yorku.ecology.october3-2016.csv

Variables<br><br>Census - week number the data was collected.<br>Calendar date - date data was collected. Month/day.<br>Campus - university from where data was collected.<br>Group_ID - identification tag of group that collected the data.<br>Lat - latitude approximated using Google Maps.<br>Long - longitude approximated using Google Maps.<br>Elevation - approximated elevation.<br>Rep - data collection number.<br><br>abundance.native.plants - number of native plants, determined by aid of teacher assistant. A plant was classified as native if it originated in its respective habitat.<br><br>abundance.exotic.plants - number of exotic plants, determined by aid of teacher assistant. A plant was classified as exotic if it originated outside its respective habitat.<br><br>total.number.flowers(quadrats) - flower abundance measured by quadrats. Only flowers whose roots were inside the quadrat were counted.<br><br>abundance.woody.plants - number of woody plants, i.e. trees. A tree was defined to be at least 1.5m in height.<br><br>canopy.cover - approximated percentage sky is covered by tree canopy.<br><br>ground.cover - approximated percentage ground is covered by vegetation.<br><br>total.flower.numbers(transect) - flower abundance measured by transects (0.5m of transect).<br><br>abundance.vertebrate - number of vertebrates. Vertebrate defined as an animal with a structural backbone.<br><br>vertebrate.species - number of species of vertebrates, distinguished morphologically.<br><br>abundance.human - number of humans.<br><br>abundance.invertebrates.pantraps - number of invertebrates captured by pantraps.<br><br>abundance.invertebrates.sweep - number of invertebrates captured by sweep nets.<br><br>Methods<br><br>Data was collected across four observers and later compiled into a single digital document.<br>Data collected approximately from 15:00 to 17:00 on October 3, 2016 at the York University's designated "grasslands" and "disturbed area." Conditions were cloudy, mild temperatures.<br>The process of collecting data was repeated twice. Once in the grasslands, and then again the disturbed area.<br>All abundances were counted if they were in direct vision of the observer, and were clearly visible.<br><br>Two transects were combined to encompass a 50m distance. Most collection of data used the transects as a reference point.<br>25 quadrats were placed in each habitat, distanced apart by 2 meters from the last, while also alternating left and right of the transect.<br>An observer would count the abundance of native and exotic plants in the quadrat, as well as the number of flower heads.<br><br>An observer would walk along the transect. Every 2 meters, they would approximate the abundance of trees and flowers, as well as canopy coverage and vegetative ground coverage. Coverages were approximated as percentages.<br><br>An observer walked counter-clockwise around each habitat for 15 minutes to count vertebrate, invertebrate, and human abundances.<br>The transect aided in visualizing the 50m observation range.<br>Any vertebrate directly above the observer was not counted.<br>Humans in vehicles were not counted in human abundance, as well as humans that made multiple appearances were not counted. There was no minimum time for a human to be considered in a habitat, just so long as they remained in range for the observer to make note.<br><br>An observer placed six pan traps in alternating color order. They were placed at 15:00 at grasslands, picked up at 16:06, while placed at 16:30 in the disturbance area, and picked up at 17:00).<br>The pan traps were distanced along the transect, 3 meters apart from the last.<br>10 sweep nets traveled 50m along the transect to capture invertebrates. 5 sweep nets on each side of the transect.<br><br>Hypothesis:<br>Overall diversity of life, represented as abundances, canopy coverages, etc., would be greater in the grasslands than in the disturbance area.<br><br>Prediction:<br>1. The grasslands will have a greater canopy coverage than in the disturbed area.<br>2. The disturbed area will have a reduced invertebrate/vertebrate abundance than in the grasslands.<br>3. The disturbed area will have a reduced flower abundance than in the grasslands.<br>