Population density of insects and birds in York University's Woodlands

This field study examines the population density of animals
around the woodland areas using four different techniques; namely the pan trap,
quadrant, sweep net, and distance based. The animals observed were restricted
to birds and insects.

Methods:

The pan trap consisted of 18
tricolor bowls, each filled with soapy water, which were placed in clusters of
three; one of each color, at six different woodland locations. The locations
varied in respect to sun exposure and vegetation.

The quadrants were randomly
thrown by hand about ten times with respect to the previously thrown location
to collect the total number of individuals and different species. The distance
between each previous and each subsequent location was also noted.

In order to collect data for both
the distance based and sweep net, the same transect measuring 25 m was used.
For the distance based, five belt transects were conducted to deduce the
distance on and from the transect when the bird(s) were sighted. Both the
number of species and individuals were noted. In the case of sweep net, 10 line
transects were conducted to try and sweep insects into the net and verify both
total number of individuals and species.

Hypothesis:

There will be a correlation amongst
the color of the pan and the total number of insects trapped.

There will be a positive
relationship between amount of vegetation and the total number of insects
trapped in the pans.

There will be a negative
relationship between sun exposure and the total number of insects trapped.

There will be a positive relation
to the distance between quadrant throws and the total number of individuals.

Prediction:

The color of the pan will
determine how many insects are attracted to it with yellow being the most
attractive since it is associated to food colors like honey. Blue will also
garner similar attraction but due to its visibility as something that stands
out and evokes curiosity. White is predicted to garner the least amount of
attraction due to its ability to blend in compared to the other two colors. Also
the presence of vegetation will increase the likelihood of many insects being
trapped because it increases the surface area and provides additional sources
of nutrition and protection for them. However the sun exposure decreases the likelihood
of encounter with insects since direct and prolonged photons and UV rays can be
harmful to the creatures and increase the likelihood of them becoming easy
prey. Also the distance from the previous quadrant will determine the total
number of individual since the lower the distance between the throws the
greater the probability that the quadrant will land on a territory already
disturbed from a previous throw.

Meta – Data:

-         
The Plot was the disturbed territory on the  outer perimeters of the woodland entrance from
York university keele campus

-         
The three bowls of soapy water were placed in
clusters in all of the five locations except for location number six where
there was shortage of yellow bowls so only white and blue were used

-         
Most of the pan traps were left to collect
insects for an average of 5 minutes while the pan traps for location 1 may have
exceeded to about 10 minutes since it took time to lay out the other five