YorkU.Grassland.Woodlot.Sept27-2016.csv

Description of Data Column Labels:

Quadrat Number: A quadrat of 1 m by 1m was randomly placed on the
ground in order to observe and count insects. This was done ten times in the
grassland and ten times in the woodlot.

Habitat: Ten quadrats were randomly placed on the ground of
the grassland and the insects observed were noted. An additional ten quadrats
were randomly placed on the ground of the woodlot, where insects present were
then counted.

Total Numbers of Insects: The number of insects observed in each quadrat were
totalled and recorded.

Recognizable Taxonomic Units (RTUs): The number of different recognizable
species was noted in each quadrat by observing and counting the different
number of species in each.

Additional Information:

The data obtained
in this experiment for the total number of insects and the recognizable
taxonomic units (RTUs) was continuous as our data was numerical. The division
of data into grassland or woodlot is categorical.

The field site
was located on the York University-Keele Campus on a grassland and woodlot area
near Keele Street and York Boulevard. The conditions were cloudy and 21 degrees
Celsius. The grassland was approximately 200m by 250m wide with tall trees
around its perimeter. The woodlot was approximately 350m by 500m wide.

Methods:  Quadrats with
an area of one squared metre were randomly placed in both the grassland and the
woodlot to perform this experiment. The quadrats were left for 30 seconds
before counts were noted. Once the 30 seconds had elapsed, the total number of
insects was counted and the number of different species (RTUs) was determined. The
data was then recorded.

These
observations began at 3 p.m and took approximately one hour in total to
complete.

Hypothesis: Regions of the grassland will have a higher total
number of insects count as well as a greater number of recognizable taxonomic units
present.

Prediction: If the regions of grassland have a higher total
number of insects as well as a greater number of recognizable taxonomic units,
then the viability and diversity of insects is better supported for in the
grassland habitat compared to the woodlot.