Ecological Variation of plant and animal species in Danby Woods at York University

Methods:

In order to assess the relationship between species abundance
and habitat, 2 tape measures were used to create a 50 meter transect in a
forest. 4 different surveys were conducted along the transect.

The first survey was conducted on herbaceous plants. Every two
meters along the 50 meter transect, a quadrat was placed, alternating between
left and right of the transect, for a total of 25 replicates. Total number of
native plants, exotic plants, and flowers were visually counted within each
quadrat.

The second survey was conducted on woody plants. Every two
meters along the 50 meter transect, the trees within 0.5 meters of either side
were counted, for a total of 25 replicates. The canopy coverage of each tree
and the total vegetation ground coverage were visually estimated and the total
number of flowers were visually counted. Only trees that were taller than 1.5m
in height were counted.

The third survey was conducted on vertebrates and invertebrates.
Within a 50 meter radius starting at the beginning of the transect tape, visual
observations were made for 15 minutes, to count abundance of vertebrates, the
number of different species,  and abundance
of humans. 2 replicates were done for this observation. Then, within a 5 meter
radius starting at the beginning of the transect tape, visual observations were
made for the abundance of invertebrates, for 2 replicates.

The fourth survey was conducted on invertebrates. 6 pan traps
(solo bowls filled halfway with soap water) alternating between white, yellow
and blue in colour were placed 3 meters apart from one another along the 50
meter transect. Total number of invertebrates caught in the pan traps were
counted after 30 minutes. During the 30 minutes, sweep nets were used along the
50 meter transect for 10 replicates. Abundance of invertebrates found in the
net after each sweep was counted.

Study Site:

This study took place at the Northeast corner of York University
Keele campus on October 20th, 2016 between 2:30PM to 3:30PM. The weather was
cold and rainy and the temperature was 13⁰C. The study was conducted in Danby
Woods at 43.768756⁰N, -79.5079⁰W at an elevation of 126.30201 meters. The Danby
Woods is a temperate deciduous forest between Chimneystack Road and York Blvd
along Keele St. This forest is dominated by Sugar Maple, Buckthorn, Bur Oak,
and American Beech trees. A 50 meter transect, pan traps, sweep nets, and
 1m2 quadrats
were used as equipment. Visual counts were made to measure each attribute.

Hypothesis:

There will be less understory vegetation where canopy coverage
is greater. This is because a greater canopy coverage reduces sunlight to
plants below the tree and competes for resources, such as space, water, and
nutrients in the soil.

Predictions:

1) When the canopy coverage is greater, there will be less
native and exotic plants.

2) When the canopy coverage is greater, there will be less
ground coverage

3) When the canopy coverage is greater, there a be a lower
abundance of flowers

Group Members:

Avani Abraham, Vanessa Guo, Monica Matta, Krysten Zarivnij

Meta-data (attribute & description):

CENSUS:

Every
week, each lab group samples a different study site according to their lab
section. For the purpose of this study, the different lab sections within the
course rotated amongst 5 different sites during a 3 week study, specifically
week 5 to week 7 during the duration of the ecology course. Census 1=Week 5,
Census 2=Week 6, Census 3 = Week 7

 (categorical data)

CALENDAR.DATE:

Month and date of data collection in 2016, in the format (oct20-2016)

(discrete data)

CAMPUS:

The York University Keele campus was recorded as YorkU and the
University of Toronto Mississauga Campus was recorded at UTM.

(categorical data)

GROUP_ID:

The unique group identifier within each lab. Group_ID was the
word “lab” followed by the first 2 digits corresponding to the lab section,
then the word “group” is followed by the two digits corresponding to the group
within the lab section. The TA assigns a group number within each labs section.

(categorical data)

HABITAT:

Forest is defined as a large, undisturbed area dominated by
trees.

(categorical data)

LATITUDE AND LONGITUDE:

The geographic location of each plot in UTM coordinates

(continuous data)

ELEVATION:

The mean height of the observed location above the sea level
measured in meters.

(continuous data)

REP:

The number of replicates per observation.

(discrete data)

ABUNDANCE.NATIVE.PLANTS:

A 1m2 quadrat was used to measure the abundance of
native vegetation in the quadrat. Quadrats were used to determine the abundance
of vegetation along a 50m transect. Quadrats were placed on alternating sides
2m apart along the 50m transect.

(discrete data)

ABUNDANCE.EXOTIC.PLANTS:

A 1m2 quadrat was used to measure the abundance of
exotic vegetation in the quadrat. Quadrats were used to determine the abundance
of vegetation along a 50m transect. Quadrats were placed on alternating sides
2m apart along the 50m transect.

(discrete data)

TOTAL.NUMBER.FLOWERS:

The total number of individual flower heads
observed in alternating 1m2 quadrats along the 50m transect every 2
meters.

(discrete data)

ABUNDANCE.WOODY.PLANTS:

At every 2m mark, the number of trees was counted within 0.5m on
both sides of the 50m transect. A tree was considered any vegetation with woody
stems above 1.5m in height.

(discrete data)

CANOPY.COVER:

A visual estimate of the woody plant canopy cover was observed.
To visually estimate canopy coverage, a rectangle was formed with two hands,
and canopy coverage in the area formed was used as the estimate. This was then
recorded as a whole number between 1 and 100.

(continuous data)

GROUND.COVER:

A visual estimate of the total cover of ground vegetation was
conducted at each 2m mark. The percentage value was recorded as a whole number
between 1 and 100.

(continuous data)

TOTAL.FLOWER.NUMBERS:

Total number of flowers within 1m on either side of the transect
tape was roughly observed and recorded.

(discrete data)

ABUNDANCE.VERTEBRATES:

Vertebrates, including birds and small mammals, were observed
within 50m radius of the beginning of the 50m transect for 15mins.

(discrete data)

VERTEBRATE.RICHNESS:

Any vertebrate species that looked different was considered a
unique species and counted independent of similar looking species. Abundance of
unique vertebrate species observed during a 15min survey period.

(discrete data)

ABUDANCE.HUMAN:

Total number of humans not part of the study in the study area were
observed and recorded. Observations were made within 50m radius of the
beginning of the 50m transect for 15mins.

(discrete data)

ABUNDANCE.INVERTEBRATES.PANTRAPS:

Total number of insects captured using pan traps placed along a
50m transect at ground level.

(discrete data)

ABUNDANCE.INVERTEBRATES.SWEEPS:

Total number of insects captured using sweep nets used along a
50m transect at ground level.

(discrete data)

ABUNDANCE.INVERTEBRATES.OBSERVED:

Total number of flying insects counted within a 5m radius around
the 0 meter end of the 50m transect. Each observation of invertebrates was
conducted for a duration of 15 min.

 (discrete data)