Sunlight and Vegetation Percentage in Danby Woodlot/Grassland

The purpose of the experiment was to determine whether a corellation existed between the amount of sunlight an environment recieves and the amount of vegetation it holds. The location of data collection occured on the Danby woodlot and grassland areas of York University, Toronto, Canada. Along with four other group members, data was collected between 3-5pm on two separate days: October 19th 2015 and October 26th 2015. The weather on October 19th was 14 degrees. partially cloudy and windy and on October 16th it was 10 degrees, mainly sunny and no significant wind existed. The amount of vegetation and sunlight in both environments (woodlot and grassland) was determined as a percentage. Sample locations were determined by a random number generator: beginning from the middle of each environment, two numbers were generated; the first (1-4) determined the direction (N, E, S, W) and the second (1-100) determined how many steps were to be taken in that location. Vegetation percentage was determined by using a 1 by 1 metre quadrat, only living vegetation that had it's roots in ground were counted. Sunlight percentage was also determined by using a 1 by 1 metre piece of blank cardboard which was laid just on top of the quadrat; the amount of sunlight that reflected off the cardboard was determined as a percentage. 50 samples were taken in each environment, each day: totalling to 100 samples for each environment.