BIOL 2050 Week 3 Lab In Danby Grassland- Group 3 Data Set 2

Meta Data:

Plant Number: This
factor is a list of the 10 plants that were selected from the same species in
order to conduct the study in the Danby grassland. This was measured by finding
the plants that were from the particular chosen species through visual
observation along the transect measuring tape.

Distance on Transect:
This factor is the distance of each chosen plant (in centimeters) from the starting mark of the
transect tape. This was measured by randomly placing a transect tape across the
Danby grassland and measuring it out to 25 meters. After choosing to focus on
the specific plant species in this study, the plants of this species that were
near the transect (standing within 30 centimeters away from transect tape) were
identified through visual observation and their measurement away from the
starting point of the transect was documented.

Height: This
factor is the measured height of the chosen plants (in centimeters). This was measured by using
a transect measuring tape. The start of the measuring tape was pointed towards
the bottom of the plant, where its stem emerges from the soil and was stretched
vertically in order to measure plant height. The plant was held straight by
laboratory member and the measurement was taken off of the transect visual
reading.

Number of Leaves: This
factor is the number of leaves that the plant had. This was measured by
manually counting each leaf that was located throughout the surface of the
plant. Leaves that appeared to be joined to other leaves were counted as
separate leaves.

Number of Flowers: This
factor is the number of flowers that were located on the plant. This was
measured by observing the plant and manually counting each flower that was
located on the plant. Flowers that appeared to be in very close proximity to
other flowers, having a conjoined appearance, were counted as separate flowers.
On the specific plant species in this study, flowers were defined as the yellow
outgrowths from the tip of the plant.

Level of Crowding:
This factor is the level of crowding of other vegetation surrounding the plant.
This was measured by observing the surroundings of the plant, approximately within
a 50-centimeter area. A scale was used to approximate the level of vegetation
surrounding the plant from 0-3, 0 being open, 1 being some plants nearby, 2
being quite a few plants, and 3 being very crowded.  

Site Description: This study was conducted on York
University Danby grassland at approximately 3:00 pm on Wednesday, September 21,
2016. The weather during the time of the study was sunny with a temperature of 28
degrees Celsius and humid conditions. The grassland was accompanied with
various different types of vegetation and also accompanied approximately 20
students and a Teaching Assistant. Observations were made under a good amount
of natural sunlight. The noise levels were non-distracting and consisted mostly
of natural sounds.

Methods:

Upon arriving to the York University’s Danby grassland area,
a transect measuring tape was measured and spread out linearly to 25 meters
across a randomly selected area of the grassland. After walking along the
measuring tape, an easily visible plant species was quickly chosen as the plant
species for this study. Starting from the beginning of the measuring tape (0 centimeters)
and walking along the 25 meters, 10 plants from the chosen species was
identified and selected and their distance from transect, height, number of
leaves, number of flowers and level of crowding were measured and documented on
a data sheet. The 10 plants were identified as being part of the chosen species
by visually observing the plants and noting similar features in structure and
appearance. Distance and height of the plants were measured by using a transect
measuring tape in centimeters. The number of leaves and flowers of the plants were measured by
manually counting. The level of crowding was measured by observing 50
centimeters around each plant and approximating the density of vegetation
surrounding and ranking them with a level ranging from 0-3 (0= open, 1= some
plants nearby, 2= quite a few plants, 3= very crowded).

Hypothesis: Plants that had a greater distance from the
transect, a higher height, a greater number of leaves, and a lower level of
crowding have more flowers because they experience less competition for
resources and can therefore bloom to a higher degree.

Prediction 1: The higher the plant the more flowers the
plant will have.

Prediction 2: The lower level of crowding of vegetation
surrounding the plant, the more flowers the plant will have.