Ecological investigation in a habitat includes the following procedures except

Analyze the question: The question asks which option is NOT a procedure in an ecological investigation of a habitat. This is an "except" question, so three options are valid steps and one is not.

Explain the concept: Ecology is the study of the relationships between organisms and their environment. A typical field investigation of a habitat involves:

1. Choosing and defining the habitat to study (e.g., a pond, a school farm, a rocky shore).
2. Identifying the organisms (plants and animals) found there, using keys or reference books.
3. Estimating population sizes with quadrats, transects, or sampling.
4. Measuring abiotic factors (temperature, light, pH, humidity, soil type) and biotic factors (predators, competitors, food sources).
5. Recording the data, analyzing it, and drawing conclusions.

Go through the options:

• A. Choosing a habitat: This is the first step of any ecological study, so it is included.
• B. Identification of specimens: You must know which species are present, so it is included.
• C. Determining the genetic makeup of specimens: This belongs to genetics and molecular biology (studying genes, DNA, and inheritance). It is not a routine part of studying how organisms interact with their habitat, so it is the exception.
• D. Measuring abiotic and biotic factors: This is central to ecology, so it is included.

Answer: C.

Exam tip: For "except" questions, find the three options that clearly fit the topic and eliminate them. Whatever belongs to a different branch of biology (here, genetics instead of ecology) is usually the answer. Keywords like "habitat," "abiotic," and "biotic" signal ecology, while "genetic makeup" signals a different field.