Grassland Dataset 2

The purpose of this observational study was to utilize the line transect method, i.e., a distance method, for sampling purposes, to meausre characteristics of the Common Milkweed plant (Asclepias syriaca), i.e., plant height, number of leaves, number of flowers, and level of crowding, and to use the distance on the transect measures from the plants as a means to estimate the population abundance of this plant species in the Grassland situated near the Danby Woodlot at York University, which is the location where this study was conducted. This study was conducted by group members Gajamugan Rajavarothayan, Gopaul Parbatie, Albert Lin, and Hannan Fayyaz from 3:25 pm to 4:00 pm EDT. A transect tape was randomly placed in a straight line stretching 20 meters in the Grassland situated near the Danby Woodlot at York University, specifically in an area that had the presence of the target plant species, i.e. the Common Milkweed plants. As we walked along the transect line, we recorded the distance on the transect whenever a Common Milkweed plant was visible near the transect tape, i.e. within 2 meters from the transect tape, to estimate the population abundance of this plant species in this Grassland area near Danby Woodlot at York University. We also measured the plant height using a second transect tape from the ground up to the tip of the largest leaf in the Common Milkweed plant, i.e.. the largest leaf in the plant was actually lifted to as high as possible and this height was recorded as the plant height. Gajamugan was the one who read all the measurements from the transect tape to ensure errors are minimized as the measurements for both the distance on the transect and plant height were recorded consistently by the same person. The number of leaves and number of flowers was recorded for each individual plant, and the level of crowding for each individual plant was scored from 0-3, whereby 0 = open, 1 = some plants nearby, 2 = quite a few plants nearby, and 3 = very crowded bunch of plants nearby within 50 cm. In total, our sample size, n, was 20 individual Common Milkweed plants. The conditions at this site at York University had an atmosphere temperature of 23 degrees Celsius, the weather was partly cloud, wind speed was 16 km/h blowing from the East, and the humidity level was 63% and the soils were not dry but rather they contained some moisture. The height of the grassland vegetation in area we used to sample the Common Milkweed plants was below 0.5 m, I.e., below knee level. However, in neighbouring grassland areas from our site that contained other plant species, the height of the grassland vegetation increased and was around 1-1.5 m, i.e., above knee level. Insects like lady bugs, bees, and flies flew around our site as well. Hence, overall these factors provided adequate conditions for viewing the plants and recording measurements from it.本观测性研究旨在采用样线法（line transect method，即距离取样法）开展取样工作，以测定普通马利筋（Common Milkweed，Asclepias syriaca）的相关特征，包括株高、叶片数、花数及拥挤程度，并通过样线上植株与样带的距离数据，估算约克大学丹比林地附近草地中该物种的种群丰度，本研究的实施地点即为此区域。本研究由Gajamugan Rajavarothayan、Gopaul Parbatie、Albert Lin与Hannan Fayyaz团队成员于美国东部夏令时（EDT）下午3:25至4:00开展。研究人员在约克大学丹比林地附近的草地——该区域存在目标植物普通马利筋——随机布设一条长20米的直线样带卷尺。沿样带行进时，若发现距样带卷尺2米范围内存在普通马利筋植株，即记录其在样带上的位置距离，以此估算该区域的种群丰度。此外，研究人员采用第二条样带卷尺测量株高：从地面量至植株最大叶片的顶端，测量时需将植株最大叶片尽可能向上提拉，所得数值即为该植株的株高。为尽可能降低测量误差，所有样带距离及株高的读数均由Gajamugan统一完成，以保证记录标准统一。针对每株目标植株，研究人员记录其叶片数与花数，并对其拥挤程度进行0至3分的评分：0代表植株周围开阔无伴生植物，1代表周围有少量伴生植株，2代表周围存在相当数量的伴生植株，3代表周围50厘米范围内植株极为密集。本次研究共采集20株普通马利筋作为有效样本，即样本量n=20。本次采样时，该样地的环境参数如下：气温23摄氏度，天气为多云间晴，东风风速16千米/小时，相对湿度63%，土壤含一定湿度而非干燥状态。本次采样区域内的草本植被高度低于0.5米，即低于膝盖高度；而邻近的其他植物群落所在草地的草本植被高度则可达1至1.5米，即高于膝盖高度。样地周边可见瓢虫、蜜蜂及蝇类等昆虫活动。综上，上述环境条件均适宜开展植株观测与数据记录工作。