PRACTICAL 2: UNDERSTANDING DIVERSITY –

Activity I: A walk in the University grounds to appreciate animal diversity

Take a walk in the university grounds. List all animals (use common names) that you come across.

Activity IIa). Calculating diversity

Simpson's Diversity Index is a measure of diversity. In ecology, it is often used to quantify the
biodiversity of a habitat. It considers the number of species present, as well as the abundance of
each species.

Tabulate the different animals observed during your walk as shown below. Assign the names to
species 1,2 etc… You are now going to calculate this diversity using the Simpson’s diversity
index (SDI) using the formula

Where:
n = number of individuals of each species
N = total number of individuals of all species

Species No.of individuals n-1 N(N-1)

1
2
3
4

i. Briefly describe each animal, its general body structure or features, the habitat in which
it is found.
ii. Develop your own classification by grouping those animals you think are closely related
together.
iii. What is the significance of Simpson's Diversity Index?
iv. Comment on the diversity of the animals.
v. What conclusion can you make when the value of D is much closer to 1 than 0?

Activity IIb)
Table 1. Results of pond sampling from two different ponds
Species Pond A Pond B
Dragonfly nymph 12 1
Mayfly larva 14 2
Earthworm 0 25
Mosquito larva 0 53
Copepods 15 19
Pond snail 17 3

i. Calculate the index of diversity for both pond A and pond B

Species Pond A n-1 n(n-1) Pond B n-1 n(n-1)
Dragonfly 12 1
nymph
Mayfly larva 14 2
Earthworm 0 25
Mosquito 0 53
larva
Copepods 15 19
Pond snail 17 3

ii. Comment on the diversity of the two ponds.

Activity I & IIa) should be submitted in the form of a lab report (next lab session) using the
above questions as a guide for your discussion. Read widely and consult more literature!!

Activity IIb) should be done and submitted in the practical class.