Biodiversity in Your Own Backyard, Study notes of Environmental Science

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INTEGRATED PESTMANAGEMENT

Dedicated to Reducing Pesticides

Focus Areas: Biodiversity; Science, Math Focus Skills: Observation, estimation, data collection, analysis, hypothe- sis testing Level of Involvement: MAXIMUM

Objectives

• To make detailed and accurate observations of a land plot

• To develop an understanding of the diverse populations of species and habitats that occur locally

• To design an investigation to observe how human behavior impacts biodiversity

Essential Question

What is the impact of humans on the population in a natural environ- ment?

Essential Understanding

There is a correlation between the amount of human activity and the populations of species of plants, arthropods and other animals.

Background

The activity is used to introduce the significance of environmental stud- ies. The focus of the terrestrial biodiversity survey is to examine the impact of humans upon the environment. Through investigations, partic- ipants develop their own hypothesis about human impact and then test this on a previously examined site. Final analysis and discussion of the results allow the participants to develop a theory about the impact of humans upon the biodiversity. Participants are introduced to experi- mental design and the use of statistics to determine whether to accept or reject a hypothesis.

Logistics Time: 2 hours

Group size: one group with teams of 5 (1 recorder, 2 animal surveyors, 2 plant samplers)

Space: three to four sites will be needed for the sur- vey in order to see patterns. One site should have little or low human impact. A second site should have moderate impact, and a third should have high human impact (This can be run in the parking lot or football field.). A fourth site is where the participants will check their predictions. It can have any level of impact you wish.

Materials Golden Guide for Insects , Golden Guide for Weeds

thermometers

rope or twine

magnifying glasses

flag tape

hand lenses

bug viewers *

meter sticks

litmus paper

Handout 1 Species Count Tabl e *

Handout 2 Sample Master Tally *

Handout 3 Biodiversity Assessment Worksheet *

• single copy provided

Unit 3 Lesson 10: Biodiversity in Your Own Backyard page 3

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Preparations

Walk the land surrounding your building or home to determine potential sites. Select 4 or 5 sites. The plot size may vary, depending on the time allotted for the activity. One meter by one meter can be as effective as larger plots. Use flag tape or meter sticks to define the area.

Activity

Counting Species

If a population of species is too large to count, then ESTIMATE! Begin by counting the size of the population in a small segment of your plot.

1. Mark out the plots.
2. Using Handout 1, record the number of plant and animal species (including arthropods) that you find. Identify them in the field guides. Sketch any not listed.
3. Collect information on the climatic and physical factors that could affect the species in your plot. Record the information on Handout
   1. Remember, record data only in the column designated for your plot.
4. Identify other physical factors and any additional data describing the plants, arthropods and other animals found.
5. Have each group write their results in the appropriate place.

Follow Up

1. Tally and compare the findings for each plot and discuss them as a group (see Handout 2 Sample Master Tally ).

page 4 Unit 3 Lesson 10: Biodiversity in Your Own Backyard

Follow Through (continued)

Run the Experiment

Have the participants conduct their experiment and analyze the data. Present the data in a lab report and chart and display for group discus- sion. Did the results support the hypothesis? How can the results be checked mathematically?

Evaluation

Review and discuss as needed. Be encouraging, as this may be the first time the participants have ever designed their own experiment. Discuss how they will know if their hypothesis should be accepted or rejected. Avoid the use of We prove , We didn t prove , We suggest. Math teachers could introduce the ideas of sample sizes, significance and how math is used to decide what we accept or reject.

page 6 Unit 3 Lesson 10: Biodiversity in Your Own Backyard

Notes

Unit 3 Lesson 10: Biodiversity in Your Own Backyard page 7

Species Count Table Handout 1

Site number: _________________________________ Date:______________________

Team members: ________________________________________________________________

Site description: ________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________

Measure/observe and record the following information about your site:

Temperature (ground level): ____________ Soil color: ______________________

Soil pH: _______________________________ Meteorological Soil moisture: __________________________ (weather) conditions: __________________

Wind direction: ________________________

Use the Golden Guides to assist with identification of plant and arthropod species.

Plant Biodiversity Table

Arthropod Biodiversity Table

Other Species Biodiversity Table

Common Name of Species Number of Individuals Found Percent Cover of Site

Common Name of Species Number of Individuals Found

Common Name of Species Number of Individuals Found

Handout 2

Sample Master Tally

Site 1 Site 2 Location: __ park ___________ Location: __ field ________

Site 3 Site 4 Location: _________________ Location: ______________

Site 5 Site 6 Location: _________________ Location: ______________

Total # of Plant Species: ____________________

Total # of Arthropod Species: _________________

Number of Plant Species

Number of Arthropods

Number of Plant Species

Number of Arthropods

Number of Plant Species

Number of Arthropods

Number of Plant Species

Number of Arthropods

Number of Plant Species

Number of Arthropods

Number of Plant Species

Number of Arthropods