YorkU.forest.Oct5-2016

Metadata: Census: Represents the sampling week. This was our first week of sampling for these specific data sets. There will be a total of 3 censuses. Calender.date: Represents the date we conducted the sampling. This first part of sampling was conducted on October 5th, 2016. There will be 2 other parts of sampling done on later days. Campus: Represents which university campus we sampled on. We were on the Keele Campus of York University. The other campus participating in sampling is the University of Toronto. Group_ID: Identifies what section of lab we are in out of all the sections for York's BIOL2050 labs, as well as our specific 4 person group numbers. Our group ID was: Lab03Group03. Habitat: Represents the habitat where we did the sampling. This week, we conducted our sampling in the Danby Woodlot at York University, in a North-South direction. Rep: The number of repetitions (sampled the same thing) we did for each dataset. Dataset 1and 2 had 25 reps, dataset 3 had 2 reps, and dataset 4 had 6 and 10 reps. Abundance.native.plants: The total number of individual native plants located in the 1 by 1m quadrats that were randomly placed along the transect tape for 50m, alternating left and right. Native plants were differentiated as plants that are native to Canada and weren't brought from outside countries. Anything that wasn't an exotic plant was considered native. Each quadrat had a 2m gap between them. Abundance was measured by physically counting the total number of native plants. Abundance.exotic.plants: The total number of individual exotic plants located in the 1 by 1m quadrats that were randomly placed along the transect tape for 50m, alternating left and right. Exotic plants were differentiated as plants that originated from Europe and were brought to Canada. The specifics on what each plant looked like were given in class. Each quadrat had a 2m gap between them. Abundance was measured by physically counting the number of exotic plants.Total.number.flowers (quadrat): The total number of observed flower heads located in the 1 by 1m quadrats that were randomly placed along the transect tape for 50m, alternating left and right. Measured by physically counting the number of plants located in the quadrat. Abundance.woody.plants: The total number of individual woody plants located within 0.5 meters of the 50m transect tape. A woody plant was defined as a tree that was over 1.5m in height. Abundance was measured by visually looking for a tree that was located within 0.5m of either side of the transect.Canopy.cover: The total amount of space the canopy took up, measured by standing beside each woody plant (tree taller than 1.5m), looking up, and visually observing how much of the canopy filled an 11cm by 6 cm rectangle made by our fingers. This was measured along the 50m transect line and was measured in percentage.Ground.cover: The total amount of space the vegetation on the forest floor, next to each woody plant (tree) took up. This was measured by visually observing how much of the vegetation filled an 11 cm by 6 cm rectangle made by our fingers. This was measured along the 50m transect line and was measured in percentage.Total.flower.numbers (transect): The total number of flower heads located around each woody plant (tree). This was measured along the 50 m transect line and was measured by physically counting the number of plants. Abundance.vertebrates: The total number of individual vertebrates (species with backbone) observed visually, in a 50-meter radius (measured through transect tape) for two 15 minute intervals. This included humans, however excluded us and anyone from our lab (lab 3). Abundance.human: The total number of individual humans (excluding us and those from our lab section), observed visually in a 50-meter radius (measured through transect tape) for two 15 minute intervals.Abundance.invertebrates.observed: The total number of individual invertebrates (species without backbones) observed visually, in a 50-meter radius (measured through transect tape) for two 15minute intervals.Abundance.invertebrates.pantraps: The total number of invertebrates entrapped in the soapy water of pan trap bowls. Six different pan trap bowls of alternating colours: Yellow, Blue, and White, (to attract different invertebrate species with the colours) were placed alternating along the transect tape for approximately 38 minutes. Each bowl was placed 3 meters a part along a 25m transect tape, and a quarter of each bowl was filled with soapy water. Abundance.invertebrates.sweeps: The total number of invertebrates caught in a sweep net. The sweep net was swept in a figure-eight motion for 50 meters along the transect tape. The net was held approximately one meter above the ground, and was swept for 10 replicates.Site Description: Danby woodlot, York University Keele Campus, 2:30 - 4:30 pm, October 5, 2016, 20°C, Sunny/no clouds, slight wind, and 73% humidity in North York, Toronto, ON. There were trees all around with a small amount of litter around the open experiment site. The lab was conducted by Nyiesha, Amrit, and Jasleen.Method:Dataset 1: Herbaceous plants: 25, 1 by 1 quadrats were randomly placed, alternating left and right along a 50m transect tape, with a 2m gap between each. Each quadrat was approximately 1m away from the transect tape and were visually observed for the abundance of native plants (plants from Canada), exotic plants (plants from Europe), and flower heads. The transect tape and quadrats were both facing North-South of York University.Dataset 2: Woody plants: A 50m transect line was randomly placed facing North-South of York University. Along this 50m transect line, we visually observed the number of woody plants located within 0.5m of the transect. Woody plants were defined as trees taller than 1.5m in height. Also, with every woody plant found, canopy coverage and ground coverage were also calculated. Canopy coverage was estimated by observing the amount of tree canopy covering an 11 cm by 6 cm rectangle with our hand. Ground canopy was measured the same but with vegetation on the ground observed through an 11 cm by 6 cm rectangle with our hand. Additionally, the number of flower heads around the woody-plant (tree) were measured by physically counting any flowers observed. This data-set was repeated 25 times.Dataset 3: Vertebrates and Invertebrates: A 50 meter transect was placed facing North-South on the forest ground. Whilst standing at the absolute tip of one end of the transect tape, we visually observed for vertebrates, humans, and invertebrates for 2 repetitions, each for 15 minutes along the 50m radius. Vertebrates were defined as any organism with a backbone, including humans that were not from our lab. Humans were defined as any person seen who was not from our lab. Invertebrates were defined as any organism without a backbone (mainly insects).Dataset 4: Invertebrates: 6 pan traps of alternating colours (Yellow, Blue, and White) were placed along a 25m transect tape. Each pan was placed 3 meters apart and were a quarter filled with soapy water. Each pan was left alone for approximately 38 minutes before observing the abundance of invertebrates in each trap. Each pan trap represented 1 replicate for a total of 6 trials. Following North-South along the 50 meter transect, a sweep net was swept in a figure-eight motion in an attempt to catch any invertebrates. After walking for 50m, the net was observed for any invertebrates that might've been inside. The sweep set was held approximately 1m above the ground and was replicated 10 times.Hypothesis: (Dataset 3: Vertebrates and Invertebrates) The lower the abundance of vertebrates and humans, the higher the abundance of invertebrates observed. This is due to fewer disturbances and interference from vertebrates (including humans), who have the ability to negatively harm the niche of invertebrates. Negatively harm through either, being predators, or by competing for resources, or by overall destroying their niche.Predictions:1) As the abundance of vertebrates (the total number of individuals found) decreases, it increases the abundance of invertebrates. (negative correlation) 2) As the abundance of humans decreases, it increases the abundance of invertebrates. (negative correlation)