BIOL2050 Ecology Field Sample Training - Comparison of the Abundance and Diversity of Insects in the Danby Woodlot as Opposed to the Grassland

Methods: In order to assess the variation in abundance and diversity of insect species between geographically adjacent grassland and woodlot areas, 9 pan traps were set up in the Danby woodlot and 9 were set up in the Danby grassland. The pan traps consisted of Solo bowls which were filled halfway with soap water and were arranged in an approximate line about 2 meters apart from one another, in both the grassland and woodlot respectively. The purpose of the soap water is that it breaks the surface tension of water allowing for insects to fall in. Each line of 9 traps was set out in a pattern alternating Red, White and Blue coloured bowls. The purpose of the different colours is to attract a broad range of insects, as the colours mimic the colour of flowers. After 2 hours, the pan traps were examined and the total number of insects in the soap water, as well as the number of different insect species (distinguished by morphology - by differences in appearance) were counted. Study Site: This field study took place in the Danby Woodlot on York University's Keele Campus in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Approximate GPS coordinates of the campus are 43.7735° N, 79.5019° W. The study site spanned both the woodlots and the adjacent grassland area. The study was conducted on Thursday September 29th, 2016. The temperature was approximately 15°C with light rain and wind strength at around a 5 on the Beaufort scale. 18 Solo Bowls in the colours Blue, Yellow, and White were used (6 of each colour), as well as soap water, in order to conduct this experiment. No other equipment was necessary, as the data was collected by visual examination to distinguish between insect species and manual tallying of total number of insects. Hypothesis: There will be variation in the total number of insects and the number of recognizable taxonomic units between the grassland and woodlot locations. Additionally, another factor of the surrounding environment to affect the data will be the colours of the native flowers of the area, causing a variation in the total number of insects and the number of recognizable taxonomic units between the different colours of pan traps. Predictions: 1) There will be a greater total number of insects in the pan traps placed in the woodlot location than the grassland due to the fact that this area is less disturbed by wind as a result of the high density of trees in the area, making it easier for insects to move into the traps. 2) There will be a greater number of Recognizable Taxonomic Units (RTUs) in the pan traps placed in the woodlot as opposed to those in the grassland, as this is an area with less disturbances, allowing a variety of species who may not have sufficient adaptions to survive in the more open disturbed grassland, to inhabit it. 3) There will be a greater total number of insects and number of recognizable taxonomic units in the blue and white coloured pan traps as a result of the fact that the majority of the native plants found in the Danby woodlot and grassland area are yellow and white in colour and will thus better attract the native pollinators and other insects. Metadata: Pan Trap Colour (Categorical Attribute): Pan trap bowls were red, blue, and yellow. The colours were distinguished visually by the naked eye. Location (Categorical Attribute): The two locations - grassland and woodlot were visually differentiated between based on the criteria that the area densely populated by trees was woodlot, and the open area primarily consisting of only grass and shrubs was grassland. Total Number of Insects (Categorical Attribute): Total number of organisms displaying the general morphology of insects was manually tallied; counting the number of insects submerged in the soap water. Number of different Recognizable Taxonomic Units (Categorical Attribute): Insect species were visually distinguished relative to one another through their morphology, differentiating using variables such as relative size, colour, wing presence/absence. Group Members: Vanessa Guo, Monica Matta, Krysten Zarivnij

研究方法：为评估地理相邻的草原与林地生境中昆虫物种丰度与多样性的差异，本研究在丹比林地（Danby woodlot）与丹比草原（Danby grassland）各设置9个盘形诱捕器（pan trap）。盘形诱捕器由Solo碗（Solo bowls）制成，盛有半盆肥皂水，在草原与林地中分别以约2米间隔近似直线排列。肥皂水的作用是破坏水的表面张力，使昆虫落入其中。每组9个诱捕器的排列遵循红、白、蓝三色交替的模式，不同颜色的设计旨在模仿花卉色彩，以吸引广谱昆虫。2小时后对盘形诱捕器进行检视，统计肥皂水中的昆虫总数量，以及通过形态学（外观差异）区分的不同昆虫物种数。
研究地点：本野外研究于加拿大安大略省多伦多市约克大学基尔校区的丹比林地开展，校区近似GPS坐标为43.7735° N，79.5019° W。研究样地涵盖林地及相邻的草原区域，实验于2016年9月29日星期四进行，当日气温约15℃，伴有小雨，风速约为蒲福风级（Beaufort scale）5级。本实验共使用18个Solo碗，包含蓝、黄、白三色（每种颜色各6个），并辅以肥皂水；其余无需额外设备，数据通过目视检视区分昆虫物种，并手动统计昆虫总数量完成采集。
研究假设：草原与林地生境的昆虫总数量及可识别分类单元（Recognizable Taxonomic Units, RTUs）数量存在差异。此外，区域原生花卉颜色这一周边环境因素也会对实验数据产生影响，进而导致不同颜色盘形诱捕器中的昆虫总数量与可识别分类单元数量出现差异。
研究预测：
1) 放置于林地的盘形诱捕器中昆虫总数量将多于草原生境，原因在于林地树木密度高，受风力干扰更小，更便于昆虫飞入诱捕器。
2) 林地生境的盘形诱捕器中可识别分类单元数量将多于草原生境，因林地受干扰更少，可为那些无法适应开阔且受干扰较强的草原生境的多种昆虫提供栖息环境。
3) 蓝、白两色盘形诱捕器中的昆虫总数量与可识别分类单元数量将更多，原因在于丹比林地与草原区域的多数原生植物为黄、白色，可更好地吸引本地传粉昆虫与其他昆虫。
元数据：
- 盘形诱捕器颜色（分类属性）：盘形诱捕器碗具颜色为红、蓝、黄三色，通过肉眼目视区分。
- 生境类型（分类属性）：两类生境通过以下标准目视区分：树木密集分布的区域为林地，以草本与灌木为主的开阔区域为草原。
- 昆虫总数量（分类属性）：通过目视统计肥皂水中浸没的、具备昆虫典型形态特征的生物总数量，手动完成计数。
- 可识别分类单元数量（分类属性）：通过昆虫形态学特征（如相对体型、体色、有无翅膀等）目视区分不同昆虫物种。
研究组员：Vanessa Guo、Monica Matta、Krysten Zarivnij