Human disturbance on insect diversity, abundance and plant diversity

The study that was conducted in this experiment is the human effect on insect diversity, insect abundance and plant diversity. Three sampling areas were selected based on the total vegetation coverage. The experimental areas were as follows: highly disturbed area intermediate disturbed area and last but not least, less disturbed area. The hypothesis of this study is that the area with moderate disturbance would contain the maximum species diversity. This prediction goes under the ecological theory of intermediate disturbance hypothesis. Furthermore at low level of disturbance, it is predicted to observe maximum abundance. Highly disturbed sampling area was selected near Vanier College. Two 20m transects were laid on the ground horizontally and vertically perpendicular to each other to measure 400 m2 sampling size. A numbered grid system was used to divide the 20m by 20m sampling area which was randomly selected into 25 grids using a random number table. Grids were numbered from 1 to 400, representing 1mx1m plots. Each experimenter then used the sweep nets of 35 centimeter (cm) diameter to catch the insects. The sweep nets were held about 10cm above the ground and moved back and forth from one edge to the opposite edge of quadrat. The sweeping motion was carried for about 1.5 seconds. The process was carried out similarly for the other randomly placed quadrats. Number of insect and different types of insects were observed and recorded in the data sheet. Based on visual observations of plant morphology or appearance, plant diversity was recorded. Plant diversity included grass and other different visible species of plant. The vegetation coverage was recorded based on visual observation by standing upright and making an estimate of the area covered by vegetation including grass. Vegetation coverage was recorded as a percentage value. The same process was done for Danby grassland which was sampled for intermediate disturbance level and for forest near the Pond road which was sampled for less disturbance level. The experiment was done on October 17, 2014 and October 24, 2014 from 2:30pm to 5:30pm in Keele campus of York University, Toronto Ontario. This experiment was done in groups of 3-4. Our group members included Sana Jamal, Ferinaz, Afraa Tarafdar and Maham Anees (me). The weather was cloudy. The temperature was approximately 16ᵒC.