Diversity of insects found in the Woodlot and Grasslands of the Danby Woods at York University

On September 29th, 2015 from approximately 3:30 -4:30pm Muhammad Akram and Daniel Germani, both students of BIOL 2050 and in lab section 02, headed out to the Danby Woodlots in order to collect information regarding the diversity of insects that could be found in the grasslands region and in the woodlot region using a quadrat. The temperature was approximately 15 degrees celcius, with a wind of approximately 15-20km/h in an Eastern direction and moderate persistent rainfall. Insect diversity was first observed in the grasslands area. The grasslands region is characterized by an open field containing short grass, wet soil and small shrubs of plants growing in a patchy distribution. The shrubbery is denser towards the West boundary of the Danby woods and gradually diminishes in the Eastern direction. Trees provide cover along the edges of the grassland. A 1m x 1m quadrat was used to collect data in both the grassland and woodlot. The first quadrat was laid down approximately 30m into the grassland from the Western boundary. The total number of insects and the number of recognizable taxonomic units (RTUs) among these insects was counted by Muhammad Akram using his naked eye and discretion based upon morphology. The data was gathered over a 60 second interval. Then the quadrat was shifted 1m over Eastward and the same variables were counted. After 10 quadrats had been conducted in the grasslands area, the researchers shifted over to the woodlot region of the woods. The woodlot region of the woods is characterized by dense tree growth with a moderate amount of canopy cover. There is a clearing at the centre of the woodlot approximately 200m squared and at the centre of this clearing is where the first quadrat was positioned. Using the same technique, the total number of insects observed and the number of recognizable taxonomic units was recorded, over a 60 second interval. The quadrat was then shifted approximately 1m south and repositioned with recordings being taken once more. A total of 10 quadrats were conducted here in the woodlot, making for a total of 20 quadrats conducted over the woodlot and grasslands area of the Danby Woods. No insects were observed in the woodlot area quadrats and this may be due to the rainy conditions which may have resulted in insects finding shelter underground. Also in the grasslands area the total number of insects as well as the number of RTUs experienced a general decrease as the quadrats were moved Eastward, which may be correlated with the decrease in shrubbery and increase in dirt in that direction of the grasslands.

2015年9月29日约15:30至16:30，BIOL 2050课程02号实验小组的学生穆罕默德·阿克拉姆（Muhammad Akram）与丹尼尔·杰尔马尼（Daniel Germani）前往丹比林地（Danby Woodlots），采用样方（quadrat）采集草原生境与林地生境中的昆虫多样性相关数据。当日气温约15摄氏度，东风风速15-20km/h，伴有持续中等强度降雨。
研究首先在草原生境开展昆虫多样性观测。该草原生境为开阔短草草地，土壤湿润，伴斑块状分布的小型灌丛；灌丛密度沿丹比林地西边界递增，向东侧逐步降低，草地边缘有树木作为遮蔽物。研究人员使用1m×1m的样方在草原与林地区域采集数据：首个样方设置在距草原西边界约30m处，由穆罕默德·阿克拉姆通过肉眼结合形态学特征进行辨识，统计样方内昆虫总数及可识别分类单元（recognizable taxonomic units, RTUs）数量，统计时长为60秒。随后将样方向东平移1m，重复上述变量统计流程。在草原区域完成10个样方采样后，研究人员转移至林地区域开展采样。
林地生境以茂密林木为主要特征，冠层覆盖度中等，林地中心设有一处约200㎡的空地，首个样方即设置在该空地中心。研究人员采用相同方法，统计60秒内观测到的昆虫总数及可识别分类单元数量，随后将样方向南平移约1m，再次完成数据记录。林地区域共计完成10个样方采样，综上草原与林地区域共计完成20个样方采样。
林地区域的样方未观测到昆虫，推测可能与降雨导致昆虫钻入地下避雨有关。此外，草原区域中，随着样方向东侧移动，昆虫总数及可识别分类单元数量整体呈下降趋势，该现象或与该区域灌丛减少、裸露土壤面积增加存在相关性。