Read Lab Exercise 5B. (Review your previous handouts for Ex. 1B. , Ex.2A, 2B, and Ex. 3A (quadrat sampling)
Your Study Background: Plant community species diversity can vary due to many factors.
Research your textbook & library books to find out how climate and habitat microclimate differences cause plant species diversity differences. You will be counting species abundance (species density per quadrat, 0.1 m2 ) for different species of plants for two different habitats. One habitat is a Canadian boreal forest habitat & has more shade and moisture for microclimate (Use boreal forest websites and Whittaker library for specific background).
The second habitat, Arctic tundra, is a seasonally frozen grassland with low vegetation, high wind, and no trees. It has bigger seasonal changes in day lengths, precipitation, and wind (eg. see websites and Whittaker library for additional background) compared to the Canadian boreal forest. Be sure to record your observations of each separate habitat to match up with your diversity counts. Be sure to record date and geographical location and habitat conditions. Research Whittaker library & Google Scholar for books & articles about how habitat differences for boreal forest versus tundra affect plant biodiversity.
Individual Sampling & Data Steps
1. Your habitat starting location will be determined using a randomized transect method with randomized starting point. Your starting grid coordinates are listed for each quadrat in the Excel file hand-out. In class you will learn how to find your transect and starting point. You must count the number of individuals for each species within each quadrat and compile them in the raw table below. HINT: use # codes for this.
2. You must count all individuals for each species for THREE quadrats in EACH of the habitat types; yielding a total of 6 quadrats .. Quadrats are randomly located in each habitat. Flip your square over for each new quadrat for the total of 3 quadrats in Canadian boreal forest and 3 quadrats in Arctic tundra as shown in the video.
3. For each quadrat sample:
a) Identify each species present in the quadrat. (Be careful!) Use color codes on back page.
b) Count the number of individuals of each species. (Be careful!)
4. Record your data on the raw data chart below.
5. Use your data to calculate modified Simpson’s Diversity Index (ds ) for each quadrat in each habitat using Equation (7) on page 179 in lab book for ds (equation also shown below) . Compute the diversity for each quadrat to enter into your Quadrat diversity table on next page and to use in your graph and discussion.
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