Biology in Our Backyard

When comparing the biodiversity and number of trees of the same species in an equal size area of Brazilian rainforest and a temperate decidious forest in NE United States the results from the two sites will vary greatly. The number of different species of trees in the rainforest will greatly out number the the temperate decidious forest, while on the other hand the number of trees per species in the temperate decidious forest will greatly outnumber the number of trees per species in the Brazilian rainforest.

In this experiment the statistics for an area of Brazilian rainforest was given out to be compared the data collected by students in the temperate forest. First, an area of forest was marked off. The materials needed for the collection of the data were as follows: tape measure, clipboard and a writing utensil. The group collecting the data was then to go through the marked off area counting and measuring the stems of trees that were more than 20cm in diameter at chest level. The group of students collecting the data formed a line in and walked through the designated area making sure to collect the data from all possible trees between them before moving forward, thusly ensuring that no tree were left uncounted nor were any trees counted more than once.

Sources of error in this experiment include the possibility of recounting or not counting tree stems that fit the proper criteria, or counting trees that didn't fit the criteria. There is possible error in the tape measure because it may not have been perfectly made. The final source of error is that of human error.

After looking at the data it was determined that there were four types of tree present in the area of temperate decidious forest that was marked off: type A, type B (maple), type C (oak) and type D; in a comparison to the Brazilain rainforests 14 different species in a similar sized area. While the number of trees within a species for a decidious forest was at its lowest with type C at 2, but its highest with type A at 10. The rainforest data provided had its lowest number of organisms within a species at 2, while it had its highest number at 4. The total number of trees in the brazilian rainforest was 28 while it was 26 in the temperate decidious forest.

In conclusion the hypothesis has been proven correct on both points. The biodiversity of the rainforest outweighs that of the decidious forest 14:4. When it comes to number of organisms