Collaborators:
Gabriella Muinde
Kathryn Chemy
Megan Alexander
J.R Cusher
Abstract:
The Simpsons Diversity Index is something that is used to measure diversity. It would be very helpful when trying to determine the number of species and even their abundance in a habitat. Simpsons Diversity Index is dependent on two things and that would be the richness and evenness. In this lab we used this measure to help determine the biodiversity of this leafs litter that we got from the back of the school. Together our group picked up leaves from areas behind the school, the leafs were them placed under light in a two litter bottle for a couple of days with alcohol under it. The purpose was from the species to move away from the light and fall into the alcohol and we would then observe the alcohol to see what species had been present in the leafs. Once that was done we would then used the Simpson's Diversity Index to determine the species richness as well as their abundances.
Problem:
We would use our leaf litter to try and determine the level of the biodiversity.
Materials:
- Compound Microscope
- Berless Funnel
- Leaf litter
- Alcohol
- Source of light
Methods:
1. Collect a sample of leaf litter. Be sure to collect the entire layer down to the soil.
2. Examine the sample and classify what you see the layer is composed of.
3. Place your sample into the Berless Funnel under the light source. Place a small beaker of alcohol under the funnel. The hope is that small invertebrates will travel away from the light and fall into the alcohol.
4. The next day, collect your beaker and examine the organisms you have collected under the microscopes. You will need to calculate the number of each species you have, and identify them. Each person may work on a portion of the sample and put your numbers together. Use the Identification pages to name each species.
5. Use the information to calculate the diversity indices for your sample.
Data:
Observations:
-Location : Behind the school
- Type of Community: Old Grove Forest
- Date: 9/13/13 Time: 1:30pm
-Weather description: Cool and Warm
- Air Temperature: N/A Soil Temperature: N/A
- Relative Humidity: N/A
Data Table
- Species Name Quantity
none 0
Calculations
- Simpson's Index: none
-Simpson's Index of Diversity: none
- Simpson's Reciprocal Index: none
Gabriella Muinde
Kathryn Chemy
Megan Alexander
J.R Cusher
Abstract:
The Simpsons Diversity Index is something that is used to measure diversity. It would be very helpful when trying to determine the number of species and even their abundance in a habitat. Simpsons Diversity Index is dependent on two things and that would be the richness and evenness. In this lab we used this measure to help determine the biodiversity of this leafs litter that we got from the back of the school. Together our group picked up leaves from areas behind the school, the leafs were them placed under light in a two litter bottle for a couple of days with alcohol under it. The purpose was from the species to move away from the light and fall into the alcohol and we would then observe the alcohol to see what species had been present in the leafs. Once that was done we would then used the Simpson's Diversity Index to determine the species richness as well as their abundances.
Problem:
We would use our leaf litter to try and determine the level of the biodiversity.
Materials:
- Compound Microscope
- Berless Funnel
- Leaf litter
- Alcohol
- Source of light
Methods:
1. Collect a sample of leaf litter. Be sure to collect the entire layer down to the soil.
2. Examine the sample and classify what you see the layer is composed of.
3. Place your sample into the Berless Funnel under the light source. Place a small beaker of alcohol under the funnel. The hope is that small invertebrates will travel away from the light and fall into the alcohol.
4. The next day, collect your beaker and examine the organisms you have collected under the microscopes. You will need to calculate the number of each species you have, and identify them. Each person may work on a portion of the sample and put your numbers together. Use the Identification pages to name each species.
5. Use the information to calculate the diversity indices for your sample.
Data:
Observations:
-Location : Behind the school
- Type of Community: Old Grove Forest
- Date: 9/13/13 Time: 1:30pm
-Weather description: Cool and Warm
- Air Temperature: N/A Soil Temperature: N/A
- Relative Humidity: N/A
Data Table
- Species Name Quantity
none 0
Calculations
- Simpson's Index: none
-Simpson's Index of Diversity: none
- Simpson's Reciprocal Index: none
Analysis and Conclusions:
1. There are many reasons to why the organisms moved away from the the light. The main reason would be because the light acts as an imitation of the sun. Normally when the organisms are outside they would be moving away from the sun and go deeper into the ecosystem. So that is exactly what they did in the bottle which causes them to move lower into the leafs where it is cooler and eventually fall down into the funnel. Then the second reason would be organism find more moisture there at the lower part of the ecosystem. This indicates how organisms need the cooler temperatures and moisture to create their way of living.
2. When observing our leaf litter we did not find any organisms. So I would say that the biodiversity of our litter would be low density. This is true because there were less than two species and a high diversity only consist of two or more species. The density of our species could be low based on the located where we got the leaves. It was not very close to the water stream which is where most of the species could have been.
3. It would not be accurate for an environmental scientist to take measurements from just one area. Even though it all makes up a large forest all of the sections will consist of different species and some may not even have any species. So it would be useful for the scientist to get samples from all different sections of a large forest and gather their data together to figure out the biodiversity of the large forest.
General Analysis and Conclusions:
With the data that we found it concludes that the area where we gathered information had a no richness, low density and the biodiversity was not very high. But based on the overall lab itself I would say that there were minor errors that would have led to the data that was received. After gathering our leaf litter everyone was given a empty milk bottle except for my group, we were given a two litter bottle. This could have had an effect on our data because the width of top of the two litter bottle was small then the width of the milk bottle. Then another major factor could have been where we picked up the leaf litter. There is a possibilities that there could have been more species closer to the stream but the leafs that my group collected was further away from the stream then others, and there had also been a lot of other students that had already gathered leafs from that area. If we were to to this lab again I would say that we should have gathered leafs from areas closer to the stream and where no other students had already been.
Although there were errors the information gathered in this lab shows that there was a very low biodiversity in the area where we gathered our leafs. Just as stated in the article the biodiversity of an ecosystem is very important because it shows how health the ecosystem is. When the biodiversity is low it shows that the ecosystem is struggling a little and has few species which is exactly what the data we collected shows. Not only that but the certain species that are located in this area can have a big impact too. The richness is one of the main factors that impact the biodiversity of an area. The article agrees with the idea that the biodiversity is more likely to be impacted by the amount of species that are there. These species will result in higher productivity and or sustainability. So in conclusion the main idea to gather from this lab is that the biodiversity of leaf litter is very important in an ecosystem.
Citation:
- Click on the Button Text for the link
1. There are many reasons to why the organisms moved away from the the light. The main reason would be because the light acts as an imitation of the sun. Normally when the organisms are outside they would be moving away from the sun and go deeper into the ecosystem. So that is exactly what they did in the bottle which causes them to move lower into the leafs where it is cooler and eventually fall down into the funnel. Then the second reason would be organism find more moisture there at the lower part of the ecosystem. This indicates how organisms need the cooler temperatures and moisture to create their way of living.
2. When observing our leaf litter we did not find any organisms. So I would say that the biodiversity of our litter would be low density. This is true because there were less than two species and a high diversity only consist of two or more species. The density of our species could be low based on the located where we got the leaves. It was not very close to the water stream which is where most of the species could have been.
3. It would not be accurate for an environmental scientist to take measurements from just one area. Even though it all makes up a large forest all of the sections will consist of different species and some may not even have any species. So it would be useful for the scientist to get samples from all different sections of a large forest and gather their data together to figure out the biodiversity of the large forest.
General Analysis and Conclusions:
With the data that we found it concludes that the area where we gathered information had a no richness, low density and the biodiversity was not very high. But based on the overall lab itself I would say that there were minor errors that would have led to the data that was received. After gathering our leaf litter everyone was given a empty milk bottle except for my group, we were given a two litter bottle. This could have had an effect on our data because the width of top of the two litter bottle was small then the width of the milk bottle. Then another major factor could have been where we picked up the leaf litter. There is a possibilities that there could have been more species closer to the stream but the leafs that my group collected was further away from the stream then others, and there had also been a lot of other students that had already gathered leafs from that area. If we were to to this lab again I would say that we should have gathered leafs from areas closer to the stream and where no other students had already been.
Although there were errors the information gathered in this lab shows that there was a very low biodiversity in the area where we gathered our leafs. Just as stated in the article the biodiversity of an ecosystem is very important because it shows how health the ecosystem is. When the biodiversity is low it shows that the ecosystem is struggling a little and has few species which is exactly what the data we collected shows. Not only that but the certain species that are located in this area can have a big impact too. The richness is one of the main factors that impact the biodiversity of an area. The article agrees with the idea that the biodiversity is more likely to be impacted by the amount of species that are there. These species will result in higher productivity and or sustainability. So in conclusion the main idea to gather from this lab is that the biodiversity of leaf litter is very important in an ecosystem.
Citation:
- Click on the Button Text for the link