Hinkle and Helgaas 1

Emily Hinkle
Ellie Helgaas
Dr. Jansen
BIO 200: Ecology
13 October 2017

Condition of House vs. Biodiversity

Project Summary
Many neighborhood associations require homeowners to keep their lawns a certain height
and their house well kept. This has become a standard regulation in many communities, but have
they considered how these regulations affect the diversity of plant species in the area? This
experiment aims to discover if there is a correlation between condition of house and number of
plant species residing on the property. To test this, a rubric giving numbers to each aspect of a
house has been developed and would be used to determine the average score given representing
the assessed condition of the house. The number of plant species on the property would be
counted in one meter plots throughout the yard, determined using a map and random number
generator. This data would be analyzed using a scatter plot to determine whether a correlation
was present.
Introduction
Species diversity is dependent upon a number of variables. This experiment will test how
the condition of a house will affect the species diversity of plants within the property line. A
random number generator will generate fifteen numbers corresponding to square sections in each
lot in which to measure the species diversity. Since a random number generator gives the
location for measurements, nothing will need to be done in order to control for the different sizes
of properties. Through the experiment, there will be a better understanding about how the
condition of buildings in areas that are urbanized affects the diversity of species. David Hooper,
et al, found that the diversity of species seen above ground can likely be correlated to the
diversity of species below ground. Since this experiment is focused on the plant species
diversity, the diversity is likely above ground, but if the experiment were to be expanded, a
correlation between the species seen above ground and the species below ground might be found.
Eyal Shochat, et al found that as urbanization increases, the species diversity decreases, but the
species population increases. While this study is focused on animals, it would be a step in
determining whether the same is true for plant populations. In the experiment completed by
Loren Byrne et al, it was found that the covering of ground surface affected the species diversity.
Since these coverings also affected the soil underneath, the variations of soil type would affect
the species that can grow in the soil. If the condition of houses would affect soil variability, then
these effects would also be seen in the diversity of plant species. Moth Broyles, et al found that
grass-free lawns, which only included plants to be a better alternative to the traditional grass
lawn to increase insect diversity and abundance in the area, therefore increasing other diversity.
Due to the fact that when invasive species are introduced into a new area, they sometimes take
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over the native species, it would be expected that higher amounts of invasive species would
decrease the native species diversity of an area. The findings of Schooler, et al are consistent
with this prediction. In their experiment, it was found that invasive species in the wetlands and
the moth population were negatively correlated, while moth population and plant species
diversity are typically positively correlated. If moth population is negatively affected by invasive
plant species, it is reasonable that native plant species would also be negatively affected by
invasive plant species. This is because there would be more competition for resources among the
plants. Moths do not compete for many of the same resources as the invasive plant species,
therefore it would make sense that there would be a strong negative correlation between native
plant species and invasive plant species.
In regards to the effect of plant diversity on animal diversity, the proposed experiment is
not directly testing this, but it would be expected that there would be some correlation between
the plant diversity and the animal diversity. Kerri Crawford and Jennifer Rudgers tested the
correlation between plant diversity, dominant plants, and animals diversity. It was found that
animal diversity was determined most by the genetic variation of the dominant plant species
instead of the diversity of plant species. In this experiment, there might be some connection
between what the dominant plant is and how diverse the plant species are. Kimberley With and
Daniel Pavuk studied the effect of fragmentation on habitat. Since this experiment is looking at
individual properties in a city, it is likely that there is a high amount of fragmentation in the
landscape. High amounts of fragmentation likely have an effect on the diversity of species. Since
the properties are relatively small, there is a lot of edge, so it is likely that there will be decreased
diversity of species due to the fact that some of the species are not going to see the property as a
possible habitat because the environment is not suitable for the specific organism.
Methods
The transect measured will be Walnut Street in Springfield, Missouri beginning at
Kimbrough Street and ending at Glenstone Avenue. The condition of each house will be
determined first using the rubric shown below.
Category 5 4 3 2 1

Yard Outside of the Outside of the Outside of the Outside of the Outside of the
landscaped landscaped landscaped landscaped landscaped
areas, the areas, the areas, the areas, the areas, the
height of the height of the height of the height of the height of the
vegetation is tallest tallest tallest tallest
uniform vegetation is vegetation is vegetation is vegetation is
no more than no more than no more than no more than
2x that of the 3x that of the 4x that of the 5x that of the
tallest tallest tallest tallest

Concrete There is no Discoloration The concrete More than 3 Small cracks

discoloration, of the is not level cracks larger all through
no curling, no concrete, but (Curling) OR than 12 the concrete
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cracks, no no cracks, no 1-3 cracks inches OR the (Crazing) OR

crazing, and scaling, no that are less cracks are 50%+ of the
no scaling crazing than 12 more than 12 surface is
inches long inches long peeling off
(NOT OR some of (Scaling) in
crazing), less the surface is addition to
than 25% of scaling (less the above
surface is than 50%) items
scaling OR OR
discoloration discoloration
in addition to in addition to
the above the above
items items

Roof No Some Shingles Less than half Roof sagging

discoloration, discoloration, curling/buckli of the OR more than
no but no ng/cracked shingles half of the
curling/buckli curling/buckli OR missing OR shingles
ng/cracked ng/cracked or gutters/downs less than 50% missing OR
shingles, no gutters/downs pouts loose of more than
gutters/downs pouts loose OR granules gutters/downs 50% of
pouts loose or missing on pouts hanging gutters/downs
missing, no shingles (bald out of place pouts hanging
bald spots, no spots) OR 1-5 or missing out of place
shingles shingles or missing
missing, and missing
no sagging of
the roof

Outside Outside Outside Outside Outside Outside

Covering covering is in covering is covering has covering has covering has
good has less than 11-20% of 21-30% 31% or more
condition 10% of surface covered with covered in
with no surface covered with mold OR mold OR
chipping, covered with mold OR chipped in 5- chipped in
mold, fading, mold OR is chipped in 3- 6 places OR more than 7
or chipped in 1- 4 places OR has 1-2 holes places OR
discoloration 2 places OR has 3-4 holes larger than 1 has 3 or more
has 1-2 holes less than 1 inch in holes larger
less than one inch in diameter OR than 1 inch in
inch in diameter OR has 5-6 holes diameter OR
diameter OR is faded in less than 1 is faded in
is faded addition to at inch in addition to at
least one of diameter OR least 3 of the
the above is faded in above items
items addition to at
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least 2 of the
above items

Miscellaneou All 1-2 pieces in 3-4 pieces in 5-6 pieces in 7+ pieces in

s miscellaneous need of repair need of repair need of repair need of repair
(Trim, pieces are OR 1-2 OR 3+ pieces
Windows, present, in pieces are are missing
Doors, good missing
Shutters) condition and
not in need of
repair.
Houses will be scored based on condition of yard, concrete, roof, miscellaneous pieces on
house, and outside of house. The house itself and all other structures to the property line will be
scored for each individual plot. After the house is scored for each piece of the rubric, the scores
for each will be added together and a total average score for each house will be decided.
Following the determination of a score for each house, the amount of plant species will
be determined by methodically cataloging each new plant species that is discovered in 1 meter
square plots throughout the yard. Each lot will be divided into 1 meter square plots using a map
and then these plots will be numbered. A random number generator will be used to select 15
plots from each yard to catalog. This process will be repeated bimonthly for two years to lessen
the impact of random environmental variables such as drought, season change, and temperature
variation, etc as was suggested by Hooper, et al. After this data is collected, the data will be
plotted on a scatter plot with the x-axis being condition of house, and the y-axis being amount of
plant species. This will be analyzed based on whether the scatter plot shows a positive or
negative correlation between the condition of house and number of plant species present.
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References
Byrne, Loren B., et al. “Ecosystem Properties of Urban Land Covers at the
Aboveground–Belowground Interface.” Ecosystems, vol. 11, no. 7, Mar. 2008, pp.
1065–1077., doi:10.1007/s10021-008-9179-3.
Coombs, E M, et al. “Negative Per Capita Effects of Two Invasive Plants, Lythrum Salicaria,
and
Phalaris Arundinacea, on the Moth Diversity of Wetland Communities.” Bulletin of
Entomological Research, June 2009.
Crawford, Kerri M, and Jennifer A Rudgers. “Genetic Diversity Within a Dominant Plant
Outweighs Plant Species Diversity in Structuring an Arthropod Community.” Ecology,
May 2013.
Hooper, David U, et al. “Interactions Between Aboveground and Belowground Biodiversity in
Terrestrial Ecosystems; Patterns, Mechanisms, and Feedbacks.” Communities and
Ecosystems, Dec. 2000, doi:10.1515/9781400847297.105.
Schooler, S S, et al. “Negative per capita effects of two invasive plants, Lythrum salicaria and
Phalaris arundinacea, on the moth diversity of wetland communities.” Bulletin of
Entomological Research; , June 2009, doi:9/27/2017.
Shochat, Eyal, et al. “Invasion, Competition, and Biodiversity Loss in Urban Ecosystems.”
Bioscience, vol. 60.3, Mar. 2010.
Smith, Lionel S., et al. “Adding Ecological Value to the Urban Lawnscape. Insect Abundance
and Diversity in Grass-Free Lawns.” Biodiversity and Conservation, vol. 24, no. 1, Jan.
2015, pp. 47–62., doi:10.1007/s10531-014-0788-1.
With, Kimberly A, and Daniel M Pavuk. “Direct Versus Indirect Effects of Habitat
Fragmentation on Community Patterns in Experimental Landscapes.” Oecologia, Apr.
2012.