Ecology Lab 4

Ecology Lab

Hypothesis: If density and sunlight affect the dbh of the tree, then the dbh of the tree will increase as density and sunlight increases, because more sunlight allows for better growth of tree, and high-density displays a lot of resource availability.

Predictions:

As sunlight increases the dbh of the tree will increase. As density increases the dbh of the tree will increase. As sunlight and density increases the dbh of the tree will increase.

Method:

The experiment will be done in Woodlands at York University. The first Maple tree will be chosen randomly by starting at a random point and moving 10 steps north, and 5 steps east. The first Maple tree in the vicinity will be the target. We will measure the dbh of the tree, and then make a 10m radius with the maple tree in the middle and count all the trees that are 10 ft and higher within the radius. To measure the sunlight we will use our picture frame of 10 cm by15 cm and stand with our back to the tree, and look upwards, and calculate the percentage of light coming through. The next tree will be chosen by going to the edge of our 10 m radius in the North East direction, and then taking 10 steps north and 5 steps east and then chose the next maple tree nearby. The total number of maple trees being surveyed will be 35 giving a good idea if dbh is affected by sunlight and density.