III.B.1 Life in a Microhabitat

Concepts: Microhabitat, biodiversity, adaptations, and research techniques.
Skills: Observation, cooperative learning, data recording and interpretation.
Time needed: Part One: approximately 10-15 minutes. Part Two: approximately 20 minutes.
Best Time Of Year: Anytime.
Sunshine State Standards: LA.B.2.2.1,LA.C.1.2.1, MA.A.3.2.2, MA.E.1.2.1, MA.E.1.2.3, SC.G.1.2.1, SC.G.1.2.2, SC.H.1.2.1, VA.A.1.2.1.

This activity has four parts that should be split into at least two days. During Parts One and Two, your class will construct pitfall traps and Berlese funnels. During Part Three, your class will go outside to observe microhabitats, set pitfall traps, collect leaf litter, and will set up Berlese funnels inside the classroom. (Time must also be allowed for students to check pitfall traps the next day.) In Part Four, your class will answer questions using data collected from their observations.

III.B.1 Part One--Make a Pitfall Trap

Pitfall traps will catch small animals such as beetles, spiders, small lizards, and even frogs or toads that move around in the leaf litter. These simple traps should take approximately 10-15 minutes to make. Each team of 2-3 students should have one.

Materials needed (for one trap):

  • One clear, 2-liter plastic soda bottle, large cottage cheese or yogurt container (or other non-breakable container with slick sides).
  • One "roof" made with a disposable plastic plate (or the top of the container) to keep out rain and intense sunlight.
  • Supports to keep the roof up off the container and allow space for animals to drop in. (Rocks, sticks, bamboo skewers).
  • A weight to keep the roof from blowing away (a small piece of wood works well). If bamboo skewers are used, they will sufficiently anchor the roof.
  • Big metal spoon or trowel for digging a hole in the sand for your trap.
Directions:
  1. If using a plastic soda bottle, cut the neck off the soda bottle off where it begins to curve.

  2. Prep your roof with bamboo column supports, if desired, by punching approximately 4 small holes in a plastic plate and sticking the skewers through the holes.

  3. Pitfall trapTo set your trap, dig a hole big enough so that the trap's top edge is even with the surface of the sand. (If the edge of the trap sticks up above the sand, the leaf litter organisms will run into the edge and will not fall inside.) Place your container in the hole and carefully mound the sand to the edge.

  4. Position roof supports around the container and put the roof on. (If you use bamboo skewers, simply push one end of each skewer into the sand.) Make sure to leave a gap approximately 2 inches between the trap and roof so organisms have room to fall in.

  5. Put a weight on your roof to keep it from blowing away (unless you used bamboo skewers).

After you set your traps, be sure to check them the next day-or within a 24-hr. period. When you are finished with your trap, dig it up and bring it inside. If animals get trapped and aren't collected or released, they can get overheated and die or become easy targets for predators

Don't be surprised if you don't capture animals in all the traps. Scientists at Archbold Biological Station in Lake Placid, Florida, put out bucket-sized pitfall traps and will sometimes capture only one or two organisms in a trap each time the traps are set.
III.B.1-Part 1    Part 2    Part 3    Part 4
student data sheets #1    #2     #3     leaf litter labels
III. LIFE IN THE LEAF LITTER LAYER
A. Mushrooms:    III.A.1    III.A.2    III.A.3
B. Life in a Microhabitat    III.B.1
C. Glossary    D. Questions for Student Evaluation