A peat bog is a wetland habitat dominated by mosses and unique plants.
When heavy rainfall occurs, the soil in the peat bog becomes completely waterlogged. This significantly reduces the amount of oxygen in the soil. Explain the effect of waterlogged soil on the root cells of plants.
A student investigates the plant species growing in a peat bog. She uses a quadrat to sample the plants. She puts down two long tape measures at right angles to each other across the peat bog. She then picks numbers at random using a random number generator to decide where to place her quadrats. The diagram below shows the position of all her quadrats across the peat bog.
The peat bog measured 40 m×40 m40\text{ m} \times 40\text{ m}40 m×40 m. Each quadrat measured 0.5 m×0.5 m0.5\text{ m} \times 0.5\text{ m}0.5 m×0.5 m. Calculate the percentage of the total peat bog area that was sampled by the student. Show your working.
A second student samples the same peat bog by placing five quadrats close together along one edge of the bog. Evaluate the sampling method of the second student compared to the method of the first student.
Suggest one hazard and its corresponding safety control measure that the students should include in a risk assessment for this investigation.
Peat bogs are often drained to turn them into dry agricultural land. Although this agricultural land can support a variety of crop plants, explain why conservationists want to protect and restore peat bogs.