A study on the abundance of plants, vertebrates, and invertebrates in a forest area

<b>Methods</b> In order to assess the abundance of herbaceous plants, woody plants, vertebrates, and invertebrates in a forest area, 50m of transect tape was laid in a straight line in the forest. The following methods were then implemented: For measurement of herbaceous plants, every 2m along the transect, a quadrat (1mx1m) was placed adjacent to the tape, alternating between the left and right side for the entire 50m for a total of 25 quadrats. For each quadrat, the same person counted the individual number of native plants, the individual number of exotic plants, and the number of observed flower heads within the quadrat. For measurement of woody plants, every 2m along the transect (total of 25 measurements) if a tree was observed within 0.5m of either side of the transect, it was recorded. At these same points, the same person looked upwards to estimate the canopy coverage, and then looked down at a 0.5mx0.5m area of the ground adjacent to the transect, to estimate vegetative ground cover and count the total number of flowers in that area. For measurement of vertebrates and invertebrates, the area within a 50m radius of the beginning of the transect tape was surveyed for 15 minutes and the total number of vertebrates and number of different vertebrate species were observed. In the same area and time interval, the numbers of people (not including those participating in the lab) were counted. In another 15 minute interval, the number of individual invertebrates within a 5m radius of the transect tape were observed. For measurement of invertebrates, 6 pan traps filled halfway with detergent were placed along the length of the transect tape, each spaced 3m apart and in alternating colours (yellow, blue, and white). After sitting 45 minutes, the total numbers of invertebrates found within each pan trap were counted. 10 sweep nets were also conducted along the 50m transect and the total number of invertebrates found at the end of each sweep were counted. <b>Study Site</b> Temp: 9°C Wind Speed: 26km/h Light rain with 98% cloud cover. Danby Woods (forest), York University, Toronto, Ontario, Canada: latitude: 43.768756 longitude: -79.5079 Elevation: 126.30201 Woodlot located near grassland and disturbed area containing roads and a parking lot. Woodlot (approximately 250mx250m) was of average density with only deciduous trees. <b> </b><b>Hypothesis </b> There will be a large abundance of native vegetation, invertebrates, and vertebrates not including humans found in the woodlot area. This is because trees are the dominant species in the woodlot area and they are native. Trees are also considered ecosystem engineers as they create and maintain a physical habitat for themselves and other species, as well as provide food for many other species. Therefore, as the abundance of trees will be high in a forest area, the abundance of species that benefit from the trees’ presence will also be high. <b>Predictions</b> There will be no or very few humans found in the woodlot.The abundance of native plants will increase along the transect tape as it proceeds deeper into the woodlot.Canopy cover will be very high/maximum coverage for the majority of the woodlot and ground cover will be very low throughout the woodlot.<br> <br> <b>Metadata</b><br> <br> <b>habitat: </b>Categorical. Forest is defined as a woodlot on campus. <b>lat:</b> Continuous. Used GPS unit and record location each plot. <br> <br> <b>long: </b>Continuous. Used GPS unit and record location each plot. <br> <br> <b>elevation: </b>Continuous. Used GPS unit and record location each plot.<br> <br> <b>abundance.native.plants: </b>Discrete.<b> </b>Counted total number of native plants within 1m x1m quadrats placed every 2m along a 50m transect tape, alternating from left side to right side (total of 25 times). <br> <br> <b>abundance.exotic.plants:</b> Discrete. Counted total number of exotic plants within 1m x1m quadrats placed every 2m along a 50m transect tape, alternating from left side to right side (total of 25 times). <br> <br> <b>total.number.flowers (quadrats): </b>Discrete. Counted total number of flowers that were fully bloomed (not buds) within 1m x1m quadrats placed every 2 meter along a 50m transect tape, alternating from left side to right side (total of 25 times).<br> <br> <b>abundance.woody.plants: </b>Discrete. Every 2m along the 50m transect tape the number of trees or woody plants within 0.5 meter of both sides of the transect tape were counted (total of 25 times). A tree was defined as being taller than 1.5 meters.<br> <br> <b>canopy.cover:</b> Continous. Every 2m along the 50m transect tape an estimate of canopy coverage in percentage was made by looking up.<br> <br> <b>ground.cover: </b>Discrete. Every 2m along the 50m transect tape an estimate in percentage of vegetative ground cover for a 0.5mx0.5m area was made by looking down.<br> <br> <b>total.flower.numbers (transect): </b>Discrete. Every 2m along the 50m transect tape, the total number fully bloomed flower heads (not buds) within a 0.5mx0.5m area adjacent to the transect tape was counted. <br> <br> <b>abundance.vertebrates: </b>Discrete. Total number of vertebrates observed in 15 minutes within a 50m radius of the beginning of the transect tape.<br> <br> <b>vertebrate.species: </b>Discrete. The number of different vertebrate species observed in 15 minutes within a 50m radius of the beginning of the transect tape.<br> <br> <b>abudance.people: </b>Discrete. Total number of humans (not including those participating in the lab) observed in 15 minutes within a 50m radius of the beginning of the transect tape.<br> <br> <b>abundance.invertebrates.pantraps:</b> Discrete. Total number of invertebrates captured via pan trap after being left for 45 minutes. Pan traps were placed 3m apart on the ground along the transect tape in alternating colours of yellow and blue.<br> <br> <b>abundance.invertebrates.sweeps: </b>Discrete. Total number of invertebrates captured via sweep net which were swept along the 50m transect.<br> <br> <b>abundance.invertebrates.observed: </b>Discrete. Total number of invertebrates observed in 15 minutes within a 5m radius of the beginning of the transect tape.