yorku.pond.impermeable.oct18-2016

<b>CAMPUS ECOLOGY META-DATA</b> <b>Location</b> This survey was conducted on Tuesday, October 18, 2016 from 3:11 pm to 4:07 pm. The weather conditions were cloudy, windy, light rain and 24 degrees Celsius. The data was collected through a number of methods in both the pond and impermeable area habitats. The field site was located on the York University-Keele Campus on a pond (43.771, -79.507) near The Pond Road and Nelson Road and impermeable area (42.771, -79.506) near Nelson Road. The pond was approximately 120 m by 80 m wide with a diameter of 100 m and trees surrounded its perimeter. The elevation was 151.321945. The impermeable area was approximately 100 m by 20 m wide and a parking lot surrounded its perimeter. <b>Methods</b> Survey 1 - Herbaceous plants Data for native and exotic plants was collected using a 1 metre (m) by 1 metre quadrat in both the pond and impermeable area. The quadrat was randomly placed every 2 metres along a 50 metre transect. Within each quadrat, the abundance of native plants, the abundance of exotic plants and the total number of individual flower heads were counted and recorded. This process was repeated 25 times in each habitat. Survey 2 - Woody plants Data for woody plants was collected using a 50 metre transect in the pond and impermeable habitats. A woody plant was determined to be a tree that was 1.5 metres or greater in height. The total number of trees within 0.5 metres of the transect was counted and recorded. Furthermore, an estimation of the canopy coverage, vegetative ground coverage, and the total number of flowers were recorded by walking along the transect. The estimation of the canopy coverage was done by creating a rectangle using your thumb and index fingers. The coverage within this rectangle was estimated and recorded as a percentage. The same method was done for vegetative ground cover. The total number of flowers was determined by counting the total number of flowers in the rectangle. These variables were measured every 2 metres. This process was completed until 25 replicates were achieved in each habitat. Survey 3 - Vertebrates and Invertebrates The data for vertebrates was collected using the point survey method. The abundance of vertebrate species and the identity of each species within a 50 metre radius of our location in the pond and impermeable area was recorded. This was done during two fifteen minute surveys (one survey per habitat). In addition, the abundance of people within 50 metres of the pond and impermeable area for a total of 15 minutes was recorded. Survey 4 - Invertebrates The data for invertebrates was collected using pan traps and sweep nets. For pan traps, data was collected by placing 6 solo bowls of different colours (white, yellow and blue), filled with 60 millilitres (mL) of soapy water, along the length of the transect. These bowls were placed while alternating colours in both the pond and impermeable area. After<b> </b>approximately one hour<b>,</b> a count of the total number of insects captured was recorded. For sweep nets, data was collected by walking along the 50 metre transect in the pond and impermeable area for 1-2 minutes. While walking, the sweep nets were waved in the air to collect insects. At the end of this period, the total number of insects was counted and recorded. This was repeated 10 times. The abundance of insects was also collected by observing the number of insects within 5 meters the pond and impermeable area for 15 minutes. <b>Data Column Headers and Key to Variables</b> <b>Census:</b> Census refers to the week during which surveying and sampling was done. Census 1 refers to the first (of three) sampling weeks. <b>Calendar Date:</b> Calendar date is the day on which the surveying and sampling was done. For Census 1, the data was collected on October 18th, 2016. <b>Campus:</b> The university campus where the survey was conducted. <b>Group ID:</b> The group ID consists of the lab number and group number (lab02group02). This was used to identify who collected the data. <b>Habitat:</b> Habitat refers to the location in which observations were made. The pond is defined as a small body of water at least 100m in diameter on campus, the sample was collected near the shore of the pond. The impermeable area is defined as a paved or gravel area with mostly impermeable materials (e.g.. water can not permeate these areas), the sample was collected at the edge of a parking lot. <b>Lat:</b> The latitude of the location of the field site. <b>Long:</b> The longitude of the location of the field site.<b>Rep:</b> The replication number of each variable. <b>Abundance of Native Plants:</b> The total number of native plants within a 1m by 1m quadrat, repeated 25 times in each habitat. <b>Abundance of Exotic Plants:</b> The total number of exotic plants within a 1 metre by 1 metre quadrat, repeated 25 times in each habitat. <b>Total Number of Flowers (Quadrat):</b> The total number of independent flower heads within a 1 metre by 1 metre quadrat, repeated 25 times in each habitat. <b>Abundance of Woody Plants:</b> The abundance of shrubs and other plants observed 0.5 metres from both sides of the transect tape. <b>Canopy Cover:</b> An estimation of canopy coverage at every other metre of the transect in percentage (%). <b>Ground Cover:</b> An estimation of vegetative ground cover at every other metre of the transect in percentage (%) (alternating with canopy coverage). <b>Total Number of Flowers (Transect):</b> The total number of independent flower heads within 0.5 metre of the transect, repeated 25 times in each habitat. <b>Abundance Vertebrates:</b> The abundance of vertebrate animals observed within 50 metres (a measuring tape was used as a guide) of the pond and impermeable area for a total of 15 minutes. <b>Vertebrate Richness:</b> The number of vertebrates observed within 50 metres of the pond and impermeable space for a total of 15 minutes. <b>Abundance Human:</b> The observation of the number of people within 50 metres of the pond and impermeable space (excluding people within our lab group) for a total of 15 minutes. <b>Abundance Invertebrates (Pan Traps):</b> The total abundance of insects captured via 6 pan traps. <b>Abundance Invertebrates (Sweeps):</b> The total abundance of insects captured via 10 sweep nets. The sweep net used had a 32 centimetre diameter. <b>Abundance Invertebrates Observed:</b> The total abundance of flying insects observed within 5 metres of the pond and impermeable space for a total of 15 minutes. <b><br></b><b>Hypothesis and Predictions</b> Survey 1 - Herbaceous plants <b>Hypothesis: </b>Regions near the pond will have a lower abundance of exotic plants and a higher abundance of native plant species and total number of flower heads compared to that of the impermeable region. <b>Prediction:</b> If regions of the pond have a lower abundance of exotic plants and a higher abundance of native plant species and total number of flower heads, then the viability of these plant species is better supported for in a pond habitat compared to that of an impermeable habitat. Survey 2 - Woody plants <b>Hypothesis: </b>Regions of the pond will have a higher abundance of trees and therefore greater canopy coverage than regions of the impermeable area. <b>Prediction: </b>If the regions of the pond have a higher abundance of trees and a greater canopy coverage, then the environment and resources (such as water supply) required for growth and survival of such woody plants is greater in regions near a pond compared to regions of the impermeable area. Survey 3 - Vertebrates and Invertebrates <b>Hypothesis: </b> The presence of both vertebrate and invertebrate species will be greater in the pond region when compared to the impermeable region. <b>Prediction: </b>If the pond region has a greater presence of both vertebrates and invertebrates, then the resources provided in this environment are essential to the survival and longevity of the individuals amongst these groups compared to the resources provided within the impermeable area. Survey 4 - Invertebrates <b>Hypothesis: </b>There will be a greater number of invertebrates in the pond habitat compared to the impermeable habitat. <b>Prediction: </b>If there is a greater number of invertebrates in the pond habitat, then the higher number of varying plant species near the pond play a critical role in the survival of these organisms.<b><br></b><b>Details of Data</b> The data obtained in this experiment is continuous as the data was recorded numerically for abundance of native and exotic plants, total number of flowers for quadrat and transect, abundance of woody plants, canopy and ground cover, abundance of vertebrates, invertebrates and humans, and vertebrate richness. <b>Equipment Used</b> <b>Quadrat:</b> 1 metre by 1 metre in area <b>Pan Trap:</b> 6 plastic bowls (2 white, 2 yellow, 2 blue), 17.5 centimetres in diameter and 4.5 centimetres in depth <b>Soapy Water:</b> 720 millilitres of a water and soap mixture <b>Sweep Net:</b> 32 centimetres in diameter with a handle of 90 centimetres <b>Transect:</b> 30 metres in length