DOI: 10.6084/m9.figshare.3846885.v2
title: BIOL 2050 Week 3 Lab In Danby Grassland- Group 3 Data Set 2

description: <br>Meta Data: <b>Plant Number: </b>This factor is a list of the 10 plants that were selected from the same species in order to conduct the study in the Danby grassland. This was measured by finding the plants that were from the particular chosen species through visual observation along the transect measuring tape. <b> </b> <b>Distance on Transect</b>: This factor is the distance of each chosen plant (in centimeters) from the starting mark of the transect tape. This was measured by randomly placing a transect tape across the Danby grassland and measuring it out to 25 meters. After choosing to focus on the specific plant species in this study, the plants of this species that were near the transect (standing within 30 centimeters away from transect tape) were identified through visual observation and their measurement away from the starting point of the transect was documented. <b>Height:</b> This factor is the measured height of the chosen plants (in centimeters). This was measured by using a transect measuring tape. The start of the measuring tape was pointed towards the bottom of the plant, where its stem emerges from the soil and was stretched vertically in order to measure plant height. The plant was held straight by laboratory member and the measurement was taken off of the transect visual reading. <b>Number of Leaves: </b>This factor is the number of leaves that the plant had. This was measured by manually counting each leaf that was located throughout the surface of the plant. Leaves that appeared to be joined to other leaves were counted as separate leaves. <b>Number of Flowers: </b>This factor is the number of flowers that were located on the plant. This was measured by observing the plant and manually counting each flower that was located on the plant. Flowers that appeared to be in very close proximity to other flowers, having a conjoined appearance, were counted as separate flowers. On the specific plant species in this study, flowers were defined as the yellow outgrowths from the tip of the plant. <b>Level of Crowding:</b> This factor is the level of crowding of other vegetation surrounding the plant. This was measured by observing the surroundings of the plant, approximately within a 50-centimeter area. A scale was used to approximate the level of vegetation surrounding the plant from 0-3, 0 being open, 1 being some plants nearby, 2 being quite a few plants, and 3 being very crowded. Site Description: This study was conducted on York University Danby grassland at approximately 3:00 pm on Wednesday, September 21, 2016. The weather during the time of the study was sunny with a temperature of 28 degrees Celsius and humid conditions. The grassland was accompanied with various different types of vegetation and also accompanied approximately 20 students and a Teaching Assistant. Observations were made under a good amount of natural sunlight. The noise levels were non-distracting and consisted mostly of natural sounds. Methods: Upon arriving to the York University’s Danby grassland area, a transect measuring tape was measured and spread out linearly to 25 meters across a randomly selected area of the grassland. After walking along the measuring tape, an easily visible plant species was quickly chosen as the plant species for this study. Starting from the beginning of the measuring tape (0 centimeters) and walking along the 25 meters, 10 plants from the chosen species was identified and selected and their distance from transect, height, number of leaves, number of flowers and level of crowding were measured and documented on a data sheet. The 10 plants were identified as being part of the chosen species by visually observing the plants and noting similar features in structure and appearance. Distance and height of the plants were measured by using a transect measuring tape in centimeters. The number of leaves and flowers of the plants were measured by manually counting. The level of crowding was measured by observing 50 centimeters around each plant and approximating the density of vegetation surrounding and ranking them with a level ranging from 0-3 (0= open, 1= some plants nearby, 2= quite a few plants, 3= very crowded). Hypothesis: Plants that had a greater distance from the transect, a higher height, a greater number of leaves, and a lower level of crowding have more flowers because they experience less competition for resources and can therefore bloom to a higher degree. Prediction 1: The higher the plant the more flowers the plant will have. Prediction 2: The lower level of crowding of vegetation surrounding the plant, the more flowers the plant will have.