Week Without Halls- Cemetery Lab

Part 1- Survivorship

This lab investigates the patterns of mortality and survival in a population at the St. James Cemetery in Toronto, ON.

Specific Research Question:

You can choose to investigate mortality between two time periods

Eg. 1840 to 1860 AND 1890 to 1910 ( in 20 year segments)

OR

You can chose one time period (maybe 1840 to 1860) and compare mortality in males and females.

My research question is: ______

Data Collection and Processing:

1.  You need to record (a minimum of 100 graves):

·  Birth date

·  Death date

·  Age at death

·  Time bracket or sex (depending on RQ)

2.  You will then processes the data using excel to create the headers below. Remember to show one sample calculation. Use the tiger book, pg. 175 to help you with this:

·  Age at death

·  Number of original group surviving

·  Survivorship

3.  Create two survivorship curves, which are X-Y scatter graphs from which you will add a line to connect the points.

4.  Write one paragraph comparing the survivorship curves generated for each study variable. Include a description of the survivorship trend and whether each curve is type 1, 2 or 3 .

5.  Submit to the online dropbox in your Biology Blackboard Course

Assessment:

Part 2- Simpson’s Diversity Index

Background:

The Simpson's Diversity Index is a mathematical formula that takes into account species richness and evenness. A high value of D suggests a stable and ancient site and a low D value could suggest pollution, recent colonization or agricultural management. The index is normally used in studies of vegetation but can also be applied to comparisons of animal (or even all species).

# Species / Distribution / Index Value
10 / 1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1 / 0
5 / 2,2,2,2,2 / 9
5 / 6,1,1,1,1 / 3
1 / 10 / 1

Method:

1.  Randomly collect roughly 100 leaves from grounds of the cemetery

2.  Sort the leaves into piles based on their species type

3.  Create a table to record the data in

4.  Count the total number of individuals of each species

5.  Calculate the simpson’s diversity index (D):

D = N(N-1)

 n (n- 1)

Where: N = total number of organisms in the survey

n= the number of individuals for each species

6.  In a paragraph, explain the meaning of the Diversity (D) index value. Use the leaf book page. 156 or Campbell. What does this value tell you about the biodiversity of trees at St. James?

7.  Submit your lab in the appropriate blackboard dropbox (one file for both labs is fine)