York University Woodlot Data

The purpose of this study is to observe abundance of the plant species of an area in relation to its canopy and girth specifically near the Osgoode woodlots.<b>Methods:</b>Transect tape was used to gather data in one area of the woodlot. The point-intercept method was used as a sampling method where the transect tape was laid across on one area of the woodlot and record what plant species in front of the tape. Along the transect line, the distance between target tree and the nearby tree was also measured. For the canopy coverage, we used our hands, form it like a square and use it as a tool to measure how much coverage the outer layer of trees covered. <b>Hypothesis: </b> There is a correlation between density of the tree population and the extent of the canopy coverage and its diameter of breast height (dbh).<b>Prediction:</b> There is a correlation between the density of trees of a particular area to its canopy coverage and its dbh. Increase density of the trees will lead to decrease in coverage and its dbh because of the competition between the trees for sustenance and sunlight, which lead to scarcity of resources. Thus, a thinner appearance of the trees and more sunlight peeking through the ground.<br><b>Metadata:</b>· <b>Distance:</b> Metres was used for measuring the distance between two nearby adult trees with the area of study. 25 metres of transect tape was covered around the area of study.· <b>Trees:</b> 10 Adult trees were selected. That adult trees were chosen based on the twice the height of the observer. The observer’s height was 5 feet 4 inches, thus the approximate height of the adult tree would be 10 feet. The trees are randomly selected and not in the same species.· <b>Dbh:</b> Diameter breast height, the measuring of the girth of the tree. It is measured by using the height of the observer’s torso as a mark to measure the circumference of the tree. It was originally measured using the transect tape, which measures in feet but was converted into metres. · <b>Canopy coverage</b>: The coverage of the leaves provided located in the upper layer of the trees. Basically, how much coverage it provides that would mask the sky. It is ranked by percentage, 0% being no coverage while 100% being the most coverage.<br>· <br>