DOI: 10.6084/m9.figshare.4042416.v1
title: yorku.grassland.disturbed.oct19-2016

description: <b>METADATA:</b><b>census: </b>Survey number of data. <b>calender.date: </b>The date the data was collected on. <b>campus: </b>The university campus the data was collected on. <b>group_ID: </b>The assigned identification (ID) number of the group that collected the data. <b>habitat:</b> The location the data was collected. <b>lat: </b>The latitudinal coordinate where the data was collected measured with a digital compass. <b>long:</b> The longitudinal coordinate where the data was collected, measured with a digital compass. <b>elevation:</b> The height above or below seal level, measured with a digital compass. <b>rep:</b> The repetition of data collection for each method. <b>abundance.native.plants: </b>The number of native plants was counted in a 1m<sup>2 </sup>quadrat along a 50m transect every 2m alternating on the left and right side of the transect for a total of 25 counts. All species were considered exotic except for 1 species of native strawberry plant in the disturbed area. In the grassland, 3 predetermined species were considered native. <b>abundance.exotic.plants: </b>The number of exotic plants was counted in a 1m<sup>2 </sup>quadrat along a 50m transect every 2m alternating on the left and right side of the transect for a total of 25 counts. All species were considered exotic except for 1 species of native strawberry plant in the disturbed area. In the grassland, 3 predetermined species were considered native all the rest were considered exotic. <b>total.number.flowers (quadrat): </b><b> </b>The number of flowers was counted in a 1m<sup>2 </sup>quadrat along a 50m transect every 2m alternating on the left and right side of the transect for a total of 25 counts. If no flowers were found, a zero was recorded. <b>abundance.woody.plants: </b><b> </b>The number of woody plants was assessed every 2m along a 50m transect for a total of 25 counts. Every tree within 0.5m of the transect was included if it was taller than 1.5m. Trees under 1.5m or beyond 0.5m would be excluded. <b>canopy.cover: </b>The percent canopy coverage was estimated by looking at the relative leaf coverage above compared to open space when standing directly along the transect every 2m.<b>ground.cover: </b>The percent of ground cover was measured by estimating the amount of vegetation on the ground within 0.5m of the transect every 2m. <b>total.flower.numbers (transect): </b>The number of flowers was counted within 0.5m of the transect every 2m for a total of 25 counts. If no flowers were found a zero was recorded. <b>abundance.vertebrates: </b>While standing at the end of the transect for 15 minutes, the total number of all vertebrates observed within a 50m radius was counted. <b>vertebrate.richness: </b>The total number of species of vertebrates observed in a 50m radius while standing at the end of the transect for 15 minutes.<b>abundance.human: </b>The total number of humans observed in a 50m radius while standing at the end of the transect for 15 minutes. Other students conducting this lab were excluded from the observations. <b>abundance.invertebrates.pantraps: </b>Six pantraps filled with a soap water mixture were spaced 3m apart along the 50m transect to catch invertebrates.<b> </b>The sequence of white, blue then yellow was used for pan traps in a repeating order. Pan traps were left down for approximately 1.5 hours. <b>abundance.inverebrates.sweeps: </b>Sweep nets were used along 10 lengths of the 50m transect to collect invertebrates. After each length of 50m the abundance of total vertebrates in the net was counted. <b>abundance.intertebrates.observed: </b>While standing at the end of the transect for 15 minutes, the total number of all invertebrates observed within a 5m radius were counted. <br><b>Environment:</b> The data was collected on October 19th 2016, between 2:30 and 4:00pm. It was sunny with scattered cloud coverage. The temperature was approximately 20 degrees Celsius. The data was collected from the Danby Grasslands and Disturbed areas on York University Keele campus with other students from Ecology 2050. There was nearly no vegetation in the disturbed area and minimal wildlife. The grassland was full of dry and dying vegetation and there were not many large plants. There were many invertebrates and some vertebrates in the grassland. <br><b>METHODS: </b>First two transect tapes were extended to make a total length of 50m and then pan traps were set up in both the disturbed area and the grassland. Alternating colors of white-blue-yellow were used every 3m for a total of 18m and filled with a soap-water mixture to catch invertebrates. These traps were left out for 1.5 hours. While waiting, quadrats were placed on alternating sides of the transect every 2m to measure the abundance of native and exotic species as well as flowers. A total of 25 counts were taken along the distance of the 50m transect. At the same time, sweep nets were being used to collect invertebrates. A gentle figure 8 motion was used approximately 0.25m above the ground to collect insects. In the disturbed area, there was little vegitation so the path of the transect could be followed directly. Due to natural obstacles, such as dense vegitation, the path along the transect was not followed precisely with each sweep. A total of 10 sweeps from end to end of the transect were done. Observations were also made at one end of the transect on the abundance of vertebrate and invertebrate species. A 15 minute time interval was measured during which the number of vertebrates observed and number of species seen was counted for a 50m radius. Humans were counted as a vertebrate but members involved in the lab were not included. A second 15 minute interval was measured during which any observed invertebrate species were counted in a 5m radius. Upon completion of herbaceous plant counts, a count of woody plants was also completed. Two samplers moved down the transect at 2m intervals. At each 2m interval, a 0.5m radius was measured to count the abundance of woody plants 1.5m or higher. Percent canopy coverage and ground coverage were estimated at each 2m interval by comparing relative vegetation to open space. The number of flowers in each 0.5m radius was also counted. All survey methods for herbaceous plants, woody plants, invertebrate counts and vertebrate counts were repeated for both disturbed and grassland lots. Lastly, we returned to collect the pan traps in each area and count the number of invertebrates in each pantrap. <br><b>HYPOTHESIS:</b>We hypothesized that the abundance of both vegetation and total abundance of animals would be higher in the grassland because more habitat continues to exist versus the disturbed area where human activity has destroyed possible habitat space. <br><b>PREDICTIONS: </b>1) Higher abundance of woody and herbaceous plants in grassland. 2) Higher abundance of invertebrates and vertebrates in grassland.