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.

Predictions
Prediction 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.