Abundance and Diversity of Plants, Flowers, Vertebrates, and Invertebrates at York University in Woodlot Area (Keele Campus)

<b>Herbaceous plants: Marta Chilina</b> Abundance Native Plants: Abundance of native plants, the number of native plants within a 1m²quadrat, was collected through a biological survey method. Native herbaceous species comprised of flowering plants and shamrocks/clovers. Native species like moss and tree sprouts were not accounted for in this study since they are not categorized as herbaceous. Species were counted over the entire 1m² quadrat. This variable is quantitative and discrete. Data was collected in a woodlot area only. Abundance Exotic Plants: Abundance of exotic plants, the number of exotic plants within a 1m² quadrat, was collected through a biological survey method. Grass was categorized as an exotic species, and surveyed over the entire 1m² quadrat. Other exotic plants included but were not limited to poison ivy. This variable is quantitative and discrete. Data was collected in a woodlot area only. Total Number of Flowers: Total number of flowers, the number of flowers on plants within a 1m² quadrat, was collected through a biological survey method. Flowers counts were obtained from one plant, and then multiplied by the abundance of the same plant in the 1m²quadrat to record the total number of flowers present on that plant species in that quadrat. Only flower blossoms were considered in this experiment. This variable is quantitative and discrete. Data was collected in a woodlot area only. <b>Woody plants: Noah Malaqui</b> Abundance Woody Plants: For the abundance of woody plants, the number of plants counted, only trees that had a height of at least 1.5 metres or more within a 0.5 metres of the transect were considered. Data was collected using a transect survey method and observation; a 50 metre transect was placed in a woodlot and yielded a total of 25 replicates since data was measured and recorded every 2 metres. This variable is a quantitative and discrete variable. Canopy Coverage: Canopy coverage, the percentage of sky covered by trees and leaves, was determined by standing still, looking up, and dividing the sky into sections. The canopy coverage was calculated using partial coverages and was expressed as a total percentage of how much sky was not visible. Data was collected using a transect survey method and observation; a 50 metre transect was placed in a woodlot and yielded a total of 25 replicates since data was measured and recorded every 2 metres. This variable is a quantitative and continuous variable. Ground Coverage: Ground coverage, the percentage of ground covered by vegetation, was determined by standing still, looking down, and dividing the ground into sections. The ground coverage was calculated using partial coverages and was expressed as a total percentage of how much ground was not visible. Data was collected using a transect survey method and observation; a 50 metre transect was placed in a woodlot and yielded a total of 25 replicates since data was measured and recorded every 2 metres. This variable is a quantitative and continuous variable. Abundance of Flowers: For the abundance of flowers, the number of flowers seen, only flowers that were visibly sprouting from plants within 1 metre on each side of the transect were considered. Data was collected using a transect survey method and observation; a 50 metre transect was placed in a woodlot and yielded a total of 25 replicates since data was measured and recorded every 2 metres. This variable is a quantitative and discrete variable. <b>Vertebrates &amp; Invertebrates: Mihails Ditmans</b> Vertebrate Abundance: The vertebrate abundance is the number of vertebrates seen within a 50m radius of the observation point over a course of 15 minutes. Vertebrates were counted on trees, on the ground, and in the air. This is a quantitative discrete variable. Data collection began at 3:00 for the vertebrate observation and 3:15 for the invertebrate observations. Vertebrate Diversity: The vertebrate diversity is the number of different types of vertebrates found within a 50m radius of the observation point over a course of 15 minutes. Birds of observably different morphology were counted separate in terms of diversity, for example seagulls, small black birds and large black birds. Vertebrates were counted on trees, on the ground, and in the air. This is a quantitative discrete variable. Data collection began at 3:00 for the vertebrate observation and 3:15 for the invertebrate observations. Human Abundance: The human abundance is the number of humans seen within a 50m radius of the observation point over a course of 15 minutes. One person passing through multiple times was only counted once. This is a quantitative discrete variable. Data collection began at 3:00 for the vertebrate observation and 3:15 for the invertebrate observations. Observed Invertebrate Abundance: The observed abundance of invertebrates is the number of invertebrates seen in a 5m radius of the observation point over a course of 15 minutes. Both land invertebrates and flying invertebrates were included. If a fast moving invertebrate was seen multiple times it was counted as multiple individuals. This is a quantitative discrete variable. Data collection began at 3:00 for the vertebrate observation and 3:15 for the invertebrate observations. <b>Invertebrates: Miriam Bastawrous</b> A total of 6 pan traps were distributed 3 metres apart in alternating colours of yellow, white, and blue. They were filled with soapy water from 2:50pm and left out until 3:20pm in a forest area (total duration of 30 minutes). At the end of each period the abundance of invertebrates, which is the number of invertebrates seen inside the bowl, were recorded. Only invertebrates found in the water in the bowl were counted, not those on the rim. This variable is a quantitative discrete variable. Next, a sweep net was used along the 50 metre length of the transect 10 separate times. Each time the sweep net reached the end of the transect, the abundance of invertebrates, which is the number of invertebrates within the net, was recorded. Only invertebrates in the mesh portion of the sweep net were considered. This variable is a quantitative discrete variable. <b>Methods:</b> A 50 metre transect was used to measure several variables throughout the data collecting process. Quadrats were placed every 2 metres alternating left and right starting at one end of the transect for a total of 25 replicates. Total abundances of native and exotic plants were recorded, as well as total number of flowers within each quadrat. Additionally, the transect was used to measure the abundance of woody plants, canopy coverage, vegetation/ground coverage, and abundance of flowers. Here, observations were made after stopping every 2 metres and observing the immediate surroundings for all variables. Canopy coverage was estimated by looking straight up while vegetation/ground coverage and abundance of flowers was estimated by looking down. This process was also repeated for a total of 25 replicates. The abundance of vertebrates and number of vertebrate species within a 50 metre radius at one end of the transect was measured and recorded through observation for at least 15 minutes. In another 15-minute interval, the abundance of invertebrates was recorded using the same methods. Finally, sweep nets were used to collect the abundance of invertebrates by walking along the transect for a total of 10 replicates. Subsequently, 6 pan traps placed 3 metres apart were also used to collect the abundance of invertebrates at one end of the transect. The traps alternated in colours of yellow, white, and blue. Each pan trap was left to collect invertebrates for at least 30 minutes. All of the methods listed above were conducted in a woodlot at the Keele Campus of York University. The woodlot was a maple dominated, deciduous forest type. The weather was slightly overcast and cold (~5°C), and the experiment took place in the afternoon, from 3pm-4pm. <b>Hypothesis:</b> Canopy cover correlates positively with the abundance of woody plants and vertebrates observed, and negatively with the abundance of invertebrates and herbaceous plants due to increased shade from canopy coverage. <b>Predictions:</b>1) Fewer herbaceous plants will be observed under high canopy cover.2) More vertebrates and fewer invertebrates will be seen under high canopy cover. 3) As canopy cover increases, ground cover will decrease