Plant and Animal Species Activity in Grassland and Disturbed Area Settings

Study Description:This study examines the relationship between the number of herbaceous plants, woody plants, vertebrates and invertebrates within the grassland and disturbed open space settings. This field study was conducted near the Stong Pond between 3:00PM-5:00PM at York University’s Keele Campus on Tuesday, October 4, 2016. The temperature was around 20 degrees Celsius with plenty of sunshine.Methods: Herbaceous Plants The study was conducted at the grasslands near the Stong pond at approximately 3:00 pm in York University. The weather condition was sunny and clear. Quadrats was the survey method used to observe the abundance of both native and exotic vegetation in the area. A 50 m transect line was placed on the area of study. The quadrat was randomly placed on the left side of the transect, so to not disturbed the pan trap being conducted in the other study. It was placed every 2 meters along the line. Within each quadrat, the number of native plants were counted as well as exotic plants. The total flower heads were also counted. It was replicated 25 times and every time a quadrat is randomly placed with no plants, a zero was recorded.<br>Woody Plants The study was conducted at the grasslands near the Stong pond at approximately 3:45 pm in York University. The transect was the second survey method used to observe the abundance of woody plants, the canopy coverage of the woody plants, the ground cover and the total number of flowers in the area of study. In every 2 meters along the transect line, a tree was recorded within 0.5 meters from the line. The canopy coverage of those trees were recorded by estimating its coverage of its outer layer. The ground cover was recorded by estimating the vegetation present, excluding grasses. The total number of the flower-heads was also recorded. 25 trials were conducted.<br>Herbaceous Plant &amp; Woody Plants The method for the herbaceous plant and woody plant in the disturbed open area was the same as the method for the grasslands.<br>Vertebrates and Invertebrates<br>Two transects were used to cover 50 metres of land in order to perform the different methods of observations. A particular point on the transect was chosen to perform all methods of observations, which was at 0 meters, being the beginning of the transect. A 50 meter radius from the beginning of the transect was observed for any vertebrate species, which was further classified into abundance of vertebrates and abundance of species. At the same time, a 50 meter radius from the beginning of the transect was observed for the abundance of humans that do not belong to the lab. All of the above was performed within 15 minutes. In the next 15 minutes, the number of individual invertebrates within a 5 meter radius from the beginning of the transect was observed using a magnifying glass and recorded as abundance of invertebrates. All data was recorded in an Excel sheet and uploaded to Figshare.<br>InvertebratesTwo transects were used to measure 50 meters (25 meters each) in both grassland and disturbed open area settings. The transects were placed parallel from the other group’s transects. Six pan traps of alternating colors were placed 3 meters apart along the transect. Sweep nets were used to capture insects along the 50 meter transect line. The total number of invertebrates found at the end of each sweep was counted and recorded. This was conducted ten times for each habitat. After the sweep nets, the total number of invertebrates within the pan traps were counted and recorded. The method for both grassland and disturbed open area settings were identical. Data was recorded in an Excel spreadsheet and uploaded to Figshare. <br>Hypothesis:There is a correlation between number of invertebrates and color of pan trap.<br>Prediction:There is a correlation between the number of invertebrates and color of pan trap. Yellow pan traps will attract more insects because it is quite vibrant and will resemble the color of many flowers present in the area. There will be less invertebrates found in the white pan traps since the color is not as bright as the yellow pan traps. <br>Meta-data:<br>Habitat- The grassland near the Stong pond located behind the Bergeron Centre. The disturbed area was located near the grassland. Also located behind Bergeron centre. The data is categorical.Abundance in quadrats- The number of native and exotic plants present in both grassland and the disturbed open space. The data is continuous. Daucus corota, an invasive species was considered as an exotic plant that was present in the study. Total number of flower heads- Within the quadrant, the flower heads from the separate was counted individually if its head is distinct. As for plants that had flower bearings that are arranged in clusters on a stem, those were counted in multiples of 10. The data is continuous.Abundance wood plants- In the grassland, what considered as woody plants are trees near the transect lines. The trees recorded were doubled the height of the observer, which is 5 foot 4 inches. The data is continuous.Replications- Each study was replicated 25 times in both grassland and disturbed open areas.Canopy cover- The canopy coverage was measured on how much coverage the outer layer of the tree provides. The data is continuous.Ground cover- Any vegetation, excluding grass, that grows over an area of ground. The data is continuous.Total number of flower heads (transect)- Within the quadrant, the flower heads from the separate plant was. As for plants that had flower bearings that are arranged in clusters on a stem, those were counted in multiples of 10. Dried flower heads were also counted especially in the disturbed area. The data is continuous. Abundance of Vertebrates- Through visual inspection, the abundance of vertebrates within a 50 meter radius from the beginning of the transect were observed. Observations were recorded. Data is quantitative and numerical.Vertebrate Species- Through visual inspection, the number of vertebrate species within a 50 meter radius from the beginning of the transect were observed. Observations were recorded. Data is quantitative and numerical.Abundance of Humans- Through visual inspection, the abundance of humans (not from the lab) within a 50 meter radius were observed. Observations were recorded. Data is quantitative and numerical.Abundance of Invertebrates- Through visual inspection (with the help of a magnifying glass), abundance of invertebrates within a 5 meter radius from the beginning of the transect were observed. Observations were recorded. Data is quantitative and numerical.Abundance invertebrates pan traps- Through visual inspection, the number of invertebrates within each pan trap was observed. Pan traps were left out in the grassland area between 3:32PM-3:57PM before the number of invertebrates were counted and recorded. Pan traps were left out in the disturbed open area between 4:23PM-4:35PM before the number of invertebrates were counted and recorded. Data is continuous. Abundance invertebrates sweeps- Through visual inspection, the number of invertebrates found in the sweep net at the end of each sweep was observed. Data is continuous.<br><br>Side note: <br>-As human activity was higher in the disturbed area, abundance of vertebrates/vertebrate species and abundance of invertebrates observed was lower<br>-Humans were excluded in the count of abundance/species of vertebrates<br><br><br><br>