A study on the abundance of plants, vertebrates, and invertebrates in a forest area

Methods

In order to assess
the abundance of herbaceous plants, woody plants, vertebrates,
and invertebrates in a forest area, 50m of transect tape was laid in a straight
line in the forest. The following methods were then implemented: 

For measurement of
herbaceous plants, every 2m along the transect, a quadrat (1mx1m) was placed
adjacent to the tape, alternating between the left and right side for the
entire 50m for a total of 25 quadrats. For each quadrat, the same person
counted the individual number of native plants, the individual number of exotic
plants, and the number of observed flower heads within the quadrat.

For measurement of
woody plants, every 2m along the transect (total of 25 measurements) if a tree
was observed within 0.5m of either side of the transect, it was recorded. At
these same points, the same person looked upwards to estimate the canopy
coverage, and then looked down at a 0.5mx0.5m area of the ground adjacent to
the transect, to estimate vegetative ground cover and count the total number of
flowers in that area. 

For measurement of
vertebrates and invertebrates, the area within a 50m radius of the beginning of
the transect tape was surveyed for 15 minutes and the total number of
vertebrates and number of different vertebrate species were observed. In the
same area and time interval, the numbers of people (not including those
participating in the lab) were counted. In another 15 minute interval, the
number of individual invertebrates within a 5m radius of the transect tape were
observed.

For measurement of
invertebrates, 6 pan traps filled halfway with detergent were placed along the
length of the transect tape, each spaced 3m apart and in alternating colours
(yellow, blue, and white). After sitting 45 minutes, the total numbers of
invertebrates found within each pan trap were counted. 10 sweep nets were also
conducted along the 50m transect and the total number of invertebrates found at
the end of each sweep were counted.

Study Site

Temp: 9°C Wind Speed: 26km/h Light rain with 98% cloud cover. 

Danby Woods (forest), York University, Toronto, Ontario, Canada: latitude:
43.768756 longitude: -79.5079 Elevation: 126.30201

Woodlot located near grassland and disturbed area containing roads and a
parking lot. Woodlot (approximately 250mx250m) was of average density with only
deciduous trees.

 Hypothesis 

There will
be a large abundance of native vegetation, invertebrates, and vertebrates not
including humans found in the woodlot area. This is because trees are the dominant
species in the woodlot area and they are native. Trees are also considered
ecosystem engineers as they create and maintain a physical habitat for
themselves and other species, as well as provide food for many other species. Therefore,
as the abundance of trees will be high in a forest area, the abundance of
species that benefit from the trees’ presence will also be high.

Predictions

There will be no or very few
humans found in the woodlot.The abundance of native plants
will increase along the transect tape as it proceeds deeper into the woodlot.Canopy cover will be very
high/maximum coverage for the majority of the woodlot and ground cover
will be very low throughout the woodlot.

Metadata

habitat: Categorical. Forest is defined as a woodlot on
campus.

lat: Continuous.
Used GPS unit and record location each plot.

long: Continuous. Used GPS unit and record location each plot. 

elevation: Continuous. Used GPS unit and record location each
plot.

abundance.native.plants: Discrete. Counted total
number of native plants within 1m x1m quadrats placed every 2m along a 50m
transect tape, alternating from left side to right side (total of 25
times). 

abundance.exotic.plants: Discrete. Counted total number
of exotic plants within 1m x1m quadrats placed every 2m along a 50m
transect tape, alternating from left side to right side (total of 25
times). 

total.number.flowers (quadrats): Discrete. Counted total number of flowers
that were fully bloomed (not buds) within 1m x1m quadrats placed every 2 meter
along a 50m transect tape, alternating from left side to right side (total of
25 times).

abundance.woody.plants: Discrete. Every 2m along the 50m
transect tape the number of trees or woody plants within 0.5 meter of both
sides of the transect tape were counted (total of 25 times).  A tree was
defined as being taller than 1.5 meters.

canopy.cover: Continous. Every 2m along the 50m transect tape an estimate of
canopy coverage in percentage was made by looking up.

ground.cover: Discrete. Every 2m along the 50m transect tape an
estimate in percentage of vegetative ground cover for a 0.5mx0.5m area was made
by looking down.

total.flower.numbers (transect): Discrete. Every 2m along the 50m
transect tape, the total number fully bloomed flower heads (not buds) within a
0.5mx0.5m area adjacent to the transect tape was counted. 

abundance.vertebrates: Discrete. Total number of vertebrates
observed in 15 minutes within a 50m radius of the beginning of the transect
tape.

vertebrate.species: Discrete. The number of different
vertebrate species observed in 15 minutes within a 50m radius of the beginning
of the transect tape.

abudance.people: Discrete. Total number of humans (not including
those participating in the lab) observed in 15 minutes within a 50m radius of
the beginning of the transect tape.

abundance.invertebrates.pantraps: Discrete. Total number of
invertebrates captured via pan trap after being left for 45 minutes. Pan traps
were placed 3m apart on the ground along the transect tape in alternating
colours of yellow and blue.

abundance.invertebrates.sweeps: Discrete. Total number of
invertebrates captured via sweep net which were swept along the 50m transect.

abundance.invertebrates.observed: Discrete. Total
number of invertebrates observed in 15 minutes within a 5m radius of the
beginning of the transect tape.