yorku.grassland-disturbed.october4-2016.csv

Description:

On Tuesday, October 4th, a study occurred in the
grassland and disturbed/open space areas of York University between the Stong Pond
and Bergeron Centre on a sunny day between 3:00 and 5:00 pm. Four different  surveys were performed using a variety of instruments;
a quadrat, 50m of transect tape, sweep nets, and pan traps. Each surveys purpose was
to record data for different datasets: herbaceous plants, woody
plants, vertebrates & invertebrates, and invertebrates.

Methods:

Every survey
performed made use of a transect tape stretched 50 metres in a straight line
though the area of study. Each study was also performed twice--once in the
grassland, and once in the disturbed area.

Survey 1 - Herbaceous plants

Every two metres along the transect, a quadrat
was placed on alternating sides of the transect tape. In each quadrat placed,
the total number of individuals of native plant species were counted and
recorded as well as the total number of exotic species present. In the same
quadrat, all observed flower heads were also counted and recorded. This was done
along the entire 50 metre length of the transect resulting in 25 repetitions.

Survey 2 - Woody plants

Every two metres along the transect, an
observer was to look for a tree (any woody plant above 1.5 metres) within 0.5
metres of the transect. At the same points, the observer was to estimate the
total overhead canopy coverage, as well as estimating vegetative ground
coverage in a square measuring about 0.5x0.5 metres around the transect at that
location. The total number of flower heads within 0.5 metres of the point was
also recorded. This process was also completed 25 times along the 50 metre
length of transect, which also resulted in 25 repetitions

Survey 3 - Vertebrates & Invertebrates

At the beginning of the transect, an
individual observed a 50 metre radius from their location for 15 minutes,
recording any vertebrates they saw and noting the species observed. This was
then recorded as total number of individuals seen, as well as total species of
vertebrates observed. The same process was repeated for Invertebrates, except
the radius was reduced to 5 metres instead. During this survey, any humans
observed that were not related to the lab were also recorded.

Survey 4 - Invertebrates

Six pan traps of alternating colors (white,
yellow and blue) were spaced three metres apart along the length of the
transect and filled with a small amount of soapy water to trap invertebrates.
Along the length of the transect, a sweep net was performed and at the end of
each sweep the amount of invertebrates was recorded. The sweep net was repeated
ten times along the transect. At the end of the sweep nets, the pan traps were
checked and the abundance of invertebrates caught was recorded.

Hypothesis - Grassland Survey 2:

The total number of flowers recorded will decrease as
canopy cover increases.

Prediction - Grassland Survey 2:

There should be a
correlation between the amount of flowers counted and the canopy coverage found
above the flowers. When there is a higher canopy coverage, most of the direct
sunlight is taken by the taller plants/trees, and the lower vegetation will
have less light available. This lack of sunlight will cause these plants to
grow slower compared to if they were exposed to more light, and thus they will be
observed with less flowers.  

Metadata - All Surveys:

The following metadata is Categorical:

Campus- The campus the data was obtained from, as there are
two universities collecting similar data (UofT and York University).

Habitat- This is the habitat the data was observed in. The
surveys took place in grassland and disturbed habitats.

Abundance of native plants- The amount of native plants observed in a quadrat
during survey 1. A native plant was considered any plant that was not exotic
(see exotic plants for detail).

Abundance of exotic plants- The amount of exotic plants observed in a quadrat
during survey 1. An exotic The only exotic plant found in the grassland was the
wild carrot plant, while in the disturbed habitat, any plant found (except
grass) was considered exotic.

Vertebrate species- The amount of different vertebrate species observed
within 50 metres of an observer during survey 3's 15 minute interval.

The following metadata is Continuous:

census- The week of data being sampled.
Week 5 is census 1.

Rep- The amount of
repetitions being done during a specific survey.

Total number of flowers (quadrat)- The total number of flowers of all species observed within the quadrat.
A flower was considered any bloom found off of each stem from the main stem of
the plant.

Abundance of woody plants- The amount of trees observed in survey 2 within
0.5  metres of a specific point on the
transect. A tree was considered any  woody
plant measuring 1.5 metres or taller.

Canopy cover- A estimated
percentage of cover provided by nearby tall plants/trees. Recorded by
estimating a potion of visual area above observer blocked by foliage.

Ground cover-
The estimated percentage of ground covered by vegetation. Vegetation was
considered any plant that was not grass.

Total flower numbers (transect) The total number of flowers of all species observed within 0.5 metres of
the location on the transect. A flower was considered any bloom found off of
each stem from the main stem of the plant.

Abundance of vertebrates- The total amount of vertebrates (except humans) observed within 50
metres of an observer during survey 3's 15 minute interval.

Abundance of humans- The total amount of humans not in the lab observed within 50 metres of an
observer during survey 3's 15 minute interval.

Abundance of invertebrates in pantraps- The total amount of invertebrates observed within a specific pan trap
during survey 4.

Abundance of invertebrates in sweeps- The total amount of invertebrates caught during a 50 metre sweep net
along the transect.

Abundance of invertebrates observed- The total amount of invertebrates observed within 5 metres of an observer
during survey 3's 15 minute interval.