Species Area Effect
 

ABSTRACT: Reducing habitat area reduces species diversity and the number of members within a species. In addition, when the number of individuals of a given species of macrobiota falls below 400, the entire population is in extreme danger of extinction (Wilson, 1992). Two inquiry labs will be briefly described to test this hypothesis. One lab will use the local grocery stores as an example of habitat size, species diversity, and intraspecific numbers. An additional lab using square plywood pieces and invertebrates will help verify the above concepts.
 
 

Grocery Store Biodiversity

1. Set cooperative group size (usually 2-4)
2. Each group will choose a minimarket, a convenience food store, and a large grocery store as their analogous habitats.
3. They will then decide on a genus (particular type of food) to study and prepare a method on how to measure its variability.
4. The groups will return and analyze the species diversity between the three chosen habitats.

• Different size parking lots can be used and car models used instead of grocery products.
• Ethnic food stores are a source of various habitats (analogous to different biomes.)
• Clothing stores can also be used comparing small boutiques to large department stores.

School Grounds Invertebrate Biodiversity

1. Have your student choose different size pieces of plywood, masonite, etc., and place them on litter cleared ground.
2. Have them come back at a designated time and scrape the invertebrates off the bottom into a garbage bag.
3. Place in freezer or use fly nap to anesthetize them.
4. Have students make diversity and numbers counts.

Extension:

• Dichotomous keys can be used.
• Movement of boards close to or away from a different habitat (e.g. forest edge).
• Vary the amount of time boards are in place.
• Vary the time of day boards are collected.
• Change moisture content of area covered by board (Rain or artificially watering).
• Compare and analyze diversity of invertebrates found between different soil types.
• Students could be given, hypothetically, 10 million dollars to purchase habitat(s) with the intent of protecting the greatest number of species. They can use the Internet to locate endangered habitats and species in making their decision.

Note: These labs can be done with most age groups. The differences would simply be use of classification keys, identification manuals, and mathematical analyses. Adapta-tions of these labs have been used from middle school life science through Advanced Placement Biology.
 

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