Biodiversity of M&M’s
Procedure:
1. Open the bag of M&M’s. The bag is the habitat and the different colors are the species
living in it.
2. Count the number of each color of M&M’s.
3. Record your data on the team’s data charts.
4. Calculate the Simpson’s Index using the following formula:
D= ________N(N-1)___________
Sum n1(n1 – 1)+ n2(n2 – 1) + n3(n3 – 1) ..........
D= diversity index
N= total number of individuals of all species (number of M&M’s)
n= number of individuals of a specific species (colors of M&M’s)
5. Record data on the class data charts.
Data Charts:
Chart # 1: Team Data
Color
# of M&M’s Plain
# of M&M’s
Peanut
Brown (n1)
Yellow (n2)
Red (n3)
Green (n4)
Blue (n5)
Orange (n6)
Total (N)
Color
Brown (n1)
Yellow (n2)
Red (n3)
Green (n4)
Blue (n5)
Orange (n6)
Total (N)
Simpson’s Index
Plain
Chart # 2 Class Data
Peanut
Analysis Questions:
1. Which “habitat” had the greatest biodiversity?
2. Would you expect to find similar results in real life? Explain your answer.
3. How is the Simpson’s index helpful to establish the biodiversity of a given habitat?
Analysis Questions:
1. Which “habitat” had the greatest biodiversity?
2. Would you expect to find similar results in real life? Explain your answer.
3. How is the Simpson’s index helpful to establish the biodiversity of a given habitat?
Analysis Questions:
1. Which “habitat” had the greatest biodiversity?
2. Would you expect to find similar results in real life? Explain your answer.
3. How is the Simpson’s index helpful to establish the biodiversity of a given habitat?
Analysis Questions:
1. Which “habitat” had the greatest biodiversity?
2. Would you expect to find similar results in real life? Explain your answer.
3. How is the Simpson’s index helpful to establish the biodiversity of a given habitat?
Analysis Questions:
1. Which “habitat” had the greatest biodiversity?
2. Would you expect to find similar results in real life? Explain your answer.
3. How is the Simpson’s index helpful to establish the biodiversity of a given habitat?
Analysis Questions:
1. Which “habitat” had the greatest biodiversity?
2. Would you expect to find similar results in real life? Explain your answer.
3. How is the Simpson’s index helpful to establish the biodiversity of a given habitat?
Analysis Questions:
1. Which “habitat” had the greatest biodiversity?
2. Would you expect to find similar results in real life? Explain your answer.
3. How is the Simpson’s index helpful to establish the biodiversity of a given habitat?
Analysis Questions:
1. Which “habitat” had the greatest biodiversity?
2. Would you expect to find similar results in real life? Explain your answer.
3. How is the Simpson’s index helpful to establish the biodiversity of a given habitat