Lab 2 - Woodlot, Dataset 4

Meta-data Tree - A list of the number of pairs of trees measured and observed. DBH - (Diameter Breast Height) Two neighbouring maple trees were randomly sampled, the visually larger (thicker/taller) of the two was labeled the adult tree. The diameter of the larger of the two maple trees was measured across the trunk in centimetres with transect tape. The trunk was measured at the average chest height of one of the observers; approximately 130cm above the ground. Distance to Sapling - The distance in centimetres between the two randomly sampled, neighbouring maple trees. The distance was measured at an average chest height of one of the observers at 130 cm above the ground with transect tape. % Canopy Coverage - The canopy coverage of the larger maple tree, measured by visually observing how much of the canopy filled an 11 by 6 cm rectangle made by our fingers in percentage. Site Description Danby Woodlot, York University, 28°C, Sunny/Humid weather, Many different species of vegetation in the plot, September 21, 2016, 2:30-5:30 pm. Method 10 randomly sampled pairs of trees were measured. 2 maple trees close together were paired with the visually larger (thicker/taller) labeled as the adult tree and the smaller labeled as the sapling. Using transect tape, the diameters of both adult and sapling trunks were taken at an average chest height (130 cm) above ground. At the same height, the distance between the two trees was also measured with the transect tape. Finally, looking straight up the adult tree, an 11 by 6 cm rectangle was made with our fingers and we visually observed the percentage of the canopy coverage. Coverage was calculated by the amount of leaves covering our square. Hypothesis The larger the diameter of the adult tree and the closer the sapling to the adult, the canopy coverage will be higher because the sapling leaves will overlap with the adult tree leaves and make a larger, more dense canopy. PredictionsPrediction 1 - The larger the adult tree, the closer the sapling is to the adult. Prediction 2 - The closer the sapling to the adult tree, the larger the canopy coverage of the adult tree.