Field Training with Plants: A Study on Sampling Populations and Communities of a Plant Species in Grasslands

Methods: By randomly
placing transect tape within the grasslands of Danby Woods, 50 individuals of a
targeted plant species were sampled at specific distances on the transect for
number of flowers, number of leaves, height, and whether it was located in a
crowded patch of other plant species.  

Study Site: Danby Woods, York University, Toronto, ON, Canada. 43.7735° N, 79.5019° W.  Study taken outdoors with a bit of rainfall
and complete cloud cover.

Hypothesis: There will be a correlation between plant
height and surrounding density of other plant species because competition of
nutrients between multiple plant species affects the ability of a single plant to
grow and flourish.

Predictions:
1. The more crowded
the target plant is by other plant species, the shorter it will be because as
the nutrients are shared among many plants, the targeted plant species can only
uptake a certain amount to sustain the plants life.
2. The more crowded
the target plant, the less number of leaves and flowers because it will be
competing with other plants for nutrients which help produce more flowers and
leaves.
3. The targeted plant
species will be taller, and produce more leaves and flowers in a less crowded
area because they will not be competing for nutrients with many other plant
species.

Meta-data:
1. distance (transect):
Numerical and Discrete – Recorded distance traveled on a transect in meters to
50 targeted plant species which were sampled within a radius of 50 centimeters
on each side of the transect to a maximum distance of 30 meters on the transect.
2. height.of.plant.of.interest:
Numerical and Continuous – Recorded plant height from ground level to tip of
the tallest flower in centimeters using a measuring tape.
3. total.number.of.leaves:
Numerical and Continuous – On each plant, an average length stem was counted
for number of leaves, and then that number was multiplied by the total number
of stems on the whole plant itself to get the total number of leaves for each
plant.
4. total.number.of.flowers:
Numerical and Continuous – Only counted purple flowers which were already
bloomed and disregarded flower buds on targeted plant. 
5. crowdness.around.plant.of.interest:
Categorical and Ordinal – Assigned a ranking system of 0 (open), 1 (some plants
nearby), 2 (quite a few plants), and 3 (very crowded bunch of plants) to signify
the estimated density of the targeted plant’s environment within a 50 centimeter radius.

Group Members: Matthew Fernandez, Rija Ghani, Niyousha Taati, Sarah Pecile