We have been conducting a microscopic biodiversity survey in lichen and moss on our campus grounds at Hill Elementary in Austin, Texas. We have three questions we want to answer through our survey:
1) Are there similar densities in communities of tardigrades, rotifers, and nematodes in lichen and moss, or are they different? (Are there more rotifers, nematodes or tardigrades or do they live in similar quantities?)
2) Are there more nematodes, rotifers, and tardigrades found in the canopy OR the base of trees?
3) Are there more nematodes, rotifers and tardigrades in lichen OR moss?
So far, we have found more rotifers than tardigrades or nematodes.
We have also noticed that there is more microscopic life found in the canopy rather than the forest floor or at the base trees. We haven't noticed a big difference in density of animals in lichen verses moss.
We will, however, need to continue this survey to gather more accurate results. We are still learning how to find tardigrades, and are wary that our results may be skewed because we have a harder time finding tardigrades, while rotifers move much faster and are easier to spot. Dr. Miller has found many more tardigrades in our samples than we have! We will have to keep practicing!
1) Are there similar densities in communities of tardigrades, rotifers, and nematodes in lichen and moss, or are they different? (Are there more rotifers, nematodes or tardigrades or do they live in similar quantities?)
2) Are there more nematodes, rotifers, and tardigrades found in the canopy OR the base of trees?
3) Are there more nematodes, rotifers and tardigrades in lichen OR moss?
So far, we have found more rotifers than tardigrades or nematodes.
We have also noticed that there is more microscopic life found in the canopy rather than the forest floor or at the base trees. We haven't noticed a big difference in density of animals in lichen verses moss.
We will, however, need to continue this survey to gather more accurate results. We are still learning how to find tardigrades, and are wary that our results may be skewed because we have a harder time finding tardigrades, while rotifers move much faster and are easier to spot. Dr. Miller has found many more tardigrades in our samples than we have! We will have to keep practicing!