Student Worksheet

How Biodiverse Is Your Neighbourhood? - Activity Instructions

Have you ever had a chat with biodiversity? No? Well that’s because biodiversity (the variety of plants and animals that we depend upon for all of our needs) doesn’t have a voice. To speak up for the environment you can use a biodiversity index to present logical arguments and fight to protect all organisms for future generations. Off you go!

The biodiversity or number of different species that exist in an ecological community is important to ensuring the survival of all species in the community. Increased biodiversity affords a greater chance of there being individuals better able to adapt to changes in the environment.

Scientists calculate a biodiversity index as one measure of the ecological importance of a community. People depend upon a high biodiversity as we search for new resources including food products, fabrics for clothing and medicines. We might say no tree no me but we should also demand the protection of the grasses, shrubs, insects, spiders, birds, reptiles and mammals, for they all depend on one another, just like us.

Safety advice: Conduct a risk assessment of the site. Examples of potential dangers outside: large trees with dead or dying limbs, stinging or biting insects, sunburn and dehydration. Remember, it’s always best to be prepared by having a phone and first aid kit handy.

Part A: How Is A Biodiversity Index Calculated?

Step 1.

What is a biodiversity index? Read the following information:

Biodiversity is the variety of plant and animal life in the world or in a particular habitat. Diversity is defined as the measure of the number of different species in a biotic community. In most cases, diversity is high when there are many different species in a habitat or area and low when there are few. A high level of diversity is usually considered desirable for maintaining healthy ecosystems and habitats.

Comparing the diversity of two or more different areas can give an idea of how stable and healthy these areas are. However, comparing and analysing the results can be hard if all you have to work with are lists of organisms from different areas.

When scientists are faced with this problem, they often create an index. An index is a scale on which you can rate your study objects, and compare them to other objects of the same type. A biodiversity index is a scale of the diversity of plant and animal species at your study site and can be used to measure the health of an ecosystem.

Scientists use a simple biodiversity index calculated as follows:

Step 2.

You’re going to now calculate the biodiversity index for a sample of animals. Each animal in this list represents a species within a zoo. How diverse do you think the area (zoo) represented by this list will be?

Work it out! Select one page from the list and count the total number of names on that page.

In your notebook, record the total number of names on that page.

Then close your eyes to select a species at random from the same page.

In your notebook, record the species name and number of individuals for that one species.

You can then use these numbers to calculate the biodiversity index. Record your calculations in your workbook.

Step 3.

Repeat this activity using another page of this list.

Step 4.

In your notebook discuss which had the smallest biodiversity index, Smiths or the random name.

Part B: What Is A Bioblitz?

Step 1.

With the help of an adult check out a safe location outside such as your backyard or nearby park where you can investigate a variety of living things to conduct a bioblitz.

A bioblitz is an intense period of ecological surveying to record all of the organisms living in an area.

Step 2.

The first step of your bioblitz will be to collect qualitative data. Qualitative data gives a snapshot describing the location. To collect the bioblitz qualitative data complete the first table. To determine the temperature you can use a thermometer or weather app for the local area.

Step 3.

Move to four different locations and sit quietly for five minutes observing animal activity and the different types of plants. This includes listening for the sounds of birds and insects. Record your observations in your data table.

Step 4.

Create a data table (like the one below) to record qualitative (descriptive) and quantitative (measurable) data.

In your notebook, draw up a table similar to the one below.

Part C: How Is Bioblitz Data Presented And Analysed?

Step 1.

Once you are satisfied with the data you have collected you can display your data using a column graph. You should use species names as the category on the x-axis and the frequency on the y-axis. Check out the example below.

You can create your own column graph in your workbook.

Step 2.

You can now calculate the biodiversity index of your area using the formula:

The biodiversity index of my area is

Use your workbook to show your calculations and answers to the questions below.

Note: This will be an estimate, as to calculate the exact biodiversity index you need to count EVERY living thing!

Step 3.

Finally, think about the following questions and record your responses in your workbook:

Do you think this is an accurate representation of the biodiversity of the entire area you focused on?
Why/why not? What was the mean population of a species in your area?

Taking Action

Join The Australian Museum Centre for Citizen Science.

Citizen Science programs provide a very important source of data about biodiversity. Data and insights gained through the efforts of citizen scientists enable us to learn more about our environments by creating additional data sources.

The Australian Museum has had a long history of citizen science projects and currently manages, with collaborators, some of Australia’s most well-known and best-loved citizen science projects.

Current citizen science projects you can join NOW include:

DigiVol online digitisation volunteer program
FrogID
Australasian Fishes project
Capturing Climate Change
The WingTags projects
Hollows as Homes

Outdoor Learning - How Biodiverse is Your Neighbourhood?

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