Lab on Species Diversity
LAB #3
TITLE: SPECIES DIVERSITY
AIM: To determine how moisture content of sand influences the distribution of fauna along a sandy beach.
MATERIALS: 100m transect,1m x 1m quadrat,shovel,30cm ruler,40cm x40cm sieve, digital probe, sweep net
PROCEDURE:
1. The area was selected for the 100m transect to be laid.
2. The transect was carefully placed ensuring that the end of the transect was in the moist part of sand.
3. The quadrat was placed along the transect on either sides.
4. The area which the quadrat covered was marked off using a stone.
5. The quadrat was then removed.
6. A probe which measured moisture content was then inserted within the quadrat at 3 different places.
7. The 3 readings obtained were recorded and the averages were calculated.
8. The area within the quadrat was then dug to a depth of 10cm
9. The sand which was dug out was then sifted using a sieve.
10. The number of chip-chip found during the sifting process were counted and recorded in the results table below along with the averages found in part (7).
OBSERVATIONS:
The more into the surf zone, the higher the moisture content. The lowest moisture content recorded was in the dry backshore sand. There was also a higher distribution of chip-chip, sea cockroach and sand dollars in the moist parts of the sand while there were the least fauna in the moisture deficient sand. Areas of little moisture lacked species diversity as compared to the areas that were moist. There was a water-logged piece of land which we had to walk through before arriving the sandy beach coast.
RESULTS
SITE NO. No .Of Chip-Chip No. Of Ants No. Of Sea Cockroach Moisture Content
1 4 8 0 1.7
2 1 0 1 4
3 15 10 6 2.8
4 150 0 2 4
TABLE 3 SHOWING MOISTURE CONTENT AND HOW FAUNA VARIED AT THE 4 SITES THAT WERE VISITED
GRAPH 3 SHOWING HOW MOISTURE CONTENT VAIRES ALONG A SANDY BEACH COAST IN 4 DIFFERNET SITES.
At Site 2 and 4,the greatest moisture content recorded was 4.The lowest
TITLE: SPECIES DIVERSITY
AIM: To determine how moisture content of sand influences the distribution of fauna along a sandy beach.
MATERIALS: 100m transect,1m x 1m quadrat,shovel,30cm ruler,40cm x40cm sieve, digital probe, sweep net
PROCEDURE:
1. The area was selected for the 100m transect to be laid.
2. The transect was carefully placed ensuring that the end of the transect was in the moist part of sand.
3. The quadrat was placed along the transect on either sides.
4. The area which the quadrat covered was marked off using a stone.
5. The quadrat was then removed.
6. A probe which measured moisture content was then inserted within the quadrat at 3 different places.
7. The 3 readings obtained were recorded and the averages were calculated.
8. The area within the quadrat was then dug to a depth of 10cm
9. The sand which was dug out was then sifted using a sieve.
10. The number of chip-chip found during the sifting process were counted and recorded in the results table below along with the averages found in part (7).
OBSERVATIONS:
The more into the surf zone, the higher the moisture content. The lowest moisture content recorded was in the dry backshore sand. There was also a higher distribution of chip-chip, sea cockroach and sand dollars in the moist parts of the sand while there were the least fauna in the moisture deficient sand. Areas of little moisture lacked species diversity as compared to the areas that were moist. There was a water-logged piece of land which we had to walk through before arriving the sandy beach coast.
RESULTS
SITE NO. No .Of Chip-Chip No. Of Ants No. Of Sea Cockroach Moisture Content
1 4 8 0 1.7
2 1 0 1 4
3 15 10 6 2.8
4 150 0 2 4
TABLE 3 SHOWING MOISTURE CONTENT AND HOW FAUNA VARIED AT THE 4 SITES THAT WERE VISITED
GRAPH 3 SHOWING HOW MOISTURE CONTENT VAIRES ALONG A SANDY BEACH COAST IN 4 DIFFERNET SITES.
At Site 2 and 4,the greatest moisture content recorded was 4.The lowest