Field training with plants: Grassland, dataset 2

This dataset was collected by Stephanie, Alexander, Vivian, and Amandeep. A population of species cow-s vetch (<em>vicia cracca</em>) was measured based on distance on the transect each plant was found, the height, number of leaves, number of flowers, and the level of patchiness for each plant. This was a mensurative experiment and no manipulations were done in order to study these variables. The total sample size was 20 plants of this species. Patchiness was grouped into four categories: 0: open space around plant, 1: some plants nearby, 2: quite a few plants, 3: very crowded bunch of plants within 50 cm. The data was collected on September 24, 2015 between 3:25-4:00 pm, at York University grasslands beside Danby woodlot. It was a sunny day with temperature of 21 degrees Celsius and some clouds. The transect tape was randomly placed across a population of cow-s vetch (<em>vicia cracca</em>) species. These species were easily identifiable along the tape to perform replicates. The transect tape was laid out for a total of 30 feet. From the beginning of the tape plant measurements were collected each time the species were encountered along the line. Alexander counted the number of leaves, and read the distance on the transect tape each plant was found. Vivian counted the number of flowers, while Stephanie measured the height of the plant from the ground to the tip. I recorded the data, estimated the patchiness and verified the counts. The purpose of collecting this data was to gain experience sampling plant populations. The dataset can also be used to estimate the relationship between the variables measured.