Abundance, Diversity, and Coverage of Plants in a Grassland Area at York University

Meta-Data:Total abundance of plants: Data was collected by counting individual plants through observation within the quadrat. Abundance of plants was added to a reasonable estimation of the number of blades of grass. This was measured by examining a 1x1 block of the quadrat, counting the number of blades of grass, and later multiplying the collected data by 100. Visibly shriveled/dry/uncoloured plants were considered dead and therefore not counted in the data.Total number of different plant species: Data was collected by counting individual plant species through observation within the quadrat. Differentiation was made between each species by the colour of their flowers (ie. yellow or white), the size of leaves on the plant (ie. broad or narrow), and height (ie. tall or short).Percent of plant vegetation coverage: Data was collected from bird's eye view and with the use of the quadrat itself; holes on the quadrat were used as markers/a frame of reference. For example, if the coverage of plants (regardless of whether or not they were different plant species) occupied a 4x5 block, it would be considered 20% coverage. Percent of grass coverage: Data was determined with the use of the data collected from the percent of plant vegetation coverage. After calculating the total percent of plant vegetation coverage, the result was simply subtracted from 100 to yield the percent of grass coverage.Methods:Quadrats were randomly placed in a secluded grassland area at York University in the afternoon to examine the abundance of plants and plant species and relative coverage of plant vegetation and grass. Data was collected through visual inspection of 25 randomly placed quadrats.Hypothesis:There is a visible correlation between the abundance of plants and the total coverage of plant vegetation.Predictions:1) As the abundance of plants increases, the percent of plant coverage increases.2) As the height of the plant increases, the percent of plant coverage increases.3) Flowering plants (as opposed to weeds) increases the percent of plant coverage.