Laboratory Investigation # 18
Ecology
Description of the Lab
This lab will require that you go over some aspects of statistics, like natural
Outline of Investigation
1. Adaptation
2. Diversity Index
A. Candies with different colors (Skittles or M&M’s)
Suggestion: Separate the 80 pieces of candy into plastic bags. This
will reduce time for you and the students. Give a bag to each pair
Laboratory Materials and Equipment for Student Use
Materials and Equipment
Per
Student
Per Pair of
Students
Per Lab
Group
Per
Room
An array of plant species (living and/or
pressed) that grow in various climates
student or group to produce 4
communities of 80 individuals.
Bags of candy with a limited number of
Preparation of laboratory Materials and Reagents
One week prior to the lab
Locate C4, C3 CAM plants
Questions for Lab 19 Ecology
Use the knowledge you acquired in this lab exercise, along with information from your
textbook, to answer the following questions.
1. Define conduction.
2. Define convection.
3. What is the difference between evaporation and transpiration?
Transpiration is the process where water evaporates from the above
4. List the five metrics used to measure heat storage in organisms.
a. metabolism
5. What are some various ways that a plant minimizes heat gain by radiation?
6. What are some various ways that a plant minimizes heat loss by conduction?
7. Define Species Diversity?
Species diversity is a characteristic unique to the community level of biological
8. What is the difference between species richness and evenness?