Insect population characteristics within Danby Woods grasslands and woodlot

Data were recorded in the Danby Woods area on the York University Keele Campus. Sampling consisted of randomly placing 1 by 1 metre quadrats in highly disturbed grassland and woodlot environments and observing insect life over a one minute time interval per quadrat. Parameters investigated included total abundance, recognizable taxonomic units, recognizable taxonomic unit abundance and richness. A single observer was used per quadrat to minimize the probability of counting the same organism more than once. Ten samples were taken from both grassland and woodlot environments. Since no live samples were taken and given the high motility of the insects, recognizable taxonomic units were used to identify and group organisms instead of species.