Investigating Diversity along an Interrupted Belt Transect
Research Question: How does species diversity change as distance increases from the
Charles River?
Hypothesis:
Variables:
Introduction:
Materials:
1 meter squared wooden quadrat
Meter stick
String
Notebook
Pencil
Field guide
Camera
Procedure:
1) Each group will measure a transect at a different point along the river. With your
group, lay the string from the river to a point 7 meters away from the river.
2) At the closest point to the river, place your meter squared quadrat.
3) Note what species are rooted in the quadrat and how many of each species are
there.
4) Move a half meter away from the river from the top of the first quadrat and place
your quadrat down.
5) Repeat step 3-4 until you have completed a total of 5 samples
6) Share all data with the class.
7) Calculate diversity for each quadrat.
Lab report: Your report will be IB assessed for DCP and DEC. The report must include:
Title, research question, hypothesis, variables, introduction, you may copy the materials
and procedure from this handout, raw data, processed data, graph of results, discussion,
evaluation, conclusion.