DOI: 10.6084/m9.figshare.4037379
title: Abundance and Diversity of Plants, Flowers, Vertebrates, and Invertebrates at York University in Pond area and Impermeable Area (Keele Campus)

description: <b>Herbaceous plants: Marta Chilina</b>Abundance Native Plants:Abundance of native plants, the number of native plants within a 1m<sup>2 </sup>quadrat, was collected through a biological survey method. Native species comprised of flowering plants (like goldenrod), shamrocks/clovers, and several other unidentifiable species. Species were counted over the entire 1m<sup>2</sup> quadrat, rather than a quarter. This variable is quantitative and discrete. Data was collected near a pond and a nearby impermeable area (baseball diamond). Sampling at pond area began at 3:00 pm and sampling at impermeable area began at 4:00 pm.Abundance Exotic Plants: Abundance of exotic plants, the number of exotic plants within a 1m<sup>2 </sup>quadrat, was collected through a biological survey method. Grass was categorized as an exotic species, and surveyed over one quarter of the 1m<sup>2</sup> quadrat, which was then multiplied by four to get a total estimate of colonies in the entire quadrat. This variable is quantitative and discrete. Data was collected near a pond and a nearby impermeable area (baseball diamond). Sampling at pond area began at 3:00 pm and sampling at impermeable area began at 4:00 pm.Total Number of Flowers: Total number of flowers, the number of flowers on plants within a 1m<sup>2 </sup>quadrat, was collected through a biological survey method. Flowers counts were obtained from one plant, and then multiplied by the abundance of the same plant in the 1m<sup>2</sup> quadrat to record the total number of flowers present on that plant species in that quadrat. When counting goldenrod flowers, only stems were counted and multiplied by the total number of goldenrods in the quadrat, not individual flower buds. Only flower blossoms were considered in this experiment. This variable is quantitative and discrete. Data was collected near a pond and a nearby impermeable area (baseball diamond). Sampling at pond area began at 3:00 pm and sampling at impermeable area began at 4:00 pm.<b>Woody plants: Noah Malaqui</b>A 50 metre transect was placed near the shore of a pond and in an impermeable area. Data for the abundance of woody plants, canopy coverage, vegetation/ground coverage, and abundance of flowers was measured every 2 metres--starting at one end of the transect--in each location through visual inspection. For the abundance of woody plants, the number of trees in a 0.5m radius from a spot, only trees that had a height of at least 1.5 metres or more side were considered woody plants. This variable is a quantitative discrete variable. Canopy coverage, the percent of the sky covered by canopy from trees above a point of observation, was measured by remaining in place and looking up at the sky. This variable is a quantitative, continuous variable. Similarly, vegetation/ground coverage was measured by standing still and looking down at the ground; data was measured as a percentage of how much bare ground was not visible in that distinct spot. This variable is a quantitative continuous variable. For the abundance of flowers, the number of flowers within 1m on each side of the transect, only plants that had visible flowers sprouting were considered and recorded. This variable is a quantitative discrete variable. A 50 metre transect yielded a total of 25 replicates since data was measured and recorded every 2 metres.<b>Vertebrates & Invertebrates: Mihails Ditmans</b>Vertebrate Abundance:The vertebrate abundance is the number of vertebrates seen within a 50m radius of the observation point over a course of 15 minutes. Vertebrates were counted on trees, on the ground, in the air, and in the pond. This is a quantitative discrete variable. Data collection began in the pond area at 3:00 for the vertebrate observation and 3:15 for the invertebrate observations and in the impermeable area began at 3:45 for vertebrate and 4:00 for invertebrate.Vertebrate Diversity:The vertebrate diversity is the number of different types of vertebrates found within a 50m radius of the observation point over a course of 15 minutes. Birds of observably different morphology were counted separate in terms of diversity, for example seagulls, small black birds and large black birds. Vertebrates were counted on trees, on the ground, and in the air. This is a quantitative discrete variable. Data collection began in the pond area at 3:00 for the vertebrate observation and 3:15 for the invertebrate observations and in the impermeable area began at 3:45 for vertebrate and 4:00 for invertebrate.Human Abundance:The human abundance is the number of humans seen within a 50m radius of the observation point over a course of 15 minutes. Cars were counted as 1 person unless more could be seen through the windows. One person passing through multiple times was only counted once. This is a quantitative discrete variable. Data collection began in the pond area at 3:00 for the vertebrate observation and 3:15 for the invertebrate observations and in the impermeable area began at 3:45 for vertebrate and 4:00 for invertebrate.Observed Invertebrate Abundance:The observed abundance of invertebrates is the number of invertebrates seen in a 5m radius of the observation point over a course of 15 minutes. Both land invertebrates and flying invertebrates were included. If a fast moving invertebrate was seen multiple times it was counted as multiple individuals. This is a quantitative discrete variable. Data collection began in the pond area at 3:00 for the vertebrate observation and 3:15 for the invertebrate observations and in the impermeable area began at 3:45 for vertebrate and 4:00 for invertebrate.<b>Invertebrates: Miriam Bastawrous</b>A total of 6 pan traps were distributed 3 metres apart in alternating colours of yellow, white, and blue. They were filled with soapy water from 3:00pm and left out until 3:30pm near the shore of a pond (total duration of 30 minutes) and from 3:40pm to 4:00pm in the impermeable area (total duration of 20 minutes). At the end of each period the abundance of invertebrates, which is the number of invertebrates seen inside the liquid of the bowl, were recorded. This variable is a quantitative discrete variable. Next, a sweep net was used along the 50 metre length of the transect 10 separate times. Each time the sweep net reached the end of the transect, the abundance of invertebrates, which is the number of invertebrates within any part of the net, found in the net was recorded. This variable is a quantitative discrete variable. This was done in the pond area at 3:10 and in the impermeable area at 3:45.<b>Methods:</b>A 50 metre transect was used to measure several variables throughout the data collecting process. Quadrats were placed every 2 metres alternating left and right starting at one end of the transect for a total of 25 replicates. Total abundance of native and exotic plants were recorded as well as total number of flowers within each quadrat. Additionally, the transect was used to measure the abundance of woody plants, canopy coverage, vegetation/ground coverage, and abundance of flowers. Here, observations were made after stopping every 2 metres and observing the immediate surroundings for all variables. Canopy coverage was estimated by looking straight up while vegetation/ground coverage and abundance of flowers was estimated by looking down. This process was also repeated for a total of 25 replicates. The abundance of vertebrates and number of vertebrate species within a 50 metre radius at one end of the transect was measured and recorded through observation for at least 15 minutes. In another 15 minute interval, the abundance of invertebrates was recorded using the same methods. Finally, sweep nets were used to collect the abundance of invertebrates by walking along the transect for a total of 10 replicates. Subsequently, 6 pan traps placed 3 metres apart were used to also collect the abundance of invertebrates at one end of the transect. The traps alternated in colours of yellow, white, and blue. Each pan trap was left to collect invertebrates for at least 30 minutes. All of the methods listed above were conducted in both a pond area and impermeable area at the Keele Campus of York University on a foggy and humid afternoon from 3pm-5pm.<b>Hypothesis:</b>Plant and animal species would be more abundant in pond areas compared to impermeable areas. This would be due to plants having soft soil for nutrients to grow and consequently the animals having plants to eat.<b>Predictions:</b>1) There will be a greater abundance of native, flowering, and exotic plants in the pond area compared to the impermeable area.2) Canopy coverage and vegetation coverage will be greater in the pond area than in the impermeable area.3) Abundance of invertebrates, abundance of vertebrates, and diversity of vertebrates will be greater in the pond area than in the impermeable area.