Physical Adult Tree Condition as Related to Separation Distance from Other Trees and Diameter at Breast Height.

Distance Between Trees – distance is measured using a tape measure from the centre of each adult tree trunk at breast height. Unit is cm. Dhb 1 – Abbreviation for diameter at breast height. Measured using a tape measure. Unit is cm. The 1 indicates the first individual tree being measured. Dhb 2 - Abbreviation for diameter at breast height. Measured using a tape measure. Unit is cm. The 2 indicates the second individual tree being measured. Condition 1 – The physical quality of the first individual adult tree being observed. Dead – 0, Living -1, Living with large green canopy -2 as determined visually. Condition 2 - The physical quality of the second individual adult tree being observed. Dead – 0, Living -1, Living with large green canopy -2 as determined visually. This data was collected on September 19th 2016 from 3:40 pm – 4:20 pm at a Saywell Woodlot at York University’s Keele campus by a lab team consisting of three members – Sophia, Didar and Karandeep. The temperature outside was 28 degrees Celsius. The wind speed was 16 km/h . There was direct sunlight with no interference from clouds. Using a 30m long tape measure, a straight transect was placed from an outskirt of the woodland toward the centre of the woodland. Adult woody trees, approximately 4 m in height or larger – as determined visually – were found along this transect. Using the transect tape measure, the continuous variable, distance between two randomly selected adult trees, was measured and recorded. An additional tape measure was used to measure the second continuous variable, the diameter at breast height of the tree. This tape measure was held up to the trunk of the tree at breast height and the diameter was visually determined and recorded. The condition of the adult trees selected was then recorded as dead, living, or living with large green canopy. This categorical variable was determined visually. This process was repeated 10 times with 20 randomly selected adult trees along the initial transect line. It was hypothesized that adult trees with a smaller trunk diameter and closer in position to other adult trees would be in worse physical condition. Experimental errors include error reading the numerical values of the tape measures visually as well as the transect tape measure not being in an absolutely straight line.