Module 1: The Relationship between Island Size and Species Richness [Island Biogeography]

Suited for Upper-Level Undergraduates

Course:

• Introductory Biology or Ecology (Freshmen or Sophomores)

Length:

• This exercise is designed as a 2-3-hour experience, but could be spread over several days or include a take-home component.
• The assessment is completed as a take-home assignment.

Objectives:

• Interpret patterns of species distribution on islands using natural history collections data.
• Apply the process of science by the development and testing of hypotheses.
• Collect, clean, and analyze data from a digitized natural history collection.

Activities:

1. Students make a prediction about the relationship between island size and species richness.
2. Students use an aggregated online database to download species collection records from islands of different size classes in the Alexander Archipelago.
3. Students determine the number of mammal species collected on each of the selected islands. This activity requires significant time for data “cleaning”.
4. Students do statistical analyses of the data (t-test, ANOVA, or regression) to test their hypotheses.

Assessment:

• Students complete a standard laboratory report detailing their methods and findings.