Abundance and Diversity of Plants, Vertebrates, and Invertebrates at York University (Keele Campus)

<br> <b>Meta-Data:</b> <b>Herbaceous plants: Marta Chilina</b> Abundance Native Plants: Abundance was collected through a survey method. Grass was categorized as an exotic species, and surveyed over one quarter of the quadrant, which was then multiplied by four to get a total estimate of colonies in the entire quadrant. This variable is quantitative and discrete. Data was collected in the grassland and a nearby disturbed area, with approximately 1 hour spent in each area. The weather was cloudy and slightly humid. Abundance Exotic Plants: Abundance was collected through a survey method. Native species comprised of flowering plants, shamrocks/clovers, buckthorn, and several other unidentifiable species. Species were counted over the entire quadrant, rather than a quarter. This variable is quantitative and discrete. Data was collected in the grassland and a nearby disturbed area, with approximately 1 hour spent in each area. The weather was cloudy and slightly humid. Total Number of Flowers: Abundance was collected through a survey method. Flowers counts were obtained from one plant, and then multiplied by the abundance of the same plant in the quadrant to record the total number of flowers present in that quadrant, of that particular plant species. Only flower blossoms were considered in this experiment. This variable is quantitative and discrete. Data was collected in the grassland and a nearby disturbed area, with approximately 1 hour spent in each area. The weather was cloudy and slightly humid. <b>Woody plants: Noah Malaqui</b> A 50 metre transect was placed in both the grassland and disturbed area. Starting from one end of the transect, data for the abundance of woody plants, canopy coverage, vegetation/ground coverage, and abundance of flowers was collected every 2 metres in each location through observation. Only trees that were at least 1.5 metres or greater in height and 0.5 metres away from the transect on either side were considered woody plants. Canopy coverage was measured by standing still and directly looking up; data was recorded as a percentage of how much sky was not visible in that particular spot. Similarly, vegetation/ground coverage was measured by standing still and directly looking down; data was recorded as a percentage of how much bare ground was not visible in that particular spot. Finally, plants that had visible flowers sprouting within 1 metre on each side of the transect were recorded. Since data was recorded every 2 metres of the 50 metre transect, there was a total of 25 replicates. The weather during the time of data collection was cloudy and slightly humid. <b>Vertebrates &amp; Invertebrates: Mihails Ditmans</b> Vertebrate Abundance: The vertebrate abundance is the number of vertebrates seen within 50m 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. The weather was cloudy and slightly humid. Vertebrate Diversity: The vertebrate diversity is the number of different types of vertebrates found within 50m 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. The weather was cloudy and slightly humid. Human Abundance: The human abundance is the number of humans seen within 50m of the observation point over a course of 15 minutes. Cars were counted as 1 person unless more could be seen through the windows. One person passing through multiple times was only counted once. This is a quantitative discrete variable. The weather was cloudy and slightly humid. 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. The weather was cloudy and slightly humid. <b> </b> <b>Invertebrates: Mariam 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 3:05pm and left out until 3:45pm in the disturbed area (total duration of 40 minutes) and from 3:55pm to 4:30pm in the grassland (total duration of 35 minutes). At the end of each period a count of the abundance of invertebrates were recorded. Next, a 50 metre transect was measured and data was collected with a sweep net. 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 found in the net was recorded. This was repeated in both the grassland as well as the disturbed area. The weather this data was collected in was cloudy and humid. <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 abundance 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 used to also collect the abundance of invertebrates at one end of the transect. Each pan trap was left to collect invertebrates for at least 30 minutes. All of the methods listed above were conducted in both a grassland and disturbed area at the Keele Campus of York University on a cloudy and slightly humid afternoon from 3pm-5pm. <b> </b> <b>Hypothesis:</b> Plant and animal species would be more abundant in grassland areas than in disturbed areas. This would be due to increased competition for space and other resources among the animals and plants that occupy the habitat, including humans. <b> </b> <b>Predictions:</b> 1) There will be a greater abundance of humans and fewer animals in the disturbed area when compared to the grassland area. 2) Native and flowering plant species will be more abundant in the grassland than in the disturbed area.