Percent canopy coverage, diameter at breast height and distance between maple trees in Danby woodlot, York University

On Wednesday September 23rd, 2015, lab 2 of BIOL2050 was performed in Danby Woodlot, located at York University's Keele campus. Dataset 4 was compiled from 4:30 PM to 5:30 PM. The woodlot had a desnse concentration of trees, shading the area. Weather was comprised of clear skies, a light breeze and a temperature of roughly 22 degrees celsius. In total, 10 adult maple trees (having a height of 12 feet or greater) and 10 maple tree saplings (height is less than 12 feet) were randomly sampled and measurements were made using a transect. All measurements were initially made in feet but were converted to meters in the data set.The purpose of the lab was to practice field training with plants but was also able to explore the effects of canopy density on tree sapling growth specificaly with dataset 4. Distance from randomly selected adult maple trees to the nearest maple tree sapling were measured by placing the end of a transect to the surface of the adult tree then extending the transect to the surface of the nearest sapling (ensuring that the transect tape was parallel to the ground). Measurements were observed visually and recorded. Diameter at breast height of adult and saplings were measured by the same group member (breast height of 1.5m) during each replicate to ensure consistency. Transect tape was held horizontally at breast height and a group member estimated the length of the tree along the transect tape by observation. Percent canopy coverage was estimated by standing directly below the adult samples of interest and holding up hands to make a hollow square in the sky. Specifically, on each hand, the index and thumb created an "L" shape. The thumb of one hand needed to touch the index of the other hand. The percentage of canopy coverage was estimated by observing how much canopy was contained in the the hollow square of your hands against the sky.