Bachelor Bachelor Reserve vs. Reserve vs.

Oxford’s “Mile Oxford’s “Mile Square”Square”

IntroductionIntroduction

Purpose - To study Purpose - To study insect diversity in the insect diversity in the Bachelor Reserve Bachelor Reserve and the "Mile and the "Mile Square“ to see Square“ to see whether or not whether or not human developments human developments impact biodiversity.impact biodiversity.

HypothesisHypothesis

We believed that we would find a more We believed that we would find a more diverse insect population in the Bachelor diverse insect population in the Bachelor Reserve because of its undeveloped Reserve because of its undeveloped landscape. We expected that the "Mile landscape. We expected that the "Mile Square" would have a less diverse Square" would have a less diverse population of insects because of the population of insects because of the human disturbance in the area. human disturbance in the area.

RelevanceRelevance

There are many important things that insect’s There are many important things that insect’s do to balance nature. By developing, we could do to balance nature. By developing, we could be hurting ourselves more than we realize. be hurting ourselves more than we realize. Entire ecosystems can be disturbed by our Entire ecosystems can be disturbed by our influence. Insects are at the bottom of many influence. Insects are at the bottom of many food chains therefore if certain important food chains therefore if certain important insects were removed from the system it could insects were removed from the system it could affect many other species in the area. affect many other species in the area.

ProcedureProcedure

We set up five sample areas in random We set up five sample areas in random locations throughout the Bachelor locations throughout the Bachelor Reserve and "Mile Square." Reserve and "Mile Square."

In each of these locations we collected In each of these locations we collected leaf litter samples and placed them in leaf litter samples and placed them in Berlese funnels to extract the insects. Berlese funnels to extract the insects.

ProcedureProcedure

Our samples were taken from ½ meterOur samples were taken from ½ meter2 2 plotsplots

We placed the leaf litter samples in labeled We placed the leaf litter samples in labeled trash bags.trash bags.

Placed the individual samples into the Berlese Placed the individual samples into the Berlese funnel one at a time to extract the insects.funnel one at a time to extract the insects.

The funnel we used was in the Entomology lab The funnel we used was in the Entomology lab in Pearson. in Pearson.

What is a Berlese Funnel?What is a Berlese Funnel?

Collecting Jar

Ethanol

““Mile Square” Site 1Mile Square” Site 1

Bishop Woods

““Mile Square” Site 2Mile Square” Site 2

Shiver Center

““Mile Square” Site 3Mile Square” Site 3

103 East Spring Street

““Mile Square” Site 4Mile Square” Site 4

Attraction’s Restaurant

““Mile Square” Site 5Mile Square” Site 5

217 N. Poplar

Bachelor Reserve SitesBachelor Reserve Sites

Site 1

Site 3

Site 2

Bachelor Reserve SitesBachelor Reserve Sites

Site 4

Site 5

ResultsResults

Our data show a greater diversity of Our data show a greater diversity of insects in the Bachelor Reserve as insects in the Bachelor Reserve as compared to the “Mile Square.” compared to the “Mile Square.”

Species RichnessSpecies Richness

Species Richness is simply the number Species Richness is simply the number of different species found in a certain of different species found in a certain area.area.

Species RichnessSpecies Richness

However, this does not indicate how the However, this does not indicate how the diversity of the population is distributed or diversity of the population is distributed or organized among those particular species. For organized among those particular species. For example, if there were 4 different species example, if there were 4 different species found in both the bachelor reserve and the found in both the bachelor reserve and the "Mile Square" . This does not indicate what % "Mile Square" . This does not indicate what % of each species there were of the 4 species of each species there were of the 4 species identified. In the Reserve 80% of the total identified. In the Reserve 80% of the total number of species could have been ants while number of species could have been ants while in the "Mile Square" there could have been an in the "Mile Square" there could have been an even 25% of each species. even 25% of each species.

Species RichnessSpecies Richness

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1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

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BachelorReserve

Mile Square

Simpson’s IndexSimpson’s Index

We calculated the Simpson Index to We calculated the Simpson Index to measure the relative diversity of the two measure the relative diversity of the two areas. areas.

Simpson’s IndexSimpson’s Index

1. Simpson's index: D 1. Simpson's index: D

D-The probability that two randomly D-The probability that two randomly selected individuals in the community selected individuals in the community belong to the same species.belong to the same species.

Simpson's index: D = sum(Pi2)Simpson's index: D = sum(Pi2)

Bachelor Reserve- 0.21Bachelor Reserve- 0.21

““Mile Square”- 0.28Mile Square”- 0.28

From this, we see that it is more probable From this, we see that it is more probable that two randomly selected individuals in that two randomly selected individuals in the “Mile Square” will belong to the same the “Mile Square” will belong to the same species. species.

Simpson's index of Simpson's index of diversity: 1 - Ddiversity: 1 - D

The probability that two randomly The probability that two randomly selected individuals in a community selected individuals in a community belong to different species.belong to different species.

Simpson’s Index: 1-DSimpson’s Index: 1-D

Bachelor Reserve - 0.79Bachelor Reserve - 0.79

““Mile Square”- 0.72 Mile Square”- 0.72

From this we see that it is more likely that From this we see that it is more likely that two randomly selected individuals in the two randomly selected individuals in the Bachelor Reserve will belong to different Bachelor Reserve will belong to different species.species.

ImplicationsImplications

Through our study, we found less insect Through our study, we found less insect diversity in the “Mile Square” diversity in the “Mile Square”

We believe that the development in the We believe that the development in the “Mile Square” area has had a negative “Mile Square” area has had a negative impact on species diversity.impact on species diversity.

Possible ProblemsPossible Problems

It was difficult to pick random sites In the “Mile It was difficult to pick random sites In the “Mile Square,” due to the limited areas containing Square,” due to the limited areas containing adequate amounts of leaf litter.adequate amounts of leaf litter.

In some areas our ½ meterIn some areas our ½ meter2 2 samples contained samples contained more litter than others, which could have an more litter than others, which could have an effect on total numbers of insects present in effect on total numbers of insects present in each sample.each sample.

Possible ProblemsPossible Problems

We only had access to one Berlese We only had access to one Berlese funnel, so some samples were not funnel, so some samples were not extracted for several days after they were extracted for several days after they were collected.collected.

On a few occasions the litter samples On a few occasions the litter samples were left in the funnel for an extra day were left in the funnel for an extra day due to conflicts with lab access.due to conflicts with lab access.

Future StudiesFuture Studies

Study the impact that different levels of Study the impact that different levels of development have on diversity of insects.development have on diversity of insects.

i.e. New York City Vs. Oxfordi.e. New York City Vs. Oxford

Other studies could focus on different times of Other studies could focus on different times of the year. We conducted our experiment in the the year. We conducted our experiment in the fall, but it could possibly have different results fall, but it could possibly have different results in a different season.in a different season.