species-area

FORESTS FALL 2018

Species-Area Relationship Lab Assignment

This write-up will be a report on the field-work we did for first lab, 5 September.

I have combined the data for the groups in a single spread-sheet and shared it with you. Keep in mind the sort of habitats/forest where data were collected, and your initial hypotheses.

Your assigned work is to:

1. Develop graphical visualizations of the species-area relationships. Graph the data set in a way that you think best demonstrates the manner in which total (cumulative) species richness is related to sample area and allows you to compare findings among replicates and between sites/habitats. ALSO design these graphs to help assess/illustrate whether the data we collected are consistent (or not) with your initial hypotheses from pre-data-collection discussion. For example, you might want to combine some data-series into a single graph, or you might want to use several parallel graphs; you decide what works best. It is relatively quick and easy to experiment with different graphical formats using graphing/charting functions in spreadsheets (use whatever you have available: Google Sheets is free; some of you may be comfortable with Excel or OpenOffice spreadsheets; if you use 'Numbers' Apple software make sure you 'save as' an xls (excel) file when you submit). All of these spreadsheets work pretty similarly when you get into the 'insert chart' function. You might also experiment with different axis scalings (remember visualizations of species-area relationships in class/notes). Choose some final graphs to include in your report; make sure that they follow all the standard guideliens for graphs -- label the axes, provide a caption... We will spend a few minutes in class looking at basic approaches in spreadsheets. (There are fancier scientific graphics tools available as freeware if you're interested; here's a free one, called VEUSZ, that's pretty easy to use).

2. Interpret and report results. Use selected graphs to illustrate a report in which you:
    a) Make an Introduction. Frame the project/approach in a few sentences and, especially, frame a question or hypothesis or two (what did you expect to see, and why; this can follow discussion at beginning of lab; what predictions/expectations did you have, and why?). Wrap this up with a clear, specific question or two or three that you will try to use these data to address.
b) Present Results. Here's where your graphs come in. Describe any patterns you see; specifically, focusing on what they say about the questions you have framed (e.g., are there interesting similarities or differences among replicates within each habitat? Among habitats?) Refer to specific graphs to illustrate your points as called for.
    c) Interpret and discuss these patterns; especially, consider how and whether they do or do not conform to your initial hypothesis/predictions.   What might be reasons for patterns observed?
    d) From these speculations about reasons for patterns formulate and explicitly state at least one new hypothesis about the causes of patterns (differences, similarities, departures from expectations...) observed. How might you test this hypothesis (What does your hypothesis predict and how can you assess these predictions?)

YOUR REPORT should be a coherent/integrated document that incorporates these things. Use sections and headings to help clarify structure... IT NEED NOT BE LONG. Text part doesn't need to be more than a couple of pages. MAKE SURE your graphs are clearly labeled, and that you follow good, basic graphing practice (label axes, provide legends or captions that explain, etc.).

SUBMIT THE WRITE-UP AS A GOOGLE DOCUMENT SHARED WITH ME OR AS AN EDITABLE WORD-PROCESSOR FILE attached to an email to kwoods@bennington.edu. You can insert graphs directly in the document (best) or submit them as separate files (e.g. as .jpg images or part of the whole spreadsheet).

INCLUDE YOUR NAME IN THE FILENAMES in all submissions (e.g., 'mary_smith_speciesarea_report.docx'). DUE MON 17 SEPT (I'll accept printed work, but prefer the digital form)