Sampling Plants using Quadrats in Grasslands

The data was collected at York University campus in the Danby Woods, on Tuesday, September 22, 2015 around 2:45-5:15pm. It was collected to determine the sample populations of grassland plants in that area. This dataset collected data using quadrats that are one meter by one meter in length. The quadrat was placed randomly on the ground 25 times in order to get a sample of the plant population of the entire grassland area. In order to get random areas of the entire grassland, a random number was chosen and the quadrat was placed down after that many steps were taken. The data that was recorded from each quadrat was the total abundances of plants, the total number of different species, the total cover of all vegetation, and total cover of grass. The total abundance and total number of species was determined by counting the individual plants. The total cover of vegetation and grass was determined by estimating the amount of area it covered relative to the area of the whole quadrat. The entire process of this dataset took around a 1 and ½ hour or so. The temperature was around 21-22°C. Group members include Katie, Katherine, Adam, Ava and I.

本数据集采集于2015年9月22日周二下午14:45至17:15左右，采集地点为约克大学（York University）丹比林地区域校园。本次采集的目的为测定该区域草本植物的种群样本规模。本数据集采用规格为1米×1米的样方(quadrats)开展数据采集工作。为获取整片草地的植物种群样本，通过生成随机数确定行进步数，待行进对应步数后放置样方，以此确保采样区域的随机性，最终共随机布设25个样方。每个样方的记录指标包括植物总多度、不同物种总数、所有植被总盖度以及草本植物总盖度。其中，植物总多度与物种总数通过计数单株植物得出；植被与草本植物的总盖度则通过估算其覆盖样方总面积的比例进行确定。本次数据集的完整采集过程耗时约1.5小时，当日现场气温约21-22℃。参与本次采集的团队成员包括Katie、Katherine、Adam、Ava以及笔者。