A second year Ecology class are undertaking learning the skills of environmental sampling. As part of this course they take field work at a local stream and collect data on a number of different variables. These variables are listed below. For each of these variables, classify the data as either qualitative or quantitative. If the data is qualitative, is it nominal or ordinal? If the data is quantitative, is it discrete or continuous? Give a short reason for each choice.

a. The water temperature (in degrees Celsius)

b. The stream flow rate (in m/s)

c. Turbidity (Measured in Nestler Turbidity units) - measured using an electronic instrument with a probe that is dipped into the river.

d. The number of pieces of timber present in the stream - these provide habitat for stream inhabitants. (There are multiple measurements - one for each person collecting data).

e. The amount of erosion on the stream bank (rated as absent, minor, moderate and severe)

f. Number of fish sampled - fish are sampled by netting. (There are multiple measurements - one for each person collecting data).

g. Number of invertebrates sampled - sampled by dip nets

h. Vegetation rating - Rated on a scale from 1 to 10 where one is a total lack of vegetation and 10 is healthy and representative of stream vegetation class