Sample of New England Aster in Grassland Using Transect Lines (Grassland Dataset 2)

The purpose of collecting this data was to practice using transect lines as a tool in ecological research. Data was collected from the grassland, located south of Chimneystack Road, on the York University Keele campus. An abundant plant in the area was the New England Aster (Aster novae-angliae). The distinctive purple flowers and taller stalks made identifying it simple among the diversity of plants present, reducing the possibility of misidentifying a similar plant. Collaborated with Hasan Hamam, Angela Joseph, and Enrique Sapena Ventura.

    Two transect lines were laid out perpendicular to each other, beginning 25 paces north-east from the center of the lot, one running west and the other running south. The lines were then walked and each individual plant along the transect line were recorded. Data was recorded for the number of leaves, the number of flowers, the distance from the starting point, the height of the plant and the density of plants surrounding it, as well as which transect it was located on. Each transect was followed until 25 plants had been recorded.