yorku.woodlot.Sep20-2016.csv

To investigate the diameter of trees in a woodlot the line transect method was used. Students conducted the investigation in the Danby Woods behind the reserved Chimneystack Road Parking Lot at York University (York Blvd and Keele Street; 43.7° N, 79.5 ° W) at 3:30pm. It was 26°C and pleasantly sunny. The woodlot was very dry and appeared to be withering. Using transect measuring tape, a student walked in a straight line from one edge of the woodlot to the centre of the woodlot to measure the distance between these two points. The distance between the edge of the woodlot and the centre of the woodlot was measured and recorded as 750 cm. By observation, 10 pairs of trees were counted along this transect line of 750 cm. Using measuring tape, the distance from one tree to another tree (in a pair) was recorded in the notebook. The condition of each tree was observed and also recorded. A dead tree was recorded as 0, a living tree as 1, and a huge green canopy as 2. In addition, the diameter of the tree at breast height (dbh) was measured using measuring tape. It took one hour to record the distance between 10 pairs of trees, the diameter at breast height of each tree and the condition of each tree. The duration of the experiment was 1 hour and 30 minutes. It was hypothesized that the distance between trees would be greater than one meter because large trees are usually spaced far apart due to the elongation of their branches. In addition, it was hypothesized that the trees would have a diameter greater than 30 cm and that most of the trees would form huge green canopies because the investigation was conducted in the woods.