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Aliyah Investigating Biodiversity Cri B Flipbook PDF
Aliyah Investigating Biodiversity Cri B
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Amount of Oxygen on Different Levels of Altitude and its Effect on Biodiversity Introduction: Different forms of life can be recognised everywhere, whether they are motile or not. Plants, animals, fungi, and micro-organisms, these all belong to what we call an ecosystem that describes biodiversity. An ecosystem includes the interaction between abiotic and biotic factors to maintain balance. While biodiversity refers to the variety of life on Earth or a specific area (Hancock). This term is taken from the words biological and diversity. It can boost the productivity of an ecosystem, where each species has an important role to play (Shah). Human beings are also dependent on biodiversity in their daily lives. Fresh water, medicine, food, and fuel sources all those are provided from the products of an ecosystem (WHO). Fig. 1. – Factors from biodiversity that humans depend on. “Dependence on Biodiversity” Biodiversity. Web. 2015.
The relation between species richness and evenness is a method to measure how biodiverse it is in a particular area. These two components compare the distribution of living organisms. The richness of a species is the number of individuals in that area. The greater the richness, the more species. While the species evenness describes the relative abundance of the different species that make up the richness of an area. The more even it is, the similar the abundances are. (“Biodiversity”). However, measuring the richness does not give a whole picture because despite having a more diverse environment, the population and abundance could still be low and unhealthy. A community that is dominated by one or two species is less diverse than one in which several species have a similar abundance. The image on the right shows an example of biodiversity through its richness and evenness (Fig 2). The fourth circle presents the highest biodiversity since it has the highest evenness and richness within the system. High biodiversity is perceived as a healthier ecosystem as it is considered much more stable and a change in the environment will be less damaging to the ecosystem. Organisms in a system depend on each other, and a loss of any species can prevent the ecosystem from operating the way that it should. “Loss in biodiversity may limit the discovery of potential treatments for many diseases and health problems” (WHO).
Fig. 2. - A diagram describing species richness and evenness. “Figure 21” Biodiversity. Web. March 2017.
To inquire further on an area, ecologists conduct biodiversity samples. It is almost impossible to count every single organism in the area, and due to that, ecologists provide a representation of the number and distributions through the sufficient use of samples. The most common being randomised and systematic (transect) sampling. Frame quadrats are used for these methods, usually for an abundance of non-motile organisms. A quadrat is shaped as a square and can be made from wood, plastic, steel wire (fig 3), or metal. The more samples are collected with these quadrats, the more accurate the estimation would be. And the smaller the quadrat, the more accurate it would be however, the sample sizes would be smaller. Fig. 3. - A steel wire quadrat. “Quadrat Q2 from A randomised sampling is done by dropping quadrats randomly in the area NHBS for surveying vegetation cover or Invertebrates” Amazon. or by using a number table to coordinate the placement (“Population size, density, & dispersal”). The results can be categorised into uniform, random and clumped distributions. A uniform dispersion is when the individuals of a population are spaced more or less evenly” (khanacademy). A random dispersion is when individuals are randomly distributed along the area without any predictable pattern. And a clumped dispersion is when individuals are clustered together in separate groups (khanacademy).
Fig. 4. – Species dispersion or distribution patterns. “Population distribution” Population size, density, & dispersal.
There are several biotic as well as abiotic factors that can cause a change in the biodiversity and environment. Human influences also largely affect biodiversity and it is usually a negative impact such as pollution or destruction of habitat. Biotic factors are living things that affect the environment directly or indirectly through its presence, interactions and even wastes. Examples of biotic factors are predators, new species of bacteria that can cause disease. Abiotic factors are physical and chemical factors that could affect the organism's ability to survive and reproduce. Those include the intensity of light, range of temperatures, amount of moisture, the supply of gas, and more. The following investigation will explore the biodiversity affected by the amount of oxygen on different altitudes. Altitude is defined as the elevation or the physical distance above sea level (“Altitude”). This is a relevant concept to question as the biodiversity will surely change within each site due to environmental and abiotic factors. Human beings are put to stress in higher altitudes, resulting in hypoxia or shortage of oxygen. To discover the biodiversity and ecosystem that can survive in areas of extreme environments and low oxygen levels would be intriguing and interesting to analyse. There is still a limitation because
higher altitudes could affect humans in many ways. The growth of plants depends on the temperature, climate and rainfall in the area. Oxygen is also necessary as it “makes the process of respiration more efficient” (Jimenez). A hike up a mountain will be necessary to conduct the experiment. Transportation vehicles are restricted to be used on hiking trails, so it must be done on foot. There is no specific mountain to do this activity if it reaches 2,500 meters or higher. A random sampling method will be used for this experiment to measure the diversity and represent the large area of each site on different altitude levels. Fig. 5. – Altitude level classifications and oxygen percentage. altitude science.
Research question:
“How does altitude affect the biodiversity of plants?”
Hypothesis: The biodiversity of plants will increase with altitude, until it reaches a certain peak, and continues to decrease with altitude. To understand the biodiversity of plants and usage in the changing ecosystems, researchers set out various modern comparative methods. “The researchers found that plant biodiversity initially increases with altitude, until it reaches a diversity peak at around 1 300 to 1 800 m, after which point it decreases with altitude” (“Biodiversity at changing altitudes”). Plantations on the lower slopes depend on the climate zone of the mountain. The foothills also may be covered in broadleaved forests. However, as the gradient increases, the abundance of plants increases and more coniferous trees are present, like spruce or pines. After a certain peak on the mountain, it gets colder and the richness in species will decrease as it is too cold for the plants to withstand the harsh conditions (“Wildlife and Plants on Mountains”).
Fig. 6. – Percentage of studies for different species. Elevational Gradients in Species Richness. [PDF] 2010.
This graph shows the different species and the percentage studied in a decreasing, low plateau, low plateau mid peak and mid peak level. Focus on the plants section rather than the other species. The mid peak height is taken at 4,300 m and it is shown to have 25% more species than at the base and top of the mountain. (McCain, Grytnes, 2010). This explains that there are more species and biodiversity present at a certain mid peak than at lower altitudes and extremely high altitudes. I think that this investigation will show that the plants increase with altitude. Because of the altitude sickness and height limitations, the experiment may not show the results of the plant biodiversity declination after the mid peak.
Variables: Independent Variable: Amount of Oxygen in Different Levels of Altitude The independent variable for this investigation will be the different levels of altitude. With the altitude given, the amount of oxygen in each level can be identified. With the use of the 50 cm x 50 cm sized steel wired quadrats, place it down on random locations on the specific sites. As said before, a larger quadrat would make the results more accurate. However, hiking up a mountain already exerts too much physical energy and therefore, the material and size of the quadrat is decreased to reduce the carry load. These 5 data points can be referred to as sites 1 to 5: a) 500 meters (Site 1) b) 1,000 meters (Site 2) c) 1,500 meters (Site 3) d) 2,000 meters (Site 4) e) 2,500 meters (Site 5) These measurements are arranged from the lowest to the highest level and the range between each point is a constant 500 meters apart. Keep in mind that the count begins from above sea level. 3 trials will be done for each site, making it a total of 15 quadrats. The reason why the data points are spread out with a 500 range is to attempt in covering the biodiversity at different levels of altitude. As can be seen in the table on the left, 500 m is considered as a low altitude level. 1,000 and 1,500 m is under a medium level altitude along with the 2,000 m point. A high-level altitude could have certain effects on an individual because heights beyond 2,438 m can cause slight altitude sickness (“Altitude Science”). Due to that, only one point will be at a high-level altitude. Even though 2,500 m is close beyond 2,438 m, the effects of altitude sickness should still be manageable. The independent variable can be measured with the use of an altimeter. This device can measure a location’s distance above sea level, also known as the altitude. One type of altimeter is called a barometer and it finds the altitude by calculating the air pressure since air pressure decreases as the altitude increases. The readings can also change as a result of weather conditions because air pressure will decrease during storms (“Altimeter”). If this device is unavailable, an alternative solution is to use a digital app called “Altimeter”. This app is a smart tracking device that can be used to measure altitude. Its advantage is that it works online and offline so it can be used without Wi-Fi (playstore). These devices can track where the quadrat should be placed as it informs the specific levels of altitudes while hiking.
Fig. 7. – Altitude and oxygen chart. “O2” Altitudedream.
Dependent variables and How to Measure it Direct Independent Variable: Direct Count of The Number of Individuals The independent variable is the direct count of the number of individuals within the quadrat. A direct count does not require any tools. When using quadrats, some individuals will be half in and half out of the area. In this experiment, consistently include and count all the individuals that are half in and half out. To make the counting easier to organise, make a table similar to this: (Q is quadrat) Species Present
Site 1 Q1
Q2
Site 2 Q3
Q1
Q2
Site 3 Q3
Q1
Q2
Site 4 Q3
Q1
Q2
Site 5 Q3
Q1
Indirect Independent Variable: Density After gathering the direct variable of individuals in each quadrat, the density should be calculated together with the size of the given quadrat. In plant ecology, density is defined as the “number of individuals that occurs within a given area” (Bonham), which in this case, is within the quadrat. Finding the density will provide insight into the distribution for the estimated population of individuals present, along with the richness and evenness of each species in an ecosystem. * The formula of Density * Number (#) of individuals Area of quadrat (unit2) To find the density, take the result from the direct independent variable and divide it by the area of the quadrat. Trials But since there are 3 trials for each data point, further calculations are required. This table below can be used to find the density with the number of trials done. It is only suitable for one data point, which means
Q2
Q3
that this process must be repeated for each data point. Adjust these tables accordingly based on the results of the direct dependent variable. 1. 2. 3. 4.
Insert the species that are present for all 3 trials that are in the first site. Add up the total number of individuals in each species for all 3 trials in that site. The 3 trials in the site are 3 quadrats, so that is the total number of quadrats studied. To obtain the density, use the total number of individuals divided by the area of all 3 quadrats combined from the formula above
* The formula of Total Quadrat Area * 1. Identify size of the quadrat (cm) 2. Find area (side x side = # cm2) 3. Convert to meters (# cm2/100 = # m2) 2. Multiply result with the number of quadrats Example 1 quadrat: 50 cm x 50 cm = 2,500 cm2 Convert to meters = 25 m2 3 quadrats = 25 x 3 = 75 m2
Species
Total number of individuals
Total number of quadrat studied
Density
Total:
The density of Total Individuals in 3 Quadrats
Plant species Species →
Site 1 Site 2 Site 3 Site 4 Site 5 1. Label the first row with all the species present 2. With the density calculated on the previous table, fill in the blank columns accordingly. And once that is done, the density of every individual in 3 trials of each site will be displayed. Statements about biodiversity can be concluded by looking at the completed table. Control variables Control Variables
Why It Must Be Kept Constant (Likely Impact)
How It Can Be Manipulated
Counting individuals that are half in and half out of the quadrat (count it in)
Counting these individuals in for one trial and leaving it out for the next one will cause a slight difference in the measurements of biodiversity. It decreases the reliability of the quadrat as it affects the density.
Decide whether an individual that is not fully in the quadrat should be counted. Just to be safe, if a part of the individual touches the quadrat, count it in.
Number of trials for each data point (3 trials)
Different amounts of trials will affect the species representation on a certain altitude level. The imbalance of data recorded in the various sites will lead to an inaccurate and unreliable difference. There will be a big gap between the number of individuals and species counted in each site.
Purchase only 3 quadrats so that no excess weight must be carried up the mountain. These 3 quadrats will also limit the number of trials done in each site.
Size of quadrats (50 cm x 50 cm)
A bigger or smaller quadrat would either leave out or include extra individuals. It will cause an unfair result because of the inconsistency of the area measured.
When purchasing quadrats, measure the size and make sure that it is from the same producer. Certain sizes provided from a different salesperson may not accurately have the same measurements as another seller. Stick to one provider so that the measurements are more likely to be exact and identical.
Unit of measurement (altitude = meter quadrat = cm)
A unit that is not kept constant will cause miscalculation. Using the wrong units will cause confusion and the investigation to go wrong because the numbers do not make sense. For example, making a 1 cm quadrat is not equivalent to 1 meter. These sizes of different units have the same number but different units. It will change the area of the quadrat and affect the count of individuals.
Choose an appropriate scale of measurement to be kept constant. And if there are units that are not the same, keep a note of the difference and convert it when processing the data.
Quadrat material (steel wire)
The first reason why the quadrat material must be kept the same is because of the weight. This investigation requires a steel wired quadrat because it is the lightest to carry out of the other materials. Carrying a metal or wooden quadrat uphill will cause exhaustion and it may be difficult to continue the progression of the experiment. The quadrat material also must be kept the same because the edges of other types of quadrats do not have the same thickness. For example, the quadrat in the image below (fig 8) has a thicker wooden outline than the steel wire quadrat in figure 3 above.
Prepare the materials and apparatus before conducting the experiment. Buy quadrats from the same producer and prevent cross buying. Buying quadrats from the same producer will more likely provide exact quadrat replicas. When making quadrats, use materials with the same specification.
Fig. 8. – Wooden quadrat. Sampling Techniques.
Altitude measuring tool (altimeter tool or altimeter app)
Changing between different measuring tools may result in inaccurate measurements. The 2 tools may have the same purpose, but the measurements shown on both instruments could be slightly different. Switching devices will result in inconsistency of altitude calculations.
Since there were 2 choices of measuring altitude given, pick only one tool to use from whichever is available. If the app is the chosen tool, make sure to bring a power bank. That will ensure that the phone battery does not run out.
Time of the day (morning)
The period of the experiment conduction can affect the ecosystem at that moment. The temperature and climate in the morning will not be the same during the night. Executing this at night also increases the chance of miscalculation since it would be darker and harder to count.
Although the change in temperature in climate cannot be controlled. Try to keep the environment for the trials as similar as possible. Begin the experiment in the morning in hopes to finish it before nightfall. If the 2,500 m hike takes too much time, camping outdoors overnight may be necessary to continue the next day. If that is not possible, bring a flashlight to count at night.
Nature is an excessively big disadvantage during this investigation since the environment is uncontrollable. And because of that, the environmental factors cannot be easily manipulated. The weather can be predicted but it may not be 100% accurate. Uncontrollable Changes at Different Levels of Altitude: ➢ ➢ ➢ ➢ ➢ ➢ ➢ ➢ ➢ ➢ ➢
Temperature Climate Oxygen level Atmospheric pressure Moisture Soil Biomes and surrounding environment Animals Wind Solar radiation Precipitation
Apparatus: - 50 cm x 50 cm quadrat (3x) If using altimeter: - An altimeter or barometer (1x) If using altimeter app on phone: - A phone with the app downloaded on it (1x) - A charged power bank (1x)
Materials: -
Hiking backpack Flashlight Insect Repellent Sunscreen Raincoat Snacks Water First aid kit Camping tent Umbrella Hiking boots or shoes
Method Take breaks when necessary and if the hike is not completed, camp overnight. It is much more efficient to do this experiment with a group. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.
Prepare proper hiking gear, equipment, and quadrats Carefully hike up the mountain trail Use altimeter to check when to stop at first site (500 meters) Place the 3 quadrats in random locations for random sampling Use eyes to count all individuals inside all the quadrats (even if only a part of it touches the quadrat) Record data for the number of individuals and the different species present Pick up the quadrats Continue hiking and use altimeter to check altitude Stop at altitudes depending on which data points are being conducted and repeat steps 4 to 8
a) b) c) d) e)
500 meters (Site 1) 1,000 meters (Site 2) 1,500 meters (Site 3) 2,000 meters (Site 4) 2,500 meters (Site 5)
10. Identify oxygen levels in each altitude 11. Use the amount of oxygen identified in each altitude to analyse and comment on species richness as well as evenness to conclude the biodiversity
Safety guidelines: Danger
Why It Could Be Dangerous
Precautions
Mountain edge
Hiking up a mountain can be steep and high. It is highly dangerous - even deadly if one were to fall off the edge. Especially since the height of this hike goes up to 2,500 meters above sea level, this is a serious matter.
Stay away from the open side of the mountain. Be extremely careful and watch the steps on the mountain. However, if a fall from the mountain does happen, there are a few tips to decrease the death rate: - Use arms to protect the head - Relax the body - Bend the knees as it could absorb the impact of the fall - Try to land on both feet, but attempt to absorb the shock by rolling or pivoting the fall - Get medical help (if possible) There are some people who managed to survive falls from a great height (PaulesBronet).
Dehydration
Dehydration can cause many effects on the human body, especially when hiking uphill in the hot sun. In hot weather, the body will sweat as it diminishes the salt in the body. This will slow down the body’s ability to regulate liquids (“Dehydration”). It can also make a person feel tired, disoriented, and nauseous. This can often trigger a loss of appetite as well. If hiking alone, it can cause confusion and could possibly lead to being lost.
One of the ways to prevent this from happening is to constantly drink water several hours before the exercise. Drinking sports drinks that contain salt and potassium is also helpful in supplying the body with needed nutrients; Avoid drinking caffeine. Bring a water bottle along when hiking so that it is accessible when feeling dehydrated. Take a break when starting to feel nauseous.
Oxygen levels in higher The lack of oxygen can cause altitude sickness. As altitudes (Altitude sickness) the altitude increases, the air becomes thinner with less oxygen in the atmosphere. So, the higher the hike gets, the less oxygen is present in each breath. The pressure is also lower in higher altitudes, and it affects the density of the air. This exposure of reduced oxygen levels is considered as hypoxia. Hypoxia is when the amount of oxygen in the human blood and cells declines. It affects the body because oxygen is the main source of energy for our cells. This is more likely to strongly affect people with severe lung, heart or breathing problems (“Altitude Science”). Acute mountain
Trekking more than 1,500 is already a lot to gain. Going too high too fast can cause altitude sickness. It is much better to prepare for the trip. If possible, the itinerary should include overnight stays or camps at certain points. There is the saying: Climb high, sleep low. This means that a person will be able to acclimatise better if they are exposed to a higher altitude for a moment but return to a lower altitude to rest. This is important so that the body can learn to cope with less oxygen. Eat and drink much more to supply the body with what it needs. And most importantly,
sickness (AMS) can cause nausea, headaches, and shortness of breath.
listen to the body. Mild acute mountain sickness should not interfere much with the activity. But if it gets worse, do not continue, and descend by 600 m. (“How to Prevent Altitude Sickness for Trekkers”)
Temperature and weather
Weather and temperature are quite uncontrollable factors. It could be hot and sunny in the morning and suddenly starts to rain in the cold afternoon. The danger of this is being unprepared and getting wet. Rain will also make the mountain grounds slippery and muddy. This can be dangerous as a person could easily slip. Not only that, but it also makes the experiment hard to carry out. And most likely, there would not be much shelter on an open hiking trail.
A decent precaution would be to check the weather forecast before planning the experiment. Pick a day that is of average temperature and low chances of rain or storm. Wear sunscreen to prevent getting sunburns from the hot sun. Also, bring a raincoat and umbrella just in case there is a sudden change in the weather. “Temperature decreases by an average of approximately 0.6o C for each 100 m increase in elevation” (McCain, Grytnes, 2010).
Lack of energy
Hiking itself is a tiring activity but hiking 2,500 m is going to take a long time and a lot of energy. Muscle fatigue is also caused by this, which can prevent the experiment from being completed.
First, have enough sleep the day before conducting this. In the morning, have a proper breakfast with the right nutrition to supply energy. Try to consume more carbohydrates and glucose in the meal. Bring snacks such as protein bars and such on the trip so that it can provide more energy. Take s stretch before hiking to release the tension in the muscles and take a break when required.
Not appropriate gear and equipment
Proper hiking gear and equipment is extremely important in this activity. Hiking involves walking on natural pathways with rockets, roots, and uneven steps. There are many risks in using the wrong equipment and it can cause injury. Hiking with sandals is a huge restriction, the sole does not have enough grip, it is more prone to slips and injuries. Bring a watch to keep track of time because it can tell when the sun sets and when it gets darker.
Wear waterproof hiking boots or shoes that have a good grip on the sole. This will make it easier when going up uneven and slippery steps. It can also prevent blisters and twisted ankles. Make sure to bring a backpack that can carry many items such as snacks, water, sunscreen, insect repellent, first aid kit, sunglasses, hat, raincoat, etc.
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