Measure of Adult Trees on Transect along with Neighboring Tress as well as Distances, Condition and dbh

Data Created and Submitted by: Hannan Fayyaz

Contributing Members: Gopaul Parbatie, Albert Lin and Gajamugan Rajavarothayan

Methods:

Objective of this lab was to identify replicate trees along a transect, their neighbouring tree and record various qualities of both trees. This included measuring the distance between the two trees, diameter at breast height (dbh) of both trees and condition of the replicate tree. The method of this lab is as follows:

A transect was laid stretching from the edge to the middle of a woodlot area, forming a straight line. An adult tree which was seen along the laid transect was recorded as our replicate tree. The diameter at breast height (dbh) of this tree was measured. The closest neighbouring tree to this replicate tree was located (NOTE: neighbouring tree did not have to be along the line created by transect). The distance between the replicate tree and its neighbouring tree was measured. The diameter at breast height (dbh) of the neighbouring tree was also measured. The condition of the replicate tree was recorded which ranged from a scale of 0 to 2 (scale number along with respective condition is listed below). This process was done until a total of 10 replicate trees (n=10) were observed along the transect. All data was recorded in a table, which was later converted into an excel sheet. The distance between trees and their diameter at breast height (dbh) was measured using a transect. Similar data was recorded/converted into the same units to produce a more uniform/comparable chart.

The numbers used to scale the condition of replicate tree are as follows:

0 = the tree may be dying. It may no longer be able to support its own structure. The branches are falling off and there are minimal amounts of leaves.

2= tree is vibrant but not in optimal condition. Branches/leaves may be beginning to fall off, but overall it is in relatively good condition compared to condition 1.

3= tree is in very good condition. The tree is able to support its branches and leaves. The tree is in optimal condition

The experiment was conducted in the woodlot area of York University, Keele campus, between the hours of 2:30pm to 5:30pm on Thursday September 24th-2015

Distance from tree to next tree

Distance from the replicate tree (the primary tree under question) to a closest observed tree, which unlike the replicate tree did not have to be on the laid transect. The distance between the two trees was measured in meters.

dbh1

Diameter at breast height. The diameter of the primary tree recorded at observeres breast height. The diameter was measured in meters

dbh2

Diameter at breast height. The diameter of closest tree to the replicate/primary tree. The diameter was measured at obervers breast height and

Condition of Tree

The condition of the replicate tree measured on a scale of 0-2. 0 = the tree is dying. It may no longer be able to support its structure. The branches are falling off and there are fewer than opimal amount of leaves. 2= the tree is vibrant but not in perfect condition. The branches/leaves may be beginning to fall off, but overall it is in realtivly good condition compared to condition 1. 3= very good conditions. The tress is able to suppost its branches and leaves. The tree is in optimal condition

Notes