DOI: 10.6084/m9.figshare.4060137.v1
title: Yorku.forest.October 18.2016.csv

description: <b>Data Column Headers and Descriptions:</b> <b>census: </b>refers to the number of weeks of observations that have taken place to date for the campus ecology survey in BIOL 2050 Lab Section 02. Continuous (numerical) variable. <b> </b> <b>habitat: </b>refers to the habitat in which observations were recorded. The habitat that was assessed is a forest. Forest is defined as a woodlot on campus. <b>lat</b>: refers to the latitude at which observations were recorded. Latitude was approximated using Google Maps. <b>elevation: </b>refers to the elevation at which observations were recorded. <b>long</b>: refers to the longitude at which observations were recorded. Longitude was approximated using Google Maps. <b>rep: </b>refers to the replicate; each replicate is a repetition of the experimental condition. <b> </b> <b>abundance.native.plants: </b>refers to the number of native plants. Native plants are defined as those plants that develop naturally or existed in the area for a long time. Continuous (numerical) variable. <b> </b> <b>abundance.exotic.plants:</b> refers to the number of exotic plants. Exotic plants are defined as those plants that do not originate from the location of the study. Continuous (numerical) variable. <b> </b> <b>total.number.flowers (quadrat)</b>: refers to the total number of flowers counted in a quadrat. Continuous (numerical) variable. <b> </b> <b>abundance.woody.plants: </b>refers to the total number of woody plants counted. Woody plant is defined as a plant that is greater than 1.5 meters in height. Continuous (numerical) variable. <b> </b> <b>canopy.cover: </b>refers to the coverage area of the projecting tree crown. Expressed as a percentage. Continuous (numerical) variable. <b> </b> <b>ground.cover: </b>refers to the estimated proportion of vegetative ground cover. Expressed as a percentage. Continuous (numerical) variable. <b> </b> <b>total.flower.number (transect)</b>: refers to the number of flowers counted within 0.5 meters of the transect. Continuous (numerical) variable. <b>abundance.vertebrates</b>: the number of vertebrates (animals) observed within a 50-meter radius in a 15-minute interval. Continuous (numerical) variable. <b>vertebrate.richness: </b>refers to the number of species of vertebrates that were observed. Categorical variable. <b> </b> <b>abundance.human: </b>the number of humans observed within a 50-meter radius in a 15-minute interval. These humans were only recorded if they did not belong to the BIOL 2050 laboratory. Continuous (numerical) variable. <b>abundance.invertebrates.pantraps: </b>refers to the number of invertebrates counted in the soapy-water-filled bowls after 30 minutes. Continuous (numerical) variable. <b> </b> <b>abundance.invertebrates.sweeps: </b>refers to the number of invertebrates counted inside the sweep nets after swinging for 50m. Continuous (numerical) variable. <b> </b> <b>abundance.invertebrates.observed: </b>the number of invertebrates (insects) observed within a 5-meter radius in a 15-minute interval. Continuous (numerical) variable. <b>Additional Information:</b> <b>Hypothesis and Predictions: </b> <b> </b> A. It was hypothesized that fewer invertebrates and vertebrates will be found in the forest as temperature decreases. It is predicted that fewer vertebrates will be observed in the forest on October 25<sup>th</sup>, 2016 than were observed on September 27<sup>th</sup>, 2016 after surveying a 50-meter radius for 15 minutes. It is also predicted that fewer invertebrates will be observed in the forest on October 25<sup>th</sup>, 2016 than were observed on September 27<sup>th</sup>, 2016 after surveying a 50-meter radius for 15 minutes It is predicted that there will be less invertebrates in the pan traps on October 25<sup>th</sup>, 2016 than there were on September 27th, 2016. It was also predicted that there will be fewer invertebrates in the sweep nets on October 25th, 2016 than there were on September 27th, 2016. B. It is hypothesized that there will be a negative relationship between the 2 variables, (abundance of native and exotic plants) in the forest, because the plant species will compete with each other for resources (light, space, food). It is predicted that as the abundance of native plants increases, the fewer exotic plants you will see present the forest. C. It was hypothesized that there is a negative correlation between number of the woody plants and total number of the flowers in the forest. It was predicted that number woody plants will be higher than number of the flowers. The reason is that the percentage of the canopy coverage is higher near the woody plants, therefore blocking the sunlight for the growth of the vegetation and flowers below the trees. Sunlight is an essential source for the growth and photosynthesis of the flowers, less exposure will result in less growth of the small plants. <b>Time Data Was Collected</b>: Tuesday, October 25, 2016. 2:45-3:15 EST. <b>Location of Data</b>: Forest at York University. Latitude and longitude: 43.768756, -79.5079 and 126.30201. <b>Weather Conditions: </b>9 degrees Celsius, sunny, clear conditions. <b>Survey Method</b>: A. The field experiment was conducted using the quadrat sampling technique. A 50m transect was placed on the ground in the forest. An individual would walk along this transect and place a quadrat every 2 meters, alternating left and right along the transect. Each time the quadrats were placed, the total number of exotic and native plants, as well as the total number of flowers within the quadrats were counted and recorded. This sampling technique was repeated for a total of 25 times. B. This experiment was completed using transects. 25 replicates were conducted in the forest. Every two meters along a transect of 50 meters, abundance of woody plants was measured on either side of the transect within 0.5 meters. At these points canopy coverage was observed and recorded by making a square with fingers and holding up and estimating how much of sky you can see. Using the same method the ground coverage was estimated. To measure the ground coverage, a visual area was divided into quadrats, then sum the area covered. At end the total number of flowers was also recorded. C. A 50-meter transect was established perpendicular to the periphery of the forest. Standing at the beginning of the transect, a 50-meter radius was surveyed. The number of vertebrates, the types of vertebrate species, and the number of people (who were not members of the BIOL 2050 Ecology Lab) observed in 15 minutes were recorded. Then, a 5-meter radius from the beginning of the transect was surveyed for 15 minutes. The number of individual invertebrates observed within this 5-meter radius in 15 minutes was recorded. D. 12 bowls with a 6cm diameter and 5cm depth were filled with soapy water and placed in 3m intervals in the forest. The bowl colors were alternated between yellow, blue, and white. The bowls were left for 30 minutes and then the number of invertebrates in the bowl was counted. While waiting the 30 minutes for the pan trap bowls, 50 meters were walked while swinging a sweep net with a 32 cm and a depth of 73 cm from side to side. At the end of the 50 meters, the number of invertebrates captured inside was counted and then the invertebrates released back to the forest. <b>Equipment Used: </b> <b>- </b>transects - 12 plastic bowls with a 6cm diameter and 5cm depth. 4 bowls were blue, 4 bowls were white, and 4 bowls were yellow. - 1 sweep net with a diameter of 32 cm and a depth of 73 cm was used to conduct all the sweep net trials. - quadrats measuring 1 meter by 1 meter