Invertebrate Diversity

The purpose of this experiment was to determine if there is a difference in invertebrate diversity between the mainland and Cow Island at the Queen’s University Biological Station. This was done by setting up multiple transect lines in both locations, all running 60 metres long with sticky traps and pitfall traps every 15 metres. The point-quarter transect method was used to record surrounding tree species and diameter to provide further information about the areas biotic diversity. It was hypothesized that there would be a difference in invertebrate diversity between the two locations, as it is known that both abiotic and biotic factors of an environment can have a strong influence on invertebrate diversity. The mainland and Cow Island are perceived to have differences in both types of factors. This hypothesis was later verified by
Initial analysis showed that specimens collected from the mainland represented 9 of the 15 orders of interest, and specimens from Cow Island represented 14 different orders. Further calculations of this data show a Simpson’s index of 2.62 for the mainland and 5.44 for Cow Island. The Shannon-Wiener index was also calculated and found to be 1.34 for the mainland and 1.94 for Cow Island. The data collected for trees in each area was also analyzed, finding no difference in average tree size (24.15 on the mainland and 24.14 on Cow Island), an overall foliage cover of 90%, and some difference in tree species. Both locations were found to have Eastern White Pine, Red Pine, Sugar Maple, and White Ash. Basswood, Eastern White Cedar, Hemlock, and White Birch where exclusively recorded on the mainland; American Beech, Ironwood, Red Oak, White Pine, and White Oak were only recorded on Cow Island. The Simpson’s index was calculated to be 0.5 for both locations, and the Shannon-Wiener index was calculated to be 1.68 for the mainland and 1.65 for Cow