A study on insect and invertebrate abundance and diversity ina York University woodlot

Methods: To assess the abundance and diversity of insects in
the Saywell woodlot at York University quadrats (n=25) were placed randomly on
the ground and the surveyor counted the total number of individual insects and
invertebrate species within each quadrat. Insects that entered into the ground
and air space of the quadrat within a period of 20 seconds were included in the
counts. Recognizable taxonomic units (RTU) were determined via surveyors’
discretion, where the surveyor determined RTU by visual inspection.

Study site: The study took place outdoors in the Saywell
woodlot at York University property (at approximately 43.7769 N, 79.4966 W). Data
was collected on Sept. 29, 2016 from 2:55pm to approximately 3:40pm. The
temperature was 16°C and the weather was overcast with periodic drizzling. Wind
speed was approximately 25 km/h.

Hypothesis: The woodlot has more ground insects than flying
insects due to the availability of food resources on the ground.

Predictions:

1) Ants are the most abundant
species in the woodlot, since they commonly use wood sources to build shelters.

2) Due to the size of the woodlot,
there will be a small average number (less than five) of RTUs.

3) There will be a low abundance of
species observed due to the inclement weather and low temperature.

Metadata description:

Sample Number – number assigned to each quadrat

Abundance – number of total insects and invertebrates
observed within the quadrat during the observation time.

Recognizable taxonomic units (RTU) – number of distinct
species observed by the surveyor within the quadrat

Comments – Breakdown of the RTU, including counts of total
number for each individual species.