Conditioning and health of adult trees and trees within close proximity of adult trees in Danby Woodlot, York University

On September 22, 2015 at approximately 3:00pm students of BIOL 2050: Ecology in lab section 02 visited the Danby Woodlot at York University in groups of 4 to practice field training with plants using quadrats and terrasects. In a group of 4 Muhammad Akram, Daniel Germani, Bonnie Duong and Markian Plawiuk split into groups of 2 to examine the woodlot and the grasslands area seperately. Muhammad Akram and Daniel Germani paired up while Bonnie Duong and Markian Plawiuk paired up. Daniel Germani analyzed species variance in the grasslands using a quadrat and Muhammad examined the conditioning of trees in the woodlot. Specifically the health and conditioning of adult trees approximately 12 ft in height and trees in closest proximity were analyzed to determine whether or not being close to a healthy adult tree had an impact on the conditioning of these trees. Using a transect extending from the western border of the woodlot to the centre, adult trees were chosen and then paired with the next tree closest to the adult tree. The observer Muhammad chose to walk approximately 10m into the forest before selecting the first adult tree closest to him and then selecting the next adult tree closest while walking East until 10 adult trees had been surveyed. The width of each tree trunk was used as a measure of health along with the quantity and quality of leaves. Trees with minimal healthy leaf production were assigned a 0 rating and large trees with a huge green canopy were given a 2 rating. Trees intermediate to these extremes were assigned a rating of 2. The DBH (distance from breast height or width at 56 inches off the ground) was measured using a measuring tape. Both the DBH and distance between trees was recorded in inches.