Explain why the lab topic is important to scientists.

This first laboratory exercise is a virtual one in which you will explore human impacts on the diversity of species present in a longleaf pine forest of the Southeastern Coastal Plain of the US. Along the way, you will also apply the steps of the scientific method in completing the activities. Before you begin, please review SCI207 – The Scientific Method (Links to an external site.) presentation video. When you have finished, please access the Biodiversity & The Scientific Method Laboratory here. https://ashford.instructure.com/courses/104132/modules/items/5281213
Introduction
Background paragraph:
Provide background on the lab topic, explaining the key concepts covered in the
lab and defining (in your own words) important terms relating to the lab. Explain why the lab topic is important to
scientists. Using APA format, cite at least two outside credible sources (sources
other than textbook or lab manual) in your statement. Your background paragraph should
be 5-7 original, substantive sentences long.

Objectives
paragraph: In 4-5 sentences, explain the purpose of this
lab. What is it intended to examine or test?

Hypotheses paragraph: State your hypotheses for this
lab. Be sure to cover all the lab activities, one at a time. For each hypothesis,
explain why you originally thought that would happen.
Note: Do not mention the actual results of the lab here –
they go later in the report.
For additional help in writing your Introduction section,
refer to the University of Arizona Global Campus Writing Center Resource, Introductions
and Conclusions.

Materials and
Methods
Using your own words, describe
what you did in each of the lab activities. Answers should enable a lab report
reader to repeat the lab just as you did it – a process known as replication.
Clearly explain any measurements you made (including the measurement units).

Results
Data Tables: Copy
and paste any completed data tables here, in order.
Observations: Provide
your observations for each lab
activity here, in order (Week Three only)
Graphs: Paste your
graphs here (Weeks One and Four
only). Include a numbered figure
caption below each one, in APA format.
Photographs: Paste
your photographs here, in the order they were taken in the lab. Include numbered figure captions below each
one, in APA format.

For additional help with the data tables and images, refer to
the University of Arizona Global Campus Writing Center resource, Tables, Images,
and Appendices.

Discussion
Accept or reject hypotheses paragraph: Based
upon the results of each lab activity, explain whether you accepted or rejected
each of your hypotheses, and why.
Follow these steps:
· Restate
your original hypothesis for the lab activity.
· Communicate the results of the lab. Then,
· Compare
your hypothesis to the results of the lab and decide whether to accept your
hypothesis or reject it.
· State
if your hypothesis is supported or not, and explain with evidence.
· Move
on to the next lab activity and repeat the process.

What I have learned
paragraph: What important new things have you learned
from this lab? Use at least one credible outside source (not the lab manual or
textbook) to answer this question. Cite the source using APA format. Answers
should be 5-7 original, substantive sentences in length.

Sources of error
paragraph: What challenges did you encounter when
completing this lab? (Identify at least one.) How might those challenges that you
experienced have affected the accuracy of the results that you obtained?

Future research paragraph: Based
upon what you learned in this lab, what new questions do you have about the topic
of this lab? In a few sentences, how might you design a new lab activity to
answer those questions?

References
List
the references that you cited in your report, in APA format and alphabetically
by author’s last name. If you did not actually cite the source somewhere
in your paper, do not include it.
For
additional help in formatting your resources section, refer to the University
of Arizonaackground paragraph:

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