Widener University Journal of
Undergraduate
Ecological Research


    The research inquiry journal for the course
         Biology 301, Introduction to Ecology.


         Volume 9, Number 1, Summer 2001

         Dr. Bruce W. Grant, Editor
         Department of Biology,
         Widener University , Chester, PA, 19013.
         office Kirk. 200, 610-499-4017.
         grant@pop1.science.widener.edu


Please Read This Comment.

           The abstracts at this site were written by junior or senior undergraduates and are the culmination of semester long ecological research inquiries that are a core component of my ecology course at Widener University. These students are biology, environmental science, or science education majors and minors.

           These abstracts (and the manuscripts to which they refer) have been peer reviewed by other students in the class according to specific guidelines I have generated for format, clarity, and the student reviewers' assessment of the scientific merit of their peer's manuscript.

           It is important for interested visitors of this site to understand that the results of the research inquiries reported in this journal are the results of course projects designed, conducted, and reviewed by undergraduate students in an ecology course.

           You are welcome to download some or all of the material I have posted at this site for your use in your ecology course. This does not include commercial uses for profit. If you do use any lengthy exerpts (more than 2 lines) of the material above, I request that you formally acknowledge this site and/or sites I have acknowledged as the source(s). I also request that you reciprocate and send me a copy of your ecology materials so that I may see what you have put together.

    Please send comments to me: grant@pop1.science.widener.edu.

    Copyright: Bruce W. Grant, 2001.



Volume 9, Number 1, Biology 301, Summer 2001.

  • 1. The Effects of Tropical Storm Allison on the Numbers and Biodiversity of Macroinvertebrates in Ridley and Crum Creeks. Shamus P. Keeler.

  • 2. coming soon...


  • The Effects of Tropical Storm Allison on the Numbers and Biodiversity of Macroinvertebrates in Ridley and Crum Creeks. Shamus P. Keeler.

    ABSTRACT:
           Violent storms and flooding can greatly affect aquatic macro-invertebrate communities and the riparian food webs of small streams. In the fall of 1999, Hurricane Floyd deposited over a foot of rain on southeastern, PA. Previous research by Biology 301 students showed that Floyd caused dramatic changes in macro-invertebrate diversity and population sizes. Our study is a follow-up to this research , one-year after Hurricane Floyd, for which we document the biodiversity and population recovery of macro-invertebrates in four creeks (Chester, Crum, Darby, and Ridley) Delaware County, PA, at the same sites that were censused previously. Our hypothesis is that the population of macro-invertebrates has increased while the biodiversity remains the same. We found an overall increase in population of macro-invertebrates as compared to 1999. The total number of individuals counted equaled 242 in the fall of 2000 as compared to a 1999 total of 88 organisms. A decrease in biodiversity was also apparent (Shannon Diversity Indices 1999 to 2000: Chester 4.86 to 1.28, Darby 7.21 to 4.00, Crum 10.60 to 1.94, Ridley 1.83 to 2.24). We suggest that the density increases are due simply to the organisms' sheer resilience and population recovery to the ecosystem disturbance caused by the hurricane. However, the decrease in biodiversity is due to the resurgence of a single dominant species (a caddisfly) in 2000. Interestingly, caddisflies are soft bodied herbivores, and we were among the more heavily impacted by the flood of Floyd. Further studies that may be conducted include the same project with samples taken from equivalent sections of each creek (i.e. urban/non-urban areas, upstream/downstream). We can also observe how long it will take for the populations to return to pre-hurricane censuses.




    coming soon... coming soon...

    ABSTRACT:
           coming soon...




    Copyright: Bruce W. Grant, 2001.