YorkU.forest.Oct25-2016.csv

Quadrats
performed by Arastou Sayad

Hypothesis:

There will be more native plants than exotic plants in the forest. 

Predictions:

·      There will be a
wider variety of native plants than exotic plants in a quadrat placed on the
forest floor.   

·      There will be a
higher abundance of native plants than exotic plants in a quadrat placed on the
forest floor.

Method:

1.   
The experiment took place on Tuesday, October 25, 2016,
from approximately 2:40 to 3:30 in the forest that is located at York
University, Keele Campus (43.768756,-79.5079).  The elevation is 126.30207.

2.   
25
quadrats were placed every two meters along a 50m transect line in a forest.
Each quadrat has an area of 1m2. They were placed in such a way that
the quadrats alternated between the left and right side of the transect line.

3.   
The
exact number of exotic plants, native plants and flowers were counted in each
quadrat.

Meta-Data:

Abundance.native.plants: refers to the total number of native plants
that was found in each quadrat. The data is continuous.

Abundance.exotic.plants: refers to the total number of exotic or
invasive plants that was found in each quadrat. The data is continuous.

Total.number.flowers: refers to the total number of flowers counted in
each quadrat. The data is continuous
Transect Performed by Andrew Laruffa
Hypothesis:
Habitat plays a role in the abundance of woody
plants (trees taller than 1.5 meters) and other flower species.
Predictions:
-In a forest habitat,
·     
There will be a vast
abundance and distribution of woody plants.
·     
There will be a limited
abundance and distribution of other flower species.
-Woody plants are able to collect more sunlight,
water and nutrients than other plant species due to their height and size of
their roots.
Methods:
The following experiment was performed in a forest
habitat.  A total of 25 individual
counts/replicates were recorded.
The methods are as follows:
-A transect measuring 50m was randomly placed.
-For every two meters along the transect:
·     
The number of woody plants
was counted on either side of the transect that were within 0.5 meters.
·     
The canopy coverage
percentage was approximated by dividing the visual area above me into quadrats.
This was done by making a square with the fingers of both my hands and
estimating how much of the sky was visible.
·     
The ground coverage
percentage was approximated by dividing the visual area beneath me into
quadrats and estimating how much of the ground was covered with vegetation.
-For every five meters along the transect, the
total number of flowers was counted on either side of the transect within 1
meter.
Meta-data:
abundance.woody.plants = The number of woody
plants counted every two meters and were within 0.5 meters on either side of
the transect.  The data is quantitative
and continuous.
canopy.cover = The approximate percentage of
sunlight cover when looking up.  The data
is quantitative and continuous.
ground.cover = The approximate percentage of
vegetation covering the ground when looking down.  The data is quantitative and continuous.

total.flower.number (transect) = The number of
flowers with distinctive heads counted every five meters and were within 1
meter on either side of the transect. 
The data is quantitative and continuous.
Point Surveys performed by
Anisa Omer
Hypothesis:
The forest is a refuge for many vertebrates and invertebrates all
year round, especially during the winter time since it is rich in diversity and
coverage. This means that there will be a high abundance of species found
within it.
Prediction:
The abundance of vertebrates, the number of vertebrate species and
the amount of invertebrates will be high in the forest because it is a refuge for
many species especially during the winter.
However, we need to take into account that some of the vertebrates
and invertebrates may have migrated already due to the drop in temperature or
have begun preparing for hibernation since winter is soon approaching. In
addition, there will likely be no humans found within the forest.
Methods:

Transects
measuring fifty meters and five meters was placed in a forest on the Keele
Campus of York University (43.768756,-79.5079) and an elevation of
126.30207. The two transects were placed and observed for fifteen minutes
each and the conditions were cold (6͒C) and windy.
Fifteen minutes were spent observing and recording the abundance of
vertebrates, vertebrate species and abundance of humans on a fifty-meter
radius from a set location. Another fifteen minutes were spent observing
the abundance of invertebrates on a five-meter radius from another set
location. The experiment was conducted in the forest
Meta-data:
Abundance of Vertebrates: the amount of vertebrates observed in
fifteen minutes within a fifty-meter radius. Data is continuous.
Vertebrate Species: the types of species observed in fifteen
minutes within a fifty-meter radius. Data is continuous.
Abundance of Invertebrates Observed: the amount of invertebrates
observed in fifteen minutes within a five-meter radius. Data is continuous.

Abundance of Humans: the amount of humans observed in fifteen
minutes within a fifty- meter radius. Data is continuous.
Pan Trap and Sweep Net Performed by Charles Brian Serapio 
Hypothesis:
Due to decreasing temperatures,
there will be less invertebrates in the forest as there are less leaves, plants
and grasses where they can take refuge in.  
Predictions:
·     
There is a lesser
number of insects found in the pan trap during this sampling (October 25) compared
to the sampling conducted on September 27 when the temperatures were higher.
·     
There is a lesser
number of insects caught in the sweep net during this sampling (October 25) compared
to the sampling conducted on September 27 when the temperatures where higher.
Methods:
1.   
The sampling was conducted at a forest (43.768756,-79.5079) located near Keele
and York Blvd. at York University, Keele Campus. The elevation is 126.30207. The conditions during that day can be
considered as chilly with some winds. The temperature averaged around 6°C.
2.   
For the first part of the experiment (pan trap), six
bowls (2 yellow, 2 blue and 2 white) were placed along the length of a 50m
transect line at the forest. The bowls were alternated by colour as well. Each
bowl had a diameter of 17.5 cm and a depth of 4.5cm. The bowls were
approximately 3m apart from each other and each bowl was filled with around
100mL of soapy water. The bowls were left there for 30 minutes from 3:20 to
3:50. After 30 minutes have elapsed, the number of insects in each bowl was
counted.
3.   
For the second part of the experiment (sweep nets), one
has to walk the length of the 50m transect while conducting the sweep net. This
was done for a total number of ten times.
Meta-data:
Abundance.invertebates.pantraps:
the total number of insects captured by pan traps. The data is continuous.

Abundance.invertebrates.sweeps:
the number of insects captured by sweep nets. The data is continuous.