In fall 2014, students in Dr. Brenden Holland’s Environmental Biology BIOL123 course conducted a study using the Species Area Curve (SAC) tool to determine the distribution of biodiversity on the UH West Oʻahu campus compared to the converted agricultural lands off campus. Once data was collected for the SACs, the students created a graph showing the cumulative area surveyed vs. the cumulative number of species observed. The curves provide important information about biodiversity that can be used to compare different areas as well as the same area, and provides a baseline about changes in species diversity over time. The Environmental Biology BIOL123 course addresses Earth Science concepts within the context of life in the Hawaiian Islands. View photos of the students completing the biodiversity study on the UHWO flickr page.
UHWO Environmental Biology students conduct campus biodiversity study
Image courtesy of Brenden Holland