Lab 2, Field Dataset 1: Utilizing Quadrats to Examine the Abundance and Diversity of Plant Species Within the Danby Woods Grasslands.

_{Meta Data}_<br>_{<b> Attributes </b><i>Description</i>}<b>_<br></b><b>_{Quadrat Number (n):}</b><i> A square, metal quadrat (1m x 1m) was placed randomly in the grassland 25 times. The quadrat placed was divided into 4 subunits (0.5m x 0.5m). Only the bottom right unit of space was examined and displayed in this data set. Each unit of space observed is affiliated with a number (n)</i>.<b>_<br></b><b>_{Total Abundance of Plants}</b> <i>_{The amount of every plant present in the specific subunit of the quadrat (including grass and other species of plants).}</i> <i>_{The amount of grass in the specific subunit of the quadrat was estimated by counting the number of clustered grass sprouting from the same root and location.}</i> <br> <i>_{The amount of individual plants of a different species (not grass) was counted one by one by the experimentors.}</i> <b>_<br></b><b>_{Total Number of Different Plant Species:}</b> <i>_{The amount of different plant species observed by the experimentors within the specific quadrat.}</i> <i>_{Plants were determined to be of a different species based on observable morphological differences.}</i><b>^{Total Cover of Vegetation(%):}</b> ^<br> <i>_{The percentage of the specific subunit quadrat covered by any vegetation (including grass and other plant species).}</i> <i>_{The percentage was an estimation made by the experimentors through close examination of the quadrat.}</i> <b>_<br></b><b> Total Cover of Grasses(%):</b> <i>_{The percentage of the specific subunit quadrat covered by only grass.}</i> <i>_{The percentage was an estimations made by the experimentors through close examination of the quadrant.}</i>_{<b>Methods:</b> To record this dataset, quadrats were placed randomly in the grassland, considering that there was a consistent range of environmental diversity. The quadrat used was a metal squared frame that measured the area of a square meter (1m x 1m). Random sampling was used; 1st quadrat (<i>n</i>=1), 2nd quadrat (<i>n</i>=2), and so on until<i> n</i> reached 25. This format of sampling was used to avoid and biases in the results. Each quadrat was placed in a random location within the designated grassland area mentioned by the TA. The quadrat was divided into subunits of 4 (0.5m x 0.5m) and the bottom right corner was used everytime to examine its' contents for the abundance, number of species, total cover of vegetation, and total cover of grass. Also the data collected is numerical.}_{<b>Study Site:</b> This dataset was collected in the grassland near Danby Woods at York University, 4700 Keele Street, Toronto, ON M3J 1P3, Canada. This study was conducted on Thursday September 22nd, 2016 from about 2:45-3:30pm. The weather was mostly sunny, but for a short period of time (10 mins) there was a drizzle.}_{<b>Hypothesis:</b> If the presence of grass and other species of plants are greater in shadier area compared to those exposed to the sun, then seed germination in a sunny habitat will be limited by the lack of moisture present in comparison to shadier habitats.}<b>Prediction:</b>_{1. Little range of plant growth and dispersion in sunny parts of the grassland.}_{2. The plants existing in the sunny patches of the grassland would mostly consist of dried out plants.}_{3. Shadier areas will consist of more species heterogeneity and a widely dispersed plant growth.}_{Group Members: Keerthana, Matthew, Abesan, and Andrew}<br> <b>^<br></b><b>_<br></b>

_{元数据（Meta Data）}_<br>_{<b> 属性（Attributes） </b><i>指标说明（Description）</i>}<b>_<br></b><b>_{样方编号（Quadrat Number, n）：}</b><i> 研究人员以1m×1m的金属方形样框，在草原样地中随机布设25次。布设的样方被划分为4个0.5m×0.5m的子单元，本数据集仅统计并展示每个样方的右下角子单元数据，每个观测子单元均对应唯一编号（n）。</i><b>_<br></b><b>_{植物总多度（Total Abundance of Plants）}</b> <i>_{指该样方子单元内所有现存植物（包括草本植物与其他植物类群）的总个体数量。}</i> <i>_{其中草本植物的多度通过统计同一根系及生长位置丛生的草本分蘖数进行估算。}</i> <br> <i>_{非草本的其他植物物种个体数则由实验人员逐一计数。}</i> <b>_<br></b><b>_{植物物种总数（Total Number of Different Plant Species）：}</b> <i>_{指实验人员在对应样方子单元内观测到的不同植物物种数量。}</i> <i>_{物种区分依据可观测的形态差异进行判定。}</i><b>^{植被总盖度（Total Cover of Vegetation, %）：}</b> ^<br> <i>_{指该样方子单元内所有植被（含草本与其他植物类群）的盖度百分比。}</i> <i>_{该百分比由实验人员通过对样方的细致勘察估算得到。}</i> <b>_<br></b><b> 草本植物盖度（Total Cover of Grasses, %）：</b> <i>_{指该样方子单元内仅草本植物覆盖的面积百分比。}</i> <i>_{该百分比由实验人员通过对样方的细致勘察估算得到。}</i>_{<b>调查方法（Methods）：</b> 为构建本数据集，研究人员在环境异质性较为均匀的草原样地中随机布设样方。所用样方为1m×1m的金属方形框架，采用随机抽样方案：依次布设第1个样方（<i>n</i>=1）、第2个样方（<i>n</i>=2），直至第25个样方（<i>n</i>=25），以此规避抽样偏差。每个样方均随机布设于助教指定的草原区域内。样方被划分为4个0.5m×0.5m的子单元，本次研究每次均选取右下角子单元开展调查，统计其植物多度、物种数、植被总盖度及草本盖度。本次采集的数据均为数值型数据。}_{<b>调查样地（Study Site）：</b> 本数据集采集于加拿大多伦多市约克大学（York University）基尔街4700号，邮编M3J 1P3，丹比森林（Danby Woods）附近的草原样地。本次调查于2016年9月22日星期四14:45至15:30期间开展，天气以晴为主，期间有10分钟左右的小雨。}_{<b>研究假说（Hypothesis）：</b> 若与向阳区域相比，遮阴区域内草本植物与其他植物类群的多度更高，则相较于遮阴生境，向阳生境中的种子萌发将因水分不足而受到限制。}<b>预测推论（Prediction）：</b>_{1. 草原向阳区域的植物生长与分布范围较小。}_{2. 草原向阳斑块内现存的植物多为枯亡植株。}_{3. 遮阴区域的物种异质性更高，植物生长分布更为广泛均匀。}_{小组成员：Keerthana、Matthew、Abesan、Andrew}<br> <b>^<br></b><b>_<br></b>