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Skittles Biodiversity Lab

Biodiversity is most obvious and dramatic in tropical rain forests and coral reefs, but you do not have to travel that far to observe differences in species diversity or to see the effects that humans can have on biodiversity.

Recall that biodiversity is most often defined as the number of different species that are present in a given area. This measure can be estimated by making a sample count of species within a representative area. It is often easiest and most effective to collect or observe small organisms, such as insects and soil dwellers, or stationary organisms, such as plants and trees. However, today we will use skittles. In this activity you will investigate the differences in species diversity in different ecosystems (bags of skittles).

Objectives:

Observe and measure differences in species diversity between two locations.

Analyze data collected to reflect differences in species diversity.

Infer and evaluate possible reasons for observed differences in biodiversity.

Infer human activities that may influence local biodiversity.

Materials:

1 bag of skittles

paper towel

lab handout

pencil

Procedure:

1. Gently poor your skittles onto the paper towel. Observe and record the general distribution.

2. Count the total number of skittles and record it in the table.

3. Count the number of skittles for each color group and record it in the table.

4. Record all of the class data.

5. Analyze the data.

Observations:

Skittles Data

|Group |Red |Orange |Yellow |Green |Purple |Total |

|1 | | | | | | |

|2 | | | | | | |

|3 | | | | | | |

|4 | | | | | | |

|5 | | | | | | |

|6 | | | | | | |

|7 | | | | | | |

|8 | | | | | | |

|9 | | | | | | |

|10 | | | | | | |

|11 | | | | | | |

|12 | | | | | | |

|13 | | | | | | |

|Total | | | | | | |

Analysis:

1. What does the bag of skittles represent?

2. What do the skittles represent?

3. What do the different colors represent?

4. What “species” has the largest population? Which one has the smallest population?

5. Based on your observations of the organisms found at the sites, which area (group) had the highest level of biodiversity? Which had the lowest biodiversity?

6. What factors may contribute to differences in biodiversity in nature?

7. What human activities may affect biodiversity?

8. Using your answers from number 7, describe how each activity might affect biodiversity. What can you conclude about the effects of human activities on biodiversity?

9. How could you measure biodiversity in nature? Be specific and thorough!

10. Why is it important to preserve biodiversity?

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