Biodiversity Studies in Gorongosa

Resource Type
Description
This activity supports using the citizen science platform WildCam Gorongosa in the classroom. It engages students in calculating species richness, evenness, and the Shannon diversity index for various habitat types using data from trail cameras in Gorongosa National Park.
The activity begins with students exploring the variety of habitat types and species in Gorongosa National Park. Students then visit WildCam Lab, a part of WildCam Gorongosa where they can view, filter, and download trail camera data. Using these data, students are guided through various calculations to determine which habitat types host the greatest diversity of species and how biodiversity is affected by human activities. Students are guided through making observations about species diversity and calculating diversity indices using the accompanying spreadsheet tutorial.
The “Resource Google Folder” link directs to a Google Drive folder of resource documents in the Google Docs format. Not all downloadable documents for the resource may be available in this format. The Google Drive folder is set as “View Only”; to save a copy of a document in this folder to your Google Drive, open that document, then select File → “Make a copy.” These documents can be copied, modified, and distributed online following the Terms of Use listed in the “Details” section below, including crediting BioInteractive.
Student Learning Targets
- Calculate diversity indices (richness, Shannon diversity index, and evenness) by hand and using spreadsheet software (Excel or Google Sheets).
- Make predictions and use evidence to explain a difference in diversity among vegetation types.
- Propose a claim and explanation about a scientific research question supported by scientific evidence.
- Propose a scientific research question that can be investigated using available data.
Estimated Time
Key Terms
claim, community, diversity, ecosystem, evenness, evidence, floodplain grassland, limestone gorge, richness, savanna, Shannon diversity index, species abundance, vegetation type, woodland
Terms of Use
The resource is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International license. No rights are granted to use HHMI’s or BioInteractive’s names or logos independent from this Resource or in any derivative works.
Version History
NGSS (2013)
HS-LS2-2, HS-LS2-7, HS-LS4-6, HS-ESS3-3; SEP1, SEP4, SEP5
AP Biology (2019)
ENE-4.A, ENE-4.B, SYI-1.H, SYI-3.F, SYI-3.G; SP1, SP4, SP5, SP6
IB Biology (2016)
4.1, 5.3, C.1, C.2, C.3, C.4
AP Environmental Science (2020)
Topic(s): 2.1, 9.10
Learning Objectives & Practices: ERT-2.A, EIN-4.C, SP5, SP6
IB Environmental Systems and Societies (2017)
2.1, 2.2, 3.2, 3.4
Common Core (2010)
ELA.RST.9-12.7, ELA.WHST.9-12.7
Math.N-Q.A.1, Math.N-Q.A.3, Math.S-IC.3; MP2, MP4
Vision and Change (2009)
CC5; DP1, DP2