A study on the abundance of plants, vertebrates, and invertebrates in a forest area

Methods In order to assess the abundance of herbaceous plants, woody plants, vertebrates, and invertebrates in a forest area, 50m of transect tape was laid in a straight line in the forest. The following methods were then implemented: For measurement of herbaceous plants, every 2m along the transect, a quadrat (1mx1m) was placed adjacent to the tape, alternating between the left and right side for the entire 50m for a total of 25 quadrats. For each quadrat, the same person counted the individual number of native plants, the individual number of exotic plants, and the number of observed flower heads within the quadrat. For measurement of woody plants, every 2m along the transect (total of 25 measurements) if a tree was observed within 0.5m of either side of the transect, it was recorded. At these same points, the same person looked upwards to estimate the canopy coverage, and then looked down at a 0.5mx0.5m area of the ground adjacent to the transect, to estimate vegetative ground cover and count the total number of flowers in that area. For measurement of vertebrates and invertebrates, the area within a 50m radius of the beginning of the transect tape was surveyed for 15 minutes and the total number of vertebrates and number of different vertebrate species were observed. In the same area and time interval, the numbers of people (not including those participating in the lab) were counted. In another 15 minute interval, the number of individual invertebrates within a 5m radius of the transect tape were observed. For measurement of invertebrates, 6 pan traps filled halfway with detergent were placed along the length of the transect tape, each spaced 3m apart and in alternating colours (yellow, blue, and white). After sitting 45 minutes, the total numbers of invertebrates found within each pan trap were counted. 10 sweep nets were also conducted along the 50m transect and the total number of invertebrates found at the end of each sweep were counted. Study Site Temp: 9°C Wind Speed: 26km/h Light rain with 98% cloud cover. Danby Woods (forest), York University, Toronto, Ontario, Canada: latitude: 43.768756 longitude: -79.5079 Elevation: 126.30201 Woodlot located near grassland and disturbed area containing roads and a parking lot. Woodlot (approximately 250mx250m) was of average density with only deciduous trees. Hypothesis There will be a large abundance of native vegetation, invertebrates, and vertebrates not including humans found in the woodlot area. This is because trees are the dominant species in the woodlot area and they are native. Trees are also considered ecosystem engineers as they create and maintain a physical habitat for themselves and other species, as well as provide food for many other species. Therefore, as the abundance of trees will be high in a forest area, the abundance of species that benefit from the trees’ presence will also be high. Predictions There will be no or very few humans found in the woodlot.The abundance of native plants will increase along the transect tape as it proceeds deeper into the woodlot.Canopy cover will be very high/maximum coverage for the majority of the woodlot and ground cover will be very low throughout the woodlot. Metadata habitat: Categorical. Forest is defined as a woodlot on campus. lat: Continuous. Used GPS unit and record location each plot. long: Continuous. Used GPS unit and record location each plot. elevation: Continuous. Used GPS unit and record location each plot. abundance.native.plants: Discrete. Counted total number of native plants within 1m x1m quadrats placed every 2m along a 50m transect tape, alternating from left side to right side (total of 25 times). abundance.exotic.plants: Discrete. Counted total number of exotic plants within 1m x1m quadrats placed every 2m along a 50m transect tape, alternating from left side to right side (total of 25 times). total.number.flowers (quadrats): Discrete. Counted total number of flowers that were fully bloomed (not buds) within 1m x1m quadrats placed every 2 meter along a 50m transect tape, alternating from left side to right side (total of 25 times). abundance.woody.plants: Discrete. Every 2m along the 50m transect tape the number of trees or woody plants within 0.5 meter of both sides of the transect tape were counted (total of 25 times). A tree was defined as being taller than 1.5 meters. canopy.cover: Continous. Every 2m along the 50m transect tape an estimate of canopy coverage in percentage was made by looking up. ground.cover: Discrete. Every 2m along the 50m transect tape an estimate in percentage of vegetative ground cover for a 0.5mx0.5m area was made by looking down. total.flower.numbers (transect): Discrete. Every 2m along the 50m transect tape, the total number fully bloomed flower heads (not buds) within a 0.5mx0.5m area adjacent to the transect tape was counted. abundance.vertebrates: Discrete. Total number of vertebrates observed in 15 minutes within a 50m radius of the beginning of the transect tape. vertebrate.species: Discrete. The number of different vertebrate species observed in 15 minutes within a 50m radius of the beginning of the transect tape. abudance.people: Discrete. Total number of humans (not including those participating in the lab) observed in 15 minutes within a 50m radius of the beginning of the transect tape. abundance.invertebrates.pantraps: Discrete. Total number of invertebrates captured via pan trap after being left for 45 minutes. Pan traps were placed 3m apart on the ground along the transect tape in alternating colours of yellow and blue. abundance.invertebrates.sweeps: Discrete. Total number of invertebrates captured via sweep net which were swept along the 50m transect. abundance.invertebrates.observed: Discrete. Total number of invertebrates observed in 15 minutes within a 5m radius of the beginning of the transect tape.

# 研究方法
为评估某林区内草本植物、木本植物、脊椎动物与无脊椎动物的丰度，研究人员在林地内沿直线铺设了50米长的样带胶带（transect tape）。随后采用以下实验方法：
1. 草本植物调查：沿样带每间隔2米，在胶带旁放置一个1米×1米的样方（quadrat），全程在样带左右两侧交替布设，50米样带共布设25个样方。每个样方均由同一研究人员计数本地植物个体数、外来植物个体数，以及样方内可见的盛开花序数。
2. 木本植物调查：沿样带每间隔2米（共25个调查点），若样带两侧0.5米范围内存在高度超过1.5米的树木，则予以记录。在每个调查点，同一研究人员将向上估算冠层盖度，随后向下观察样带旁0.5米×0.5米的地面区域，估算植被地面盖度并计数该区域内的总花序数。
3. 脊椎动物与人类调查：在样带胶带起点周边50米半径范围内开展15分钟的调查，记录观测到的脊椎动物总个体数及不同脊椎动物物种数；同期计数该区域内出现的人类个体数（不包括参与本实验的研究人员）。
4. 无脊椎动物目视调查：在另一段15分钟的调查时段内，观测样带胶带周边5米半径范围内的无脊椎动物个体数。
5. 诱捕盘采样调查：沿样带胶带布设6个装有半瓶洗涤剂的诱捕盘（pan trap），盘间距为3米，颜色交替为黄色、蓝色与白色。放置45分钟后，计数每个诱捕盘内捕获的无脊椎动物总个体数。
6. 扫网采样调查：同时沿50米样带开展10次扫网（sweep net）采样，计数每次扫网采集到的无脊椎动物总个体数。

# 研究地点与环境条件
实验地点为加拿大安大略省多伦多市约克大学的丹比林地（Danby Woods），地理坐标为北纬43.768756、西经79.5079，海拔126.30201米。该林地毗邻草原与受人类干扰区域（周边有道路与停车场），林地面积约250米×250米，林分密度中等，仅包含落叶乔木。当日环境参数为：气温9℃，风速26公里/小时，小雨天气，云量覆盖率98%。

# 研究假设
本实验林地内将存在大量本地植物、无脊椎动物与非人类的脊椎动物。原因在于：树木是该林地的优势物种且均为本地种；树木作为生态系统工程师，可为自身与其他物种构建并维持物理栖息地，同时为众多物种提供食物资源。因此，林区内树木丰度较高时，依赖树木生存的物种丰度也会相应提升。

# 研究预测
1. 林地内出现的人类个体数极少甚至无人类活动；
2. 沿样带向林地内部推进时，本地植物的丰度将逐渐升高；
3. 林地大部分区域的冠层盖度将极高甚至接近饱和，而整体地面植被盖度则极低。

# 元数据
- 生境类型（habitat）：分类变量，定义为校园内的林地。
- 纬度（lat）：连续变量，使用GPS设备记录每个样点的纬度。
- 经度（long）：连续变量，使用GPS设备记录每个样点的经度。
- 海拔（elevation）：连续变量，使用GPS设备记录每个样点的海拔。
- 本地植物丰度（abundance.native.plants）：离散变量，计数沿50米样带胶带每间隔2米交替布设的25个1米×1米样方内的本地植物总个体数。
- 外来植物丰度（abundance.exotic.plants）：离散变量，计数沿50米样带胶带每间隔2米交替布设的25个1米×1米样方内的外来植物总个体数。
- 样方内总花数（total.number.flowers (quadrats)）：离散变量，计数沿50米样带胶带每间隔2米交替布设的25个1米×1米样方内的盛开花序总数（不含花苞）。
- 木本植物丰度（abundance.woody.plants）：离散变量，沿50米样带胶带每间隔2米计数样带两侧0.5米范围内的树木或木本植物个体数（共25次），其中树木定义为高度超过1.5米的植株。
- 冠层盖度（canopy.cover）：连续变量，沿50米样带胶带每间隔2米通过仰视估算冠层盖度百分比。
- 地面植被盖度（ground.cover）：离散变量，沿50米样带胶带每间隔2米通过俯视估算样带旁0.5米×0.5米区域的植被地面盖度百分比。
- 样带旁总花数（total.flower.numbers (transect)）：离散变量，沿50米样带胶带每间隔2米计数样带旁0.5米×0.5米区域内的盛开花序总数（不含花苞）。
- 脊椎动物丰度（abundance.vertebrates）：离散变量，记录在样带胶带起点周边50米半径范围内15分钟观测到的脊椎动物总个体数。
- 脊椎动物物种数（vertebrate.species）：离散变量，记录在样带胶带起点周边50米半径范围内15分钟观测到的脊椎动物物种总数。
- 人类丰度（abudance.people，原拼写存在笔误）：离散变量，记录在样带胶带起点周边50米半径范围内15分钟观测到的人类总个体数（不含参与本实验的研究人员）。
- 诱捕盘捕获无脊椎动物丰度（abundance.invertebrates.pantraps）：离散变量，计数放置45分钟后每个诱捕盘捕获的无脊椎动物总个体数。诱捕盘沿样带胶带地面布设，间距3米，颜色交替为黄色与蓝色。
- 扫网捕获无脊椎动物丰度（abundance.invertebrates.sweeps）：离散变量，计数沿50米样带开展扫网采样所采集的无脊椎动物总个体数。
- 目视观测无脊椎动物丰度（abundance.invertebrates.observed）：离散变量，记录在样带胶带起点周边5米半径范围内15分钟目视观测到的无脊椎动物总个体数。