Luisana Gonzalez
Joecelyne Gonzalez
Laura Orue
Valeria Casataneda
Biodiversity Indexes (Lab Report)
Introduction:
What is biodiversity?
Biodiversity can be defined as the variety of life in the world or in a particular habitat or ecosystem.
What are indexes used for and what do they mean?
Species richness index:
The species richness is used to know the number of species in an area. It takes into account the number
of species found. For example you can find 100 ants 2 reptiles and 3 shrubs, and the total of species
would be 3.
Simpson's Diversity Index:
The Simpson’s Diversity Index is a measure of diversity. It takes into account the number of species
present, as well as the abundance of each species. What this means is that the number is the probability
that 2 randomly selected organisms are from the same species. The lower the number the higher the
biodiversity.
Shannon Wiener Index:
The Shannon Wiener index is used to measure the overall biodiversity. It takes into account species
richness and proportion of each specie within the local community. Higher numbers indicate more
biodiversity and evenness in the distribution of individual per species.
Hypothesis:
There will be a higher biodiversity in the Forested area due to that there are more habitats.
Null hypothesis:
There will not be a higher biodiversity in the Forested area.
Materials:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Nets to catch bugs
Calculators to follow the equations for each index.
Notebooks and pencil to record the insects found.
Charts to record data.
Procedure:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
PPT- take notes
Define sites- Where are we going to look for insects?
Prepare gear
Prepare tables for collecting data
Prepare data analysis sheet
Prepare template for report
Results:
Instructor
Index
Species richness index: S= # species
F
Open
8.00
Simpson's index: D = sum(Pi2)
0.25
Shannon-Wiener Index: H = -sum(Piln[Pi])
1.55
K
Open
F
K
Forested Forested
7
8
7
0.2
1.74
0.25
1.57
0.36
1.24
Conclusion:
In conclusion, the forested and open areas were both similar yet you could argue that the
forested area had a greater biodiversity because of the results of the Shannon-Wiener Index.
Both places had about the same quantity of species and they were evenly distributed. Our
hypothesis was right and this was because of the reason we described in it. There were more
varying habitats in the forested area and therefore bigger biodiversity.