To what extent does the distance from Bristol city
centre cause a decline in biodiversity?
Candidate Number - 9366
1
, Contents
Executive summary: 3
Introduction: 4
Literature review: 7
Methodology: 10
Data Presentation and Analysis: 16
Conclusion: 23
Evaluation: 26
Bibliography: 28
8250 Words
2
, Executive Summary
The purpose of this investigation was to discover whether the biodiversity in Bristol is affected
by the distance from the city centre. I chose to do this by investigating three major areas: air
pollution, tree health and species richness and evenness of a riverbank. I completed this
investigation in Bristol as this was the best suited local area to the investigation. The overall
investigation question also links to the specification in several places. One example of this is
under section 3.1.6.1, where the causes of biodiversity loss are mentioned.
I used three methods to investigate each of my sub-questions. Using lichens as pollution
monitors to measure air pollution, using Lime Trees to measure the health of trees and using
the riverbank of the River Avon to investigate the species richness and evenness. This gave a
good overview of the biodiversity within Bristol, while also giving a varied set of data. There
were several risks and limitations taken into account and locations were chosen for each
sub-question to minimise these risks and limitations.
After analysing the data collected, I concluded that the biodiversity is negatively affected by a
decreasing distance from the city centre. The data relating to air pollution strongly supports this
conclusion and, although the data collected on species richness and evenness and the health
of trees does not support this conclusion as strongly, this data does still support the conclusion
overall. Moreover, when the data on air pollution is considered in relation to theory in the
literature review it strongly supports the hypothesis that biodiversity will decrease as the
distance from the city centre decreases.
3
centre cause a decline in biodiversity?
Candidate Number - 9366
1
, Contents
Executive summary: 3
Introduction: 4
Literature review: 7
Methodology: 10
Data Presentation and Analysis: 16
Conclusion: 23
Evaluation: 26
Bibliography: 28
8250 Words
2
, Executive Summary
The purpose of this investigation was to discover whether the biodiversity in Bristol is affected
by the distance from the city centre. I chose to do this by investigating three major areas: air
pollution, tree health and species richness and evenness of a riverbank. I completed this
investigation in Bristol as this was the best suited local area to the investigation. The overall
investigation question also links to the specification in several places. One example of this is
under section 3.1.6.1, where the causes of biodiversity loss are mentioned.
I used three methods to investigate each of my sub-questions. Using lichens as pollution
monitors to measure air pollution, using Lime Trees to measure the health of trees and using
the riverbank of the River Avon to investigate the species richness and evenness. This gave a
good overview of the biodiversity within Bristol, while also giving a varied set of data. There
were several risks and limitations taken into account and locations were chosen for each
sub-question to minimise these risks and limitations.
After analysing the data collected, I concluded that the biodiversity is negatively affected by a
decreasing distance from the city centre. The data relating to air pollution strongly supports this
conclusion and, although the data collected on species richness and evenness and the health
of trees does not support this conclusion as strongly, this data does still support the conclusion
overall. Moreover, when the data on air pollution is considered in relation to theory in the
literature review it strongly supports the hypothesis that biodiversity will decrease as the
distance from the city centre decreases.
3
