Skip to main content
HHMI BioInteractive
  • Español
  • Site Search
  • Log In/Create Account
  • BioInteractive Resources
  • Planning Tools
  • Professional Development
  • About Us

Habitat Size Impacts Arthropod Species

Two charts from the activity

Topic

  • Ecology
  • Communities
  • Environmental Science
  • Conservation
  • Math & Computational Skills
  • Graph Interpretation

Resource Type

  • Activities
  • Data Points

Level

High School — GeneralHigh School — AP/IBCollege
Saved By
2 Users
Share This

Description

This activity guides the analysis of a published scientific figure from a study that explored the relationship between species number and habitat size for arthropods living on desert shrubs. 

The arthropod species in this figure are specialist herbivores that feed and live only on the shrubs. The figure shows the number of these species on shrubs of different sizes, both before and after fumigation. The results can be used to demonstrate the species-area relationship, a major pattern in island biogeography, and the fact that this relationship returns even after a major disturbance.

The “Educator Materials” document includes a captioned figure, background information, graph interpretation, and discussion questions. The “Student Handout” includes a captioned figure and background information. 

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

  • Analyze and interpret data from a scientific figure. 
  • Explain the relationship between species number and habitat size or area.
     

Estimated Time

Within one 50-minute class period.

Key Terms

equilibrium, fumigation experiment, island biogeography, linear regression, logarithmic scale, scatterplot, specialist, species richness, species-area relationship, trendline

Primary Literature

Sanchez, Brian C., and Robert R. Parmenter. “Patterns of shrub-dwelling arthropod diversity across a desert shrubland-grassland ecotone: a test of island biogeographic theory.” Journal of Arid Environments 50, 2 (2002): 247–265. https://doi.org/10.1006/jare.2001.0920. 

Terms of Use

Please see the Terms of Use for information on how this resource can be used.

Accessibility Level (WCAG compliance)

PDF files meet criteria.

Version History

Date Published 12.16.21

NGSS 2013

HS-LS2-2, HS-LS2-6; SEP2, SEP4, SEP5

AP Biology 2019

SP1, SP4

IB Biology 2016

4.1, C.2

AP Environmental Science 2020

Topic(s): 2.3
Learning Objectives & Practices: ERT-2.D, ERT-2.G; SP3, SP5
 

IB Environmental Systems and Societies 2017

2.2, 3.1

Common Core 2010

ELA.RST.9–12.7
MP2, MP5
 

Vision and Change 2009

CC5; DP2, DP3

Materials

Resource Google Folder (link)
Educator Materials (PDF) 331 KB
Student Handout (PDF) 234 KB
Figure (JPG) 75 KB

Explore Related Content

Other Resources About Island Biogeography

Showing of
Graph from the paper
Data Points
Habitat Isolation Impacts Arthropod Species
Chart from the activity
Data Points
Habitat Fragmentation Impacts Arthropod Species
Graph showing the equilibrium point between immigration and extinction
Lessons
Exploring Island Biogeography through Data
Photo of a constructed walkway for animals to cross highways safely
Film Activities
Activity for From Ants to Grizzlies
Two bear cubs walking on their hind legs crossing a road
Short Films
From Ants to Grizzlies: A General Rule for Saving Biodiversity

Other Related Resources

Showing of
Graph from the paper
Data Points
Habitat Isolation Impacts Arthropod Species
Chart from the activity
Data Points
Habitat Fragmentation Impacts Arthropod Species
Graph showing the equilibrium point between immigration and extinction
Lessons
Exploring Island Biogeography through Data
Graph from the activity
Data Points
Tracking Global Changes in Forest Cover
Photo of a lion taken from a trail camera
Click & Learn
WildCam Lab
Photo of a constructed walkway for animals to cross highways safely
Film Activities
Activity for From Ants to Grizzlies
Photo of a tapir
Click & Learn
WildCam Darién
Trail camera image of a lion
Click & Learn
WildCam Gorongosa
Montage of keystone species from the interactive
Click & Learn
Exploring Keystone Species
Two bear cubs walking on their hind legs crossing a road
Short Films
From Ants to Grizzlies: A General Rule for Saving Biodiversity
HHMI BioInteractive
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Newsletter Signup
  • HHMI.org
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Policy
  • Accessibility