DOI: 10.6084/m9.figshare.3840474
title: Data Collection for Adult and Sapling Cedar tree using transect tape and a tape rule.csv

description: Meta-data Diameter of Adult Cedar tree: The diameter of an adult cedar tree was measured using a tape rule. it was found based on random footsteps measured using a footstep count app on a cell phone. The measurement of the diameter for the adult cedar tree was taken at breast-height. The criteria of what an adult cedar tree looked like was deduced by the height which had to be about 10 feet tall; the height if an average person. The measurements were done in meters and can therefore be considered as a quantitative variable. Also, this is a categorical data as it was either an adult tree or its sapling tree that was measured. In addition, the variable was continuous as the diameter of the adult cedar tree was measured using a tape rule as stated earlier. Canopy Cover of adult cedar tree: A square was made with fingers which were used to look through the canopy of the tree in order to know how much sky was showing. This variable was visually estimated to know the percentage of the square that was covered by the canopy of the adult cedar tree. The adult cedar tree was encountered by taking random footsteps as mentioned earlier. This variable can be categorized as discrete due to the fact that this was an effective way to measure the canopy cover; it was mainly an estimate but it can still be considered a quantitative data which was recorded in percentage denoted by %. One can say this variable is a dependent variable, because the canopy cover is dependent on the diameter of the tree, in this case the adult cedar tree. This will be further explained in the hypothesis and prediction. Distance to nearest sapling cedar tree: The distance to the nearest sapling cedar tree (which was considered to be under 10 feet tall) was measured using a transect tape and recorded in meters. It was determined by where the adult cedar tree was located and then the distance was measured. This variable is a quantitative variable. It is also a continuous variable as the distance from the adult tree to the nearest sapling tree was measured. This variable is also categorical as there was an adult cedar tree and a sapling cedar tree. Diameter of sapling cedar tree: The diameter of the nearest sapling cedar tree was measured at breast-height in meters. A tape rule was used to derive these measurements. This variable is also continuous as well as quantitative. It can also be said to be categorical as it was either an adult cedar tree or a sapling cedar tree that was measured. Description In this data set, a transect tape and tape rule were used to measure and also the measurements were recorded on a piece of paper. All these data were collected on a hot, windy day on Monday September 19, 2016 at an abundant woodlot which had a large amount of trees both dead and alive as well as grasslands, where most of the trees were close together and barely any place to walk. In order to speed up the data collection, two individuals were involved in retrieving and measuring each variable used in this data set. The following variable were measured and recorded; diameter of adult cedar tree, canopy of the adult cedar tree, distance to nearest sapling cedar tree and the diameter of sapling cedar tree. All of these variables were measured in meters except for the canopy cover of the adult cedar tree which was measured in percentage denoted by %. The diameter of both the adult and the sapling cedar tree were measured suing a tape rule which was done at breast height. The tape rule was held from one end of the tree branch to the other. In regards to the distance to the nearest sapling cedar tree, this was done using a transect tape that was laid flat on the floor from the end of the adult cedar tree to its nearest sapling tree. The measurements as stated earlier were taken in meters. The adult trees were found by taking random footsteps counts with the use of a footsteps count app on a cell phone and according to this the nearest sapling tree was found. The canopy cover in percentage was simply measured by forming a one-by-one inch square with fingers and then used to look through the canopy of the tree to determine the how much blue sky can be seen from the adult cedar tree. It is obvious that the species of the tree chosen was a cedar tree, with point sharp leaves. This specific specie of tree was chosen because there was a vast majority if it in the woodland and it was easy to find its nearest sapling tree with its distinct and unique shape of leaves. The hypothesis of this data states that the diameter of the adult cedar tree will be greater than the diameter of the sapling cedar tree due to the difference in tree size. Furthermore, the canopy cover percentage of the adult cedar tree will be dependent on the diameter of the adult cedar tree, therefore as the diameter of the adult cedar tree gets larger or increases so does the canopy cover of the tree. If the hypothesis is true, then it can be predicted that it will be discovered that the diameter of the adult cedar tree will be greater than that of the sapling cedar tree and also that canopy cover of the adult cedar tree will be dependent on the diameter of the adult cedar tree, as when the diameter of the adult cedar tree increases, the canopy cover percentage also increases variably. After all of these data were collected and all observations were noted, the hypothesis and predictions were right as the adult cedar tree had a much greater diameter than the sapling cedar tree and also the larger the diameter of the adult cedar tree, the larger the canopy cover percentage was.