Ecology Field Research on Campus Pond and Impermeable surfaces

Methods: In order to assess the relationship between pond and impermeable
surface students sampled herbaceous plants, woody plants, vertebrate abundance,
and invertebrate abundance, by using transects, quadrants, pan traps and sweep
nets. One group, which consisted of four members were each assigned a category
to sample. All steps were conducted twice, once for the pond, and once for the
impermeable surface. The data is categorical and discrete. This took place at
York University.

 For herbaceous plants, measurements
observed within the quadrant were recorded for abundance of native and exotic
plants and total number of flower heads.  Two transects were used to make a fifty meter
path and was placed parallel to the pond. 
At every two meters, the quadrant was placed along the transect and randomly
alternating the quadrant left and right, this was repeated twenty five times
for a total length of fifty meters, and twenty five quadrants.

For woody plants two transects were placed in order to make a fifty meter path.
Every two meters the individual stopped to observe and record number of woody
plants no more than 0.5m on each side of the transect, canopy coverage, and
total number of flowers. Canopy coverage was observed by looking up, ground
coverage was recorded by looking down, and flowers were included if they were
0.5m from either side of the transect.

For vertebrates and invertebrates the student stood at the beginning of the
transect and surveyed a fifty meter radius, from their location for fifteen
minutes. The total number of vertebrates, number of different species, and the
total number of humans not participating in the lab were observed and recoded.
In another fifteen minute interval the student stood at the beginning of the
transect and surveyed a five meter radius, and recorded the total number of
invertebrates observed.

For invertebrates, a transect of fifteen meters was
laid down parallel to the pond and starting from the zero mark, six pan
traps, half filled with soapy water, were placed down in alternating colours
(yellow,blue, and white) every 3 meters. After a period of time the
number of invertebrates captured were recorded. Ten sweep nets, were conducted
along the fifty meter transect.

 Study site: This study took place at York University on Thursday
October 7th, 2016, in two areas, (1) the Stong pond, located on the
north side of The Pond road and (2) the baseball Passey Road located south of
The Pond Road. This lab was conducted outdoors; the weather was mainly sunny,
hot, 24 degrees Celsius and occurred between 3pm-4:45pm.

Hypothesis: A higher abundance of vertebrate and invertebrate would be
observed at the Stong pond because a humans are the biggest driver on the
global planet and would cause less disturbance amongst the pond area and its
ecological system.

 Predictions: 

1) As vegetation increased the amount of resources increased, because more
area allows for more species to be observed undisturbed.  

 2) The higher the canopy coverage, the cooler the area, because the
sunlight and heat would be a natural shaded area, creating a lower temperature
and lower carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.

 3) The pond location would have more observable species compared to
the impermeable surface because climate conditions such as temperature and
rainfall enable most plants and animals to thrive.