YorkU.Grassland/Disturbed.Oct-07-2016.csv

Variables:<b>Abundance Native Plants</b>: A 50 meter transect was placed along the length of the grassland and disturbed area at York University. Using a quadrat (X25) the abundance of native plants were determined. Since the quadrat approximately covered an area of 3 X 3 feet, the number of native plants present within a foot of the transect was first visually estimated. This was used as a guideline to estimate the total abundance of native plants within the quadrat. This was repeated 25 times and took on average 30 minutes to collect. This is a discrete variable. <b>Abundance Exotic Plants</b>: A 50 meter transect was placed along the length of the grassland and disturbed area. Every two meters along the transect, a quadrat (X25) was placed alternating left and right to visually determine the number of exotic plants present within the quadrant. This was repeated 25 times and the data took 30 minutes to collect. This is a discrete variable. <b>Total Number of Flowers:</b> A 50 meter transect was placed along the length of the grassland. Every two meters along the transect, a quadrat (X25) was placed alternating left and right to determine the total number of flowers within the quadrant. An approximate number of total flowers were visually determined and recorded in the lab manual. This was repeated 25 times to collect. This is a discrete variable. <b>Abundance woody plants:</b> A 50 meter transect was placed along the length of the grassland. Trees within 0.5 m on either side of the transect were visually recorded every two meters. Trees which were 1.5 meters in height or greater were considered woody plants. 25 replicates were recorded and took 30 minutes to collect. This is a discrete variable. <b>Canopy cover:</b> For each respective tree the amount of sunlight, in percent, a tree covered with its branches was estimated using the researchers 2 index fingers and thumbs (creating a square with them) as aid. 25 replicates were recorded. This is a continuous variable. <b>Ground cover: </b>The vegetative ground cover was estimated as a percentage by the observer directly looking underneath themselves. Researchers used their 2 index fingers and thumbs (aimed to directly below as aid) for estimation purposes. 25 replicates were recorded and took 30 minutes to collect. This is a continuous variable. <b>Total flower numbers: </b>the amount of flowers present around the 50m transect at each replicate was visually estimated around the woody area. 25 replicates were recorded and took 30 minutes to collect. This is a discrete variable. <b>Abundance vertebrates: </b>This variable was measured with the use of a point/observation survey while standing at the beginning of the 50m transect. Any/all vertebrates that were visually identified within a 50m radius from the original position were counted and recorded for a 15 min period for 2 replicate trials. This is a discrete variable. <b>Vertebrates Species:</b> This is a discrete variable that was measured by taking the abundance of vertebrates and visually distinguishing them as separate vertebrate species. For example, big black bird, small blue bird with small beak, etc. In areas of conflict, the teaching assistant was consulted for approval/confirmation. <b>A</b><b>bundance invertebrates observed: </b>Researchers stood at the 0m mark of the transect. Any/all invertebrates that were visually identified within a 50m radius from the original position were counted and recorded for a 15 min period over 2 replicate trials. <b>Abundance Humans:</b> This is a discrete variable, which was measured with the use of a point/observation survey while standing at the beginning of the 50m transect. Any/all humans that were visually identified (whether on-foot, in motor-vehicle or other modes of transportation) within a 50m radius from the original position were counted and recorded for a period of 15 min for 2 replicate trials. <b>Abundance invertebrates pan traps:</b> 6 colored pan traps were placed in a specific sequence (Blue, White, Yellow X repeated once more) 3 meters apart containing soapy water. After 30 minutes the amount of invertebrates caught in the pans were visually counted and recorded. This is a discrete variable. <b>Abundance invertebrates sweeps:</b> Using sweep nets, sweep transects were done along a 50 meter transect, and swept 1 m perpendicular to the transect. After thoroughly sweeping in the grassland/ open disturbed area, the amount of invertebrates caught in the sweep net were counted. This is a discrete variable. Hypothesis: Due to the lack of sunlight and water, it is hypothesized that increased canopy coverage will negatively affect plant and animal growth. It is predicted that an increase in canopy coverage will result in decreased abundance of vertebrate species, vegetative cover, and native plant species found in both grassland and disturbed areas. This is due to the limited necessary resources available to animal and plant species which lead to competition. Methods: The experiment was conducted at York University’s grassland and disturbed lot at 2:40 pm ET, and lasted 2 hours and 20 minutes. The GPS location of these areas were at approximately longitude -79.49 and latitude 43.77. Temperature outside in the grassland was 22 degrees Celsius with a clear sunny sky and no wind. Mary Benj, Sophia Capo, Karandeep Chahal, and Didar Kalra were the researchers who conducted the experiments. Firstly, two transects were extended linearly along the grassland to create a total distance of 50 m. A quadrat was placed alternately left and right along the transect after 2 m increments and placed randomly perpendicular to the transect. For each trial, number of flowers, abundance of exotic plants and abundance of native species were visually distinguished. Since the quadrat approximately covered an area of 3X3 feet, the number of each variable present within a foot of the quadrats was estimated. This was used as a guideline to estimate the total abundance of each variable present within the quadrant. This was repeated 25 times in both the grassland and disturbed areas. Using the same 50 m transect, the abundance of wood plants, for every 2 m increments, along the transect were recorded. Only trees which were found to be 0.5 m perpendicular to the transect were surveyed and recorded. Canopy coverage, vegetative ground coverage, and the total number of flowers surrounding each tree were visually estimated and recorded. This was repeated 25 times in both the grassland and disturbed area. Next, along the transect, researchers observed the abundance of humans crossing by along a 50 m radius for a total of 15 minutes – excluding fellow members of lab06. Abundance of vertebrates, number of vertebrate species and the abundance of invertebrates present were also visually observed and recorded during this 15 minute interval. These variables were then recorded once again during a second 15 minute interval in both the grassland and disturbed lot areas. Next, soapy water was placed into six colored pans (blue, yellow white). Each pan was placed 3m away from each other along the 50 m transect in the specific order; yellow, blue, white. This order was repeated once more and the abundance of invertebrates found in the pan traps were recorded after the interval time had expired. Lastly, along the extended 50m transect, a sweep test was conducted. Total abundance of invertebrate caught in the net for each trial was recorded. The sweep test was conducted 10 times in both the grassland and disturbed area. All data were recorded in lab notebooks and later transferred onto excel documents.