Abstract:
Biodiversity levels of an ecosystem can greatly determine the healthiness of an ecosystem. Using a cut funnel (milk gallon) we were able to measure levels of biodiversity within a contained ecosystem over a few days. Leaf litter was collected from outside of our school, and we placed it underneath a heat lamp within our classroom. The bottom of the funnel was filled with cheese cloth, and this would allow all the small organisms within the litter to escape. They came to the bottom of the funnel because they typically do not like heat or sunlight. After they fell through the cloth we were able to catch them in some alcohol, then we followed through with observing all of the organisms. In the end I realized that there was a lower level of biodiversity.
Problem:
What are the levels of biodiversity like behind Heritage High School, near Smith Creek?
Materials:
Materials for this lab are: a compound microscope, a cut gallon milk jug, leaf litter, alcohol, and a source of light.
Method:
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 milk carton 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 your 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:
Location: Smith Creek
Type of Community: Old Grow Forest
Date: 9/20/13
Time: 2:30
Weather: Cool and Cloudy
Name of Species | Quantity
Wasp | 1
Spider | 3
Beetle Mite | 1
Millipede | 1
Termite | 1
Biodiversity Index = 5.14
Biodiversity levels of an ecosystem can greatly determine the healthiness of an ecosystem. Using a cut funnel (milk gallon) we were able to measure levels of biodiversity within a contained ecosystem over a few days. Leaf litter was collected from outside of our school, and we placed it underneath a heat lamp within our classroom. The bottom of the funnel was filled with cheese cloth, and this would allow all the small organisms within the litter to escape. They came to the bottom of the funnel because they typically do not like heat or sunlight. After they fell through the cloth we were able to catch them in some alcohol, then we followed through with observing all of the organisms. In the end I realized that there was a lower level of biodiversity.
Problem:
What are the levels of biodiversity like behind Heritage High School, near Smith Creek?
Materials:
Materials for this lab are: a compound microscope, a cut gallon milk jug, leaf litter, alcohol, and a source of light.
Method:
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 milk carton 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 your 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:
Location: Smith Creek
Type of Community: Old Grow Forest
Date: 9/20/13
Time: 2:30
Weather: Cool and Cloudy
Name of Species | Quantity
Wasp | 1
Spider | 3
Beetle Mite | 1
Millipede | 1
Termite | 1
Biodiversity Index = 5.14
Specific Conclusion Questions:
1. What are two reasons the organisms move away from the light down the funnel? What does this indicate about the organisms?
These organisms move away from the light because they are typically found on the bottom of the forest floor, where it is darker and cooler. This is the same as the funnel. The top of it was lighter and hotter due to the lamp. This indicates that they have adapted to living at the bottom of the floor to avoid any predators or be killed.
2. Summarize whether you think the biodiversity of this litter is high or low density. If low, try to give some reasons why this might be.
The biodiversity of the litter was lower in density. Just because of the small amount of leaf litter that we were able to pick up, there may have not been as many organisms living in it compared to the whole forest floor.
3. Why would an environmental scientist need to make more than one measurement if he was calculating the biodiversity? How would you take samples of a large forest?
Certain animals could be living in different parts of the forest floor so he could test different areas to get more species that he would need to look at the biodiversity. He would also need to take measurements over different periods of time. You could take samples of a large forest by sectioning it off by certain soils, or levels of sunlight to get ideas of what type of organisms that you would find..
General Analysis:
The light from the heat lamp resulted in us being able to see the organisms that lived in the leaf litter we collected because it dropped all of the organisms to the bottom of our funnel. This lab showed us how important biodiversity is and that it helps keep the ecosystem healthy and in order. The article also talked about how important every specie is in the ecosystem it lives in, and how without biodiversity we could not survive.
1. What are two reasons the organisms move away from the light down the funnel? What does this indicate about the organisms?
These organisms move away from the light because they are typically found on the bottom of the forest floor, where it is darker and cooler. This is the same as the funnel. The top of it was lighter and hotter due to the lamp. This indicates that they have adapted to living at the bottom of the floor to avoid any predators or be killed.
2. Summarize whether you think the biodiversity of this litter is high or low density. If low, try to give some reasons why this might be.
The biodiversity of the litter was lower in density. Just because of the small amount of leaf litter that we were able to pick up, there may have not been as many organisms living in it compared to the whole forest floor.
3. Why would an environmental scientist need to make more than one measurement if he was calculating the biodiversity? How would you take samples of a large forest?
Certain animals could be living in different parts of the forest floor so he could test different areas to get more species that he would need to look at the biodiversity. He would also need to take measurements over different periods of time. You could take samples of a large forest by sectioning it off by certain soils, or levels of sunlight to get ideas of what type of organisms that you would find..
General Analysis:
The light from the heat lamp resulted in us being able to see the organisms that lived in the leaf litter we collected because it dropped all of the organisms to the bottom of our funnel. This lab showed us how important biodiversity is and that it helps keep the ecosystem healthy and in order. The article also talked about how important every specie is in the ecosystem it lives in, and how without biodiversity we could not survive.