullgren funnel

(c) 200

Your turn: Higher Level questions on Ecology field study.

Higher Level

Asked on 7 of the last 10 Higher Level papers, most recently in 2025. most years

Every paper, year by year

YearWhere it came up
2026Not asked
2025Q8
2024Not asked
2023Q8
2022Not asked
2021Q11
2019Q10
2018Q10
2017Q7
2016Q10

Links open the State Examinations Commission’s paper for that year.

More Ecology field study questions

Ecology field study, 2 marks

Species found in 6 of 20 quadrats. Frequency?

  1. 6%
  2. 60%
  3. 30%
Show the answer

30%

Frequency = (quadrats with the species ÷ total quadrats) × 100 = 6/20 × 100 = 30%. It shows how often it occurs, not how much ground it covers.

Ecology field study, 2 marks

Point frames: a plant is hit by 12 of 50 pins. Percentage cover?

  1. 50%
  2. 24%
  3. 12%
Show the answer

24%

Percentage cover = (hits ÷ total pins) × 100 = 12/50 × 100 = 24%. It shows how much ground a plant covers.

Ordinary Level

Asked on 7 of the last 10 Ordinary Level papers, most recently in 2024. most years

Every paper, year by year

YearWhere it came up
2026Not asked
2025Not asked
2024Q8
2023Q8
2022Q8
2021Q6
2019Q10
2018Not asked
2017Q2, Q11
2016Q9

Links open the State Examinations Commission’s paper for that year.

More Ecology field study questions

Ecology field study, 2 marks

Which instrument is used to measure wind speed in a habitat study?

  1. A thermometer
  2. A pH meter
  3. An anemometer
Show the answer

An anemometer

Anemometer measures wind speed, thermometer measures temperature. Wind speed is one of the abiotic factors you record.

Ecology field study, 3 marks

Which piece of equipment is used to estimate the number of plants in an area?

  1. A beating tray
  2. A quadrat
  3. A pooter
Show the answer

A quadrat

A quadrat is a square frame thrown at random. Count what is inside it several times and work out an average for the whole habitat.

Other Biology topics

All of Leaving Cert Biology