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

<b>Methods</b> 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. <b>Study Site</b> 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. <b> </b><b>Hypothesis </b> 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. <b>Predictions</b> 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.<br> <br> <b>Metadata</b><br> <br> <b>habitat: </b>Categorical. Forest is defined as a woodlot on campus. <b>lat:</b> Continuous. Used GPS unit and record location each plot. <br> <br> <b>long: </b>Continuous. Used GPS unit and record location each plot. <br> <br> <b>elevation: </b>Continuous. Used GPS unit and record location each plot.<br> <br> <b>abundance.native.plants: </b>Discrete.<b> </b>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). <br> <br> <b>abundance.exotic.plants:</b> 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). <br> <br> <b>total.number.flowers (quadrats): </b>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).<br> <br> <b>abundance.woody.plants: </b>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.<br> <br> <b>canopy.cover:</b> Continous. Every 2m along the 50m transect tape an estimate of canopy coverage in percentage was made by looking up.<br> <br> <b>ground.cover: </b>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.<br> <br> <b>total.flower.numbers (transect): </b>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. <br> <br> <b>abundance.vertebrates: </b>Discrete. Total number of vertebrates observed in 15 minutes within a 50m radius of the beginning of the transect tape.<br> <br> <b>vertebrate.species: </b>Discrete. The number of different vertebrate species observed in 15 minutes within a 50m radius of the beginning of the transect tape.<br> <br> <b>abudance.people: </b>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.<br> <br> <b>abundance.invertebrates.pantraps:</b> 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.<br> <br> <b>abundance.invertebrates.sweeps: </b>Discrete. Total number of invertebrates captured via sweep net which were swept along the 50m transect.<br> <br> <b>abundance.invertebrates.observed: </b>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种群丰度，研究人员在林间铺设了一条长50m的直线样带（transect tape）。
针对草本植物的调查：沿样带每2m处，于样带旁布设1个1m×1m的样方（quadrat），全程交替在样带左侧与右侧布设，50m样带共布设25个样方。每个样方均由同一研究人员计数样方内本地植物（native plants）、外来植物（exotic plants）的个体数，以及记录可见的花序头数量。
针对木本植物的调查：沿样带每2m处（共25个测点），若样带两侧0.5m范围内存在树木，则予以记录。在每个测点处，同一研究人员将仰头估算冠层覆盖度（canopy coverage），随后低头对样带旁0.5m×0.5m的地面区域进行观测，估算植被地面覆盖度并计数该区域内的总花数。
针对脊椎动物与无脊椎动物的调查：以样带起点为中心、半径50m的区域内开展15分钟的样线调查，记录观测到的脊椎动物总个体数与不同脊椎动物的物种数。在同一区域与相同时长内，计数非实验参与人员的总人数。随后开展另一轮15分钟的调查，对样带旁5m半径范围内的无脊椎动物个体数进行观测。针对无脊椎动物的采样：沿样带布设6个半装满洗涤剂的彩色盘诱捕器（pan trap），诱捕器间距3m，颜色按黄、蓝、白交替排列。放置45分钟后，计数每个诱捕器内捕获的无脊椎动物总数量。此外，沿50m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数量。
**研究样地**
环境参数：气温9℃，风速26km/h，小雨天气，云量覆盖率98%。
样地位于加拿大多伦多市约克大学丹比林（Danby Woods，林区）：纬度43.768756，经度-79.5079，海拔126.30201。该林块毗邻草原与受干扰区域（含道路与停车场），林块面积约250m×250m，林分密度处于平均水平，仅包含落叶乔木（deciduous trees）。
**研究假设**
该林块内本地植物、无脊椎动物与非人类脊椎动物的种群丰度将处于较高水平。究其原因，树木为林块内的优势物种，且均为本地物种。树木同时被视为生态系统工程师：其可构建并维持自身与其他物种的物理栖息环境，同时为诸多物种提供食物来源。因此，林区内树木丰度较高时，依赖树木生存的物种丰度也将随之升高。
**研究预测**
林块内将不会或仅存在极少人类活动痕迹。
沿样带向林块内部深入时，本地植物的种群丰度将随之升高。
林块绝大多数区域的冠层覆盖度将处于极高/接近满覆盖的水平，而全林块的地面植被覆盖度则将处于极低水平。
**元数据**
**生境（habitat）**：分类变量。本研究中的林区定义为校园内的林块。
**纬度（lat）**：连续变量。使用GPS设备记录每个样地的坐标。
**经度（long）**：连续变量。使用GPS设备记录每个样地的坐标。
**海拔（elevation）**：连续变量。使用GPS设备记录每个样地的坐标。
**本地植物丰度（abundance.native.plants）**：离散变量。对沿50m样带每2m交替布设于样带左右两侧的25个1m×1m样方内的本地植物总个体数进行计数。
**外来植物丰度（abundance.exotic.plants）**：离散变量。对沿50m样带每2m交替布设于样带左右两侧的25个1m×1m样方内的外来植物总个体数进行计数。
**样方内总花数（total.number.flowers (quadrats)）**：离散变量。对沿50m样带每2m交替布设于样带左右两侧的25个1m×1m样方内的完全绽放（非花苞）的花序头总数量进行计数。
**木本植物丰度（abundance.woody.plants）**：离散变量。沿50m样带每2m处，计数样带两侧0.5m范围内的树木或木本植物数量（共25次），其中树木的定义为株高超过1.5m的个体。
**冠层覆盖度（canopy.cover）**：连续变量。沿50m样带每2m处，通过仰头观测估算冠层覆盖度的百分比数值。
**地面植被覆盖度（ground.cover）**：离散变量。沿50m样带每2m处，对样带旁0.5m×0.5m的地面区域的植被覆盖度百分比进行估算。
**样带旁总花数（total.flower.numbers (transect)）**：离散变量。沿50m样带每2m处，计数样带旁0.5m×0.5m区域内完全绽放（非花苞）的花序头总数量。
**脊椎动物丰度（abundance.vertebrates）**：离散变量。对以样带起点为中心、半径50m的区域内15分钟观测到的脊椎动物总个体数进行计数。
**脊椎动物物种数（vertebrate.species）**：离散变量。对以样带起点为中心、半径50m的区域内15分钟观测到的脊椎动物物种总数进行计数。
**人类活动人数（abudance.people）**：离散变量。对以样带起点为中心、半径50m的区域内15分钟观测到的非实验参与人员总人数进行计数。
**盘诱捕法无脊椎动物丰度（abundance.invertebrates.pantraps）**：离散变量。将彩色盘诱捕器沿样带布设，间距3m，颜色按黄蓝交替排列，放置45分钟后计数每个诱捕器捕获的无脊椎动物总数量。
**扫网法无脊椎动物丰度（abundance.invertebrates.sweeps）**：离散变量。对沿50m样带开展的10次扫网采样所捕获的无脊椎动物总数量进行计数。
**直接观测无脊椎动物丰度（abundance.invertebrates.observed）**：离散变量。对以样带起点为中心、半径5m的区域内15分钟观测到的无脊椎动物总个体数进行计数。