IndexIntroductionMaterials and MethodsResultsDiscussionDisturbances within an environment can have a substantial impact on the abundance of species present. Areas with high disturbance tend to promote low species diversity, while areas with low disturbance tend to promote higher species diversity. In this study, the diversity of bird species in natural environments was compared to that of a habitat with artificial features. It was hypothesized that there would be less species diversity among birds found outside of a natural habitat. Four groups were tasked with observing the number of different bird species present in a specific location. In total, ten bird species were found in natural habitats, while only eight bird species were found in artificial habitats. However, because the value of our statistical analysis was so low, we could not conclude that there was a significant difference in species diversity between the two locations. The results did not support the hypothesis, but this could be due to the collection of data in one day and the overall adaptation of the birds to their environment. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay Introduction Species diversity is exceptionally important in determining the overall health of a community and/or ecosystem. Habitats that contain high species diversity are more likely to resist disturbance, compared to habitats with low species diversity. In a report written by WA Ntongani and SM Andrew, it is mentioned that researchers Hill et al. , together with DM Green and MG Baker, found that habitats that have experienced some type of disruption tend to offer less species diversity than more resource-rich natural habitats (2013). Another study conducted by Reijen et al. , found lower abundances of bird species present in areas that produced significant interference and impeded their ability to communicate (Pipps 2000). The goal of this study was to determine whether, within the Winthrop Recreational and Research Complex, bird species diversity in an area that supported a natural habitat differed from that of a habitat that featured more man-made features. We sought to observe whether or not there really was a disparity between the two, or whether usual conditions had little influence on species diversity in our observation areas. Given the above information, I hypothesized that if a community of birds were found outside of their natural habitat, then there would be less species diversity present in the group. Materials and Methods Experimental observations were recorded on the afternoon of September 12, 2018 at the Winthrop Recreation and Research Complex, located near the Winthrop University campus in Rock Hill, SC. The 325-acre open-air site consisted of a lake and marsh habitat, a wooded area with three successional plots (known as Winthrop Woods), soccer fields, softball fields, a golf course, a track and a near Colosseum. The main areas of interest were centered on natural habitats and artificial habitats. We decided to narrow it down, more specifically, to lake and wetland habitat, Winthrop Woods succession lots, softball fields, and the Coliseum parking lot. Winthrop Woods was created to serve as an area where students can examine and conduct research studies. In 1989, some50x50 meter successional plots were set aside to intentionally remain undisturbed, allowing for future observations of the area (Winthrop Biology). This action was followed by the creation of two more succession lots in 1994 and 1999 respectively, with the same purpose (Winthrop Biology). The collective area has currently been in succession for approximately 30 years and consists of a climax community of deciduous trees. The process began by dividing the class into four separate groups, each responsible for one of the areas shown in Figure 1. Each group contained approximately five students and was responsible for collecting data in their respective fields. The groups were adequately equipped with two or three sets of binoculars, a smart device consisting of the Merlin Bird ID application (to facilitate bird identification) and pen and paper. The areas enclosed in boxes with different colors indicate the four different locations where the observations were made. The parking lot and softball fields are outlined in red and yellow, respectively, while wetlands and succession lands are outlined in orange and white. Data was collected for just one day, a Wednesday afternoon, for about an hour between 3:45 and 4:45 pm. The weather was generally clear, with a light overcast sky, and it should be noted that a strong storm was expected to hit in the next few days. Over the course of the hour, each group surveyed their respective areas for different bird species, using natural vision, binoculars and their sense of sound. Individuals walked the entire area of ​​their section, examining multiple areas, including the horizon, areas of low ground, tree branches, marshy wetlands, etc., and took note of each bird that they found. In an effort to make the process more efficient, each group designated two to three people to carry the binoculars and act as observers, while the remaining people shared the responsibilities of using the Merlin Bird ID application (to facilitate bird identification). bird species) and general note-taking. At the end of an hour, all groups gathered in the laboratory and consolidated all recorded data. My research team was tasked with surveying the Winthrop Coliseum parking lot. Two individuals, as stated above, were primary observers and used binoculars to scan the sky and tree lines that were in the immediate vicinity. Once a bird was spotted, general descriptions (color, size, calls, etc.) were provided to the person taking notes and to people with the Merlin Bird ID app to determine the actual species. We started at the northwest corner of the parking lot and traveled generally southeast throughout. Results After combining all the data from each research group, a total of ten different bird species in natural habitats and eight different bird species in human artificial habitats were found. Three common birds have been observed in both areas: the eastern bluebird (Sialia sialis), the northern cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis), and the northern thrush (Mimus polyglottos). To determine whether there was significant species diversity among birds present in the complex area, we used the chi-square formula, where = chi-square value, = sum of all values, O = the number of bird species observed and E = the number of bird species expected (Equation 1). With our data, O = 10 for the natural habitat and O = 8 for the artificial habitat, while E = 9 for both. Since our degree of freedom for this experiment was df=1, we needed a chi-square value greater than 3.84 to support the.