Ecological variation of plant and animal species in impermeable and riparian environments at York University

Methods: In order to assess the relationship between species abundance and habitat, 2 tape measures were used to create a 50 meter transect near a pond and an impermeable area respectively. 4 different surveys were conducted along the transect. The first survey was conducted on herbaceous plants. Every two meters along the 50 meter transect, a quadrat was placed, alternating between left and right of the transect, for a total of 25 replicates. Total number of native plants, exotic plants, and flowers were visually counted within each quadrat. The same procedure was conducted both near the pond and the impermeable area. The second survey was conducted on woody plants. Every two meters along the 50 meter transect, the trees within 0.5 meters of either side were counted, for a total of 25 replicates. The canopy cover of each tree, total vegetation ground cover, and total number of flowers were visually counted. Only trees that were taller than 1.5m in height were counted. Canopy and ground cover was visually estimated. The same procedure was conducted both near the pond and the impermeable area. The third survey was conducted on vertebrates and invertebrates. Within a 50 meter radius starting at the beginning of the transect tape, visual aerial observations were made for 15 minutes. This procedure was repeated for a 5 meter radius starting at the beginning of the transect. Vertebrate abundance, number of different vertebrate species, number of different invertebrate species and human abundance were recorded. The same procedure was conducted both near the pond and the impermeable area. The fourth survey was conducted on invertebrates. 6 pan traps (solo bowls filled halfway with soap water) alternating between white, yellow and blue in colour were placed 3 meters apart from one another along the 50 meter transect. Total number of invertebrates caught in the pan traps were counted after 45 minutes. During the 45 minutes, sweep nets were used along the 50 meter transect for 10 replicates. Abundance of invertebrates found in the net after each sweep was counted. The same procedures were conducted both near the pond and the impermeable area. Study Site: This study took place at the Southwest corner of York University Keele campus on October 6th, 2016 between 2:30PM to 5:00PM. The weather was hot and sunny and the temperature was 23⁰C. The study was conducted near a pond located at 43.77061⁰N, -79.506627⁰W at an elevation of 151.321945 ft and an impermeable area located at 43.768235⁰N, -79.50731⁰W at an elevation of 137.745789 ft. A 50 meter transect, pan traps, sweep nets, and 1m2 quadrats were used as equipment. Visual counts were made to measure each attribute. Hypothesis: There will be a greater abundance and diversity of plant and animal species near the pond compared to the impermeable area. This is because the relatively undisturbed nature of the pond area is more suited to support greater abundance and diversity of plants and animals. Predictions: 1) The abundance and diversity of native and exotic plants and total number of flowers will be greater near the pond, compared to the impermeable area because there is a water source and soil near the pond that is permeable, which support vegetation. 2) The abundance and diversity of vertebrates and invertebrates will be greater near the pond, compared to the impermeable area because there is more soil and vegetation, which provides nutrients and shelter. 3) The abundance of invertebrates will be greater near the pond compared to the impermeable area because there are more flowers. Pollinating invertebrates are attracted to flowering plants. Group Members: Avani Abraham, Vanessa Guo, Monica Matta, Krysten Zarivnij Meta-data (attribute & description):CENSUS: Each group in each lab section samples each block only ONCE, order of sampling is organized by lab ta to ensure at least one group samples each block over three separate weeksCorresponds to the sampling week. Week5=1, Week7=2 and Week8=3(categorical data)GROUP_ID: The unique group identifier within each lab. Group_ID was the word “lab” followed by the first 2 digits corresponding to the lab section, then the word “group” is followed by the two digits corresponding to the group within the lab section. The TA assigns a group number within each labs section.(categorical data)CALENDAR.DATE: Month and date of data collection in 2016(discrete data)HABITAT: Grassland is defined as an open area at least 250m by 250m in size with few trees, a disturbed open space similar to grassland in size but with more mixed vegetation and more trails/pathways for people such as a university open commons, a forest is a woodlot on campus, a near-pond is defined as a small body of water at least 100m in diameter on a campus- sample near shore of pond and an impermeable area is a paved or gravel area with mostly impermeable materials like gravel.(categorical data)CAMPUS: The York university Keele campus and University of Toronto Mississauga Campus participated in this study.(categorical data)LATITUDE AND LONGITUDE:A GPS unit was used to record the Geographic location of each plot in UTM coordinates. Precise coordinates are used as a reference for future students who revisit study site.(continuous data)ABUNDANCE IN QUADRATS:A 1m x 1m quadrat was used to measure the abundance of variable of interest in study site. Quadrats were used to determine the abundance of vegetation along a 50m transect. Quadrats were placed on alternating sides 2m apart along the 50m transect.(discrete data)TOTAL.NUMBER.FLOWERS:Flowers observed in quadrats were recorded as a total number of independent flower heads. Each flower was considered independent if it has its own stem.(discrete data)ABUNDANCE.WOODY.PLANTS (GRASSLAND):In grassland and disturbed areas, this could be very low to 0 if there are few shrubs, use same transect tape you set up for quadrats, count with 0.5m on both sides of tape, near pond, place transect alongside longest dimension of pond and same near shore. Woody plants were considered any vegetation observed with bark/woody stems.(discrete data)ABUNDANCE.WOODY.PLANTS (FOREST):In forest, record total number of trees within 0.5m on either side of transect within forest. We define a tree here as > 1.5m.(discrete data)CANOPY.COVER:At every other meter, estimate canopy coverage (look up). A quantitative measure was used to describe how much canopy covered the observers view. A percentage of the coverage was recorded as a decimal value.(discrete data)GROUND.COVER:At every other meter (alternating with canopy coverage), estimate vegetative ground cover (look down). A quantitative measure was used to describe how much ground covered the observers view. A percentage of the coverage was recorded as a decimal value.(discrete data)TOTAL.FLOWER.NUMBERS:Every 5m, record total number flowers within 1m of transect tape. This is a very coarse, landscape-level estimate of floral density within this region of your campus.(discrete data)ABUNDANCE.VERTEBRATES:Abundance of animals such as squirrels, birds, etc. were recorded. Vertebrates were observed within 50m/5m of the beginning of the 50m/5m transect for 15mins. A tape measure was used as a guide for the 50m/5m transect. (discrete data)VERTEBRATE.SPECIES:Any vertebrate species that looked different was considered a unique species and counted independent of similar looking species. Abundance of unique vertebrate species.(discrete data)ABUDANCE.HUMAN:Abundance of humans were recorded. Humans were observed within 50m/5m of the beginning of the 50m/5m transect for 15mins. A tape measure was used as a guide for the 50m/5m transect. (discrete data)ABUNDANCE.INVERTEBRATES.PANTRAPS:Total abundance of insects captured using pan traps placed along a 50m transect at ground level.(discrete data)ABUNDANCE.INVERTEBRATES.SWEEPS:Total abundance of insects captured using sweep nets used along a 50m transect at ground level.(discrete data)ABUNDANCE.INVERTEBRATES.OBSERVED:Total abundance of flying insects observed within 5m of the beginning of the 50m transect. Recorded as a single value in the first row of your data sheet as a total sum.(discrete data)INVERTEBRATE.SPECIES:Any invertebrate species that looked different was considered a unique species and counted independent of similar looking species. Abundance of unique invertebrate species.(discrete data)

研究方法：为评估物种丰度与栖息地的关联，本研究分别在池塘与不透水区域附近，利用2卷卷尺布设50米样带（transect）。沿样带共开展4次不同的调查：
第一次调查针对草本植物：沿50米样带每2米设置1个样方（quadrat），交替布置于样带两侧，总计25个重复样方。对每个样方内的本土植物、外来植物及开花植物的数量进行目视计数。该流程分别在池塘与不透水区域附近重复开展。
第二次调查针对木本植物：沿50米样带每2米，对样带两侧0.5米范围内的树木进行计数，总计25个重复样方。对每棵树的冠层盖度、总植被地表盖度及开花植物总数进行目视统计，仅统计高度超过1.5米的树木，冠层盖度与地表盖度采用目视估算。该流程分别在池塘与不透水区域附近重复开展。
第三次调查针对脊椎动物与无脊椎动物：以样带起点为中心，在50米半径范围内开展15分钟的目视空中观测；随后以样带起点为中心，在5米半径范围内重复该观测流程。记录脊椎动物丰度、不同脊椎动物物种数、不同无脊椎动物物种数及人类活动频次。该流程分别在池塘与不透水区域附近重复开展。
第四次调查针对无脊椎动物：沿50米样带以3米间隔布设6个盆诱捕器（pan traps），色序依次为白色、黄色、蓝色交替，盆内装入半盆肥皂水。45分钟后统计诱捕器内捕获的无脊椎动物总数。在这45分钟内，沿50米样带使用扫网（sweep net）进行10次扫捕，统计每次扫捕后网内无脊椎动物的丰度。该流程分别在池塘与不透水区域附近重复开展。

研究地点：本研究于2016年10月6日14:30至17:00，在约克大学基尔校区（York University Keele campus）西南角开展。当日天气晴朗炎热，气温为23℃。池塘样点坐标为43.77061°N, -79.506627°W，海拔151.321945英尺；不透水区域样点坐标为43.768235°N, -79.50731°W，海拔137.745789英尺。本研究使用的设备包括50米样带、盆诱捕器、扫网及1平方米样方。所有指标均通过目视计数法测定。

研究假设：相较于不透水区域，池塘附近的动植物物种丰度与多样性更高。这是由于池塘区域受干扰程度较低，更适宜支撑更高丰度与多样性的动植物种群。

研究预测：
1) 相较于不透水区域，池塘附近的本土与外来植物丰度及多样性、开花植物总数均更高，原因在于池塘周边存在水源与透水土壤，可为植被生长提供支撑。
2) 相较于不透水区域，池塘附近的脊椎动物与无脊椎动物丰度及多样性更高，原因在于该区域拥有更多土壤与植被，可为动物提供营养与栖息场所。
3) 相较于不透水区域，池塘附近的无脊椎动物丰度更高，原因在于该区域开花植物更多，传粉无脊椎动物会被开花植物吸引。

小组成员：Avani Abraham、Vanessa Guo、Monica Matta、Krysten Zarivnij

元数据（属性与说明）：
CENSUS：每个实验小组仅在每个区块采样一次，采样顺序由实验助教（Teaching Assistant，TA）统筹安排，以确保至少有一个小组在三周内分三次采样。对应采样周：第5周=1、第7周=2、第8周=3（分类数据）。
GROUP_ID：每个实验内的唯一小组标识符，格式为"lab"+两位实验区段编号+"group"+两位小组编号，由实验助教在各实验区段内分配（分类数据）。
CALENDAR.DATE：2016年数据采集的月份与日期（离散数据）。
HABITAT：本研究定义的栖息地类型如下：草原（Grassland）指面积至少250m×250m的开阔区域且树木稀少；类似草原面积的受干扰开阔空间且植被更混杂、存在更多人行步道/通路的区域，如大学校园公共草坪；森林（Forest）指校园内的乔木林；近池塘区域（near-pond）指校园内直径至少100m的小型水体，采样点设于池塘岸线附近；不透水区域（impermeable area）指以砾石等不透水材料为主的铺装或砾石区域（分类数据）。
CAMPUS：本研究涵盖约克大学基尔校区与多伦多大学密西沙加校区（University of Toronto Mississauga Campus）（分类数据）。
LATITUDE AND LONGITUDE：使用GPS设备以UTM坐标记录每个样地的地理位置，精确坐标可供后续重访研究地点的学生参考（连续数据）。
ABUNDANCE IN QUADRATS：使用1m×1m的样方测定研究区域内目标变量的丰度，用于统计50米样带沿线的植被丰度。样方沿50米样带每2米交替布置于样带两侧（离散数据）。
TOTAL.NUMBER.FLOWERS：将样方内观测到的开花植物以独立花头总数记录，每朵拥有独立茎秆的花视为独立个体（离散数据）。
ABUNDANCE.WOODY.PLANTS (GRASSLAND)：在草原与受干扰区域，若灌木稀少则该值可低至0。使用布设样方的同一卷卷尺，统计样带两侧0.5米范围内的木本植物；在池塘附近，样带需沿池塘最长维度布设，岸线附近采样流程一致。本研究将木本植物定义为具有树皮/木质茎秆的所有植被（离散数据）。
ABUNDANCE.WOODY.PLANTS (FOREST)：在森林生境内，统计样带两侧0.5米范围内的树木总数，本研究定义的树木高度需>1.5m（离散数据）。
CANOPY.COVER：每间隔1米估算一次冠层盖度，采用量化方式描述观测视野内的冠层覆盖比例，以小数形式记录覆盖百分比（离散数据）。
GROUND.COVER：每间隔1米（与冠层盖度交替测量）估算植被地表盖度，采用量化方式描述观测视野内的地表覆盖比例，以小数形式记录覆盖百分比（离散数据）。
TOTAL.FLOWER.NUMBERS：每间隔5米，记录样带1米范围内的开花植物总数，用于粗略估算该校园区域内的景观尺度花卉密度（离散数据）。
ABUNDANCE.VERTEBRATES：记录松鼠、鸟类等脊椎动物的丰度，在以样带起点为中心的50m/5m范围内开展15分钟观测，使用卷尺作为50m/5m样带的定位标尺（离散数据）。
VERTEBRATE.SPECIES：外观存在差异的脊椎动物均视为独特物种，独立于外观相似物种进行计数，记录独特脊椎动物物种的丰度（离散数据）。
ABUNDANCE.HUMAN：原文此处字段名为ABUDANCE.HUMAN，应为拼写笔误。记录人类的数量，在以样带起点为中心的50m/5m范围内开展15分钟观测，使用卷尺作为50m/5m样带的定位标尺（离散数据）。
ABUNDANCE.INVERTEBRATES.PANTRAPS：统计沿50米样带布设于地面的盆诱捕器捕获的昆虫总丰度（离散数据）。
ABUNDANCE.INVERTEBRATES.SWEEPS：统计沿50米样带使用扫网捕获的昆虫总丰度（离散数据）。
ABUNDANCE.INVERTEBRATES.OBSERVED：统计在50米样带起点5米范围内观测到的飞行昆虫总丰度，以单值形式记录于数据表第一行的总和中（离散数据）。
INVERTEBRATE.SPECIES：外观存在差异的无脊椎动物均视为独特物种，独立于外观相似物种进行计数，记录独特无脊椎动物物种的丰度（离散数据）。