Page 32 - THE MATHMATE November 2024

Then move to x-axis = Georgia, and y-axis = Turtles. Note that in Georgia, there are 22 turtle species,
so you do the same thing. Divide 22 by 2 and get 11 species for above and 11 for below the midline –
or 2.2 squares above and 2.2 squares below (11 species / 5 species Figure 2. A completed kite
diagram of per square = 2.2 squares). For South Carolina, there are Amphibian and Reptile diversity
from Florida only 14 turtle species, so that is 7 species per side, or to New York. 1 square = 5 species.
1.4 squares above the midline and 1.4 below (7 species / 5 species per square = 1.4 squares). Do all
the states this way, then make two lines, one connecting the points above the midline, and one
connecting the points below the midline.

For the end points (Florida and New York) you can have a vertical line to connect the top and
bottom points, or you can gently taper the ends back to the midline. Now, move on to Lizard
species, again starting with Florida.

Step 5: Color in the kites. You can have a vertical line to connect the top and bottom points on
each end, or you can gently taper the ends back to the midline (Figure 2).

Figure 1 Figure 2

Interpret your kite diagram
All types of reptiles (snakes, lizards, turtles) and amphibians (frogs, toads, salamanders) have a greater
number of species in the south (Florida / Georgia) than they do in the more northern Pennsylvania / New
York. Most groups decrease in number of species as you move north (though salamanders remain at a
high number through Virginia, and Virginia has more salamanders than Florida / Georgia). Snakes and
salamanders have the greatest number of species, and lizards have the fewest. Reptiles and Amphibians

Scctm The MathMate 32 Volume 44/Number 1 October 2024