Adult Tree and Sapling Pair Measurements (DBH), Distance, and Percentage Canopy Covering

Group Members: Pham, Anisa, and Sajid Introduction: The objective was to collect measurements for the width of both the adult tree and sapling at our breast height, the distance between both trees, and the percentage canopy coverage. Materials: The materials we used were two transects, paper to record data, and pencil/pen to write down information. One transect was used to measure the distance between both the adult tree and the sapling starting from both the trees backs, and the other transect was used to measure the width of the tree from our breast height. This way, the process would go by faster. Site Information: The data was collected at the York University Danby Woods near the northeastern side of the campus. The temperature was hot that day and the climate was very sunny. However, it was a little cooler in the woodlands because the trees served as a shading spot for us. There were many trees of various ages growing in the woodlands, and no animals present at the time. Method: The experiment was carried out by us choosing which species of trees available to take measurements for. All of us decided to find and measure the maple trees, since there was an abundant amount of them in the woodlands. Then, we split into two groups. One group was to measure the distance between the adult maple tree and its sapling and the other group was responsible for measuring the distance from breast height on both the adult and sapling trees as well as visually estimating the percentage canopy coverage of the adult trees. The distance between the two trees was measured by using a transect and recording the distance starting and ending from both trees' backs. The distance to breast height was measured by using one of our group members as a reference point and measuring the width of the tree at their breast height. If the sapling was too small (around the height of our foot), we would take a measurement at foot height. We visually estimated the percentage coverage by making a square shape with our index fingers and thumbs and looked at how much of the sky was covered by the tree’s leaves. By splitting into groups, we saved time and finished earlier.