DOI: 10.6084/m9.figshare.3987285
title: YorkU.forest.Oct5-2016.csv

description: <b>Site Description:</b>The sampling was taken on Wednesday, October 5th, 2016 in the Danby Woodlot on York University Keele Campus. The observations were made between 2:30-4:30pm on a clear, sunny, autumn afternoon with no wind and in 20°C weather. The woodlot ground was covered in lots of tree sticks, dirt, fallen leaves and was mostly shaded due to the canopy of many trees. The data was collected with lab partners Carrie Ewins, Lisa Damla, Rana Shabo, and Jenny Tang, while the rest of the class and the teaching assistant participated in their own lab roles in proximity.<br><b>Methods:</b>Herbaceous Plants - Quadrats: A 1 meter by 1 meter quadrat was placed along a 50 meter transect in the Danby Woodlot. Quadrats were alternated on the ground on the left and right of the 50 meter transect for the 25 quadrats used. Each quadrat was placed 2 meters apart from one another. For each quadrat, the total number of exotic plants, the total number of native plants and the total number of flowers inside the quadrat were visually determined, physically counted and recorded. This method was repeated a total of 25 times for the 25 quadrats in the Danby Woodlot.Woody Plants: A 50 meter transect measuring tape was placed in the woodlot and a recording for each factor was measured every 2 meters in distance (replicates of 25) along the transect. The number of trees along either side of the transect was counted while standing 0.5 meters away from it. Any tree taller than 1.5 meters was counted as 1 woody plant. 0 was recorded if no plants were present in this area. By looking up and making a square using our hands, an estimated canopy cover was recorded. Using this same method with our hands and looking down, the total ground coverage was estimated. The total number of flowers was recorded.Vertebrates & Invertebrates: A 50 meter transect measuring tape was placed upon the woodlot ground, around 20 meters away from any other lab groups. By standing at the beginning of the transect, any vertebrate species was observed and recorded within the radius. The total number of individuals found was summed under abundance of vertebrates and vertebrate species. During this first 15 minute interval, the number of people that do not belong to our lab group was recorded as the abundance of humans. During the next 15 minute interval, the number of individual invertebrates within a 5 meter radius of the same standing point of the transect was observed and recorded. Invertebrates - Pan Traps: 6 pan traps were set out along a 50 meter transect, 3 meter apart, with the colour pattern of white, yellow, blue. Each pan trap was filled approximately ¾ full with soapy water, and left to sit for 2 hours. After 2 hours, each pan trap was observed, and the total number of invertebrates in each trap was counted and recorded. An individual was counted whether it was in the soapy water or crawling along the top or side of the pan trap.Invertebrates - Sweep Nets: A figure-8 was vigorously made with the sweep net while walking along a 50 meter transect. When the end of the transect was reached, the net was grasped at the opening to prevent any caught organisms from escaping. Invertebrates were then searched for by observation through the mesh as well as by picking through leaves caught in the net, in order to reveal any hiding individuals. The total number of invertebrates observed was counted and record. This was repeated 10 times.<br><b>Meta-data:</b>Abundance of native plants: The total number of plants that were not the European Buckthorn or the Mustard Green plant that were inside the quadrat. What counted as a plant was determined visually by the following criteria. Only plants with a stem or trunk were counted. Only plants that were alive were counted. Finally, plants were only counted and recorded as 1 plant if the plant’s stem or trunk was physically inside the quadrat. Data is numerical and discrete.Abundance of Exotic Plants: The total number of plants that were either the European Buckthorn or the Mustard Green plant that were inside the quadrat. What counted as a plant was determined visually by the following criteria. Only plants with a stem or trunk were counted. Only plants that were alive were counted. Finally, plants were only counted and recorded as 1 plant if the plant’s stem or trunk was physically inside the quadrat. Data is numerical and discrete. Total number of flowers: The total number of flowers that were inside the 1 meter by 1 meter quadrat. A flower was counted as a plant with a stem with petals at the top of the stem. Therefore, buds or flowers that have bloomed both were counted as flowers. Only flowers that were alive were counted. Data is numerical and discrete.Abundance Woody Plants: A distance of 0.5 meters to the right and the left sides of the 50 meter transect were measured along the whole transect for every 2 meters along the 50 meter transect. Woody plants were counted as a tree, whether it was an adult or sapling. A tree was counted as anything that was taller than 1.5 meters and had a stem with bark on it. Data is numerical and discrete. Canopy cover: A square was made using our hands and was held up to a tree canopy above. A percentage of how many leaves cover the area of the square made was estimated. Data is numerical and continuous. Ground cover: A square was made using our hands and was looked down on. An estimate of the percentage plants on the ground was made by counting the amount within the square. A plant was counted as anything with a stem and was alive. Data is numerical and continuous. Total number of flowers: The total number of flowers that were inside the 1 meter by 1 meter quadrat. A flower was counted as a plant with a stem with petals at the top of the stem. Therefore, buds or flowers that have bloomed both were counted as flowers. Only flowers that were alive were counted. Data is numerical and discrete.Abundance Vertebrates: The total amount of vertebrates seen in a 50 meter radius in a 15 minute interval. A 50 meter transect was placed upon the woodlot ground and the number of vertebrates observed along the 50 meter radius was recorded. A vertebrate organism was counted if the organism was taller than 10 centimeter and alive. Data is numerical and discrete. Vertebrate Species: The number of different species observed was recorded. Species were determined visually using the criteria provided in the Biology 2050 lab manual. <br>Only living animals were counted. Data is numerical and discrete. Abundance Human: The number of humans that were in the 50 meter radius along the 50 meter transect. Humans that were from the lab group were not counted. Data is numerical and discrete. Abundance Invertebrates: The number of invertebrates observed was along the same 50 meter transect. Invertebrates were counted and observed within a 5 meter radius of the transect for 15 minutes. An invertebrate counted as an any living insect smaller than the size of a baseball. Only living organisms were counted. Data is numerical and discrete.Abundance Invertebrates Pan-traps: The total number of invertebrates in each of 6 pan traps after 2 hours. An individual invertebrate was counted whether it was in the soapy water or crawling along the top or side of the pan trap. An insect was counted as anything that was smaller than a baseball and had more than 4 legs and had a pair of antennas. Both dead and alive invertebrates were included. Data is numerical and discrete.Abundance Invertebrates Sweeps: The total number of invertebrates in each of 10 sweep nets, caught while walking along a 50 meter transect. An insect was counted as anything that was smaller than a baseball and had more than 4 legs and had a pair of antennas. Only insects that were still inside the net while counting were recorded. Both dead and alive invertebrates were included. Data is numerical and discrete.<br><b>Hypothesis:</b>The total number flowers and the percentage of ground covered both determine the total number of invertebrates. If there is a higher number of flowers and a higher percentage of ground covered, there will be a higher total number of invertebrates observed. This is because more flowers and ground coverage means that there are more resources and vegetation that the invertebrates can use for survival. <br><b>Predictions:</b>We predict that a higher number of flowers will result in a higher total number of invertebrates observed. We predict that a higher percentage of ground cover will result in a higher total number of invertebrates observed.