yorku.ecology.october3-2016**DRAFT4**.csv

Variables

Census - week number the data was collected.
Calendar date - date data was collected. Month/day.
Campus - university from where data was collected.
Group_ID - identification tag of group that collected the data.
Lat - latitude approximated using Google Maps.
Long - longitude approximated using Google Maps.
Elevation - approximated elevation.
Rep - data collection number.

abundance.native.plants - number of native plants, determined by aid of teacher assistant. A plant was classified as native if it originated in its respective habitat.

abundance.exotic.plants - number of exotic plants, determined by aid of teacher assistant. A plant was classified as exotic if it originated outside its respective habitat.

total.number.flowers(quadrats) - flower abundance measured by quadrats. Only flowers whose roots were inside the quadrat were counted.

abundance.woody.plants - number of woody plants, i.e. trees. A tree was defined to be at least 1.5m in height.

canopy.cover - approximated percentage sky is covered by tree canopy.

ground.cover - approximated percentage ground is covered by vegetation.

total.flower.numbers(transect) - flower abundance measured by transects (0.5m of transect).

abundance.vertebrate - number of vertebrates. Vertebrate defined as an animal with a structural backbone.

vertebrate.species - number of species of vertebrates, distinguished morphologically.

abundance.human - number of humans.

abundance.invertebrates.pantraps - number of invertebrates captured by pantraps.

abundance.invertebrates.sweep - number of invertebrates captured by sweep nets.

Methods

Data was collected across four observers and later compiled into a single digital document.
Data collected approximately from 15:00 to 17:00 on October 3, 2016 at the York University's designated "grasslands" and "disturbed area." Conditions were cloudy, mild temperatures.
The process of collecting data was repeated twice. Once in the grasslands, and then again the disturbed area.
All abundances were counted if they were in direct vision of the observer, and were clearly visible.

Two transects were combined to encompass a 50m distance. Most collection of data used the transects as a reference point.
25 quadrats were placed in each habitat, distanced apart by 2 meters from the last, while also alternating left and right of the transect.
An observer would count the abundance of native and exotic plants in the quadrat, as well as the number of flower heads.

An observer would walk along the transect. Every 2 meters, they would approximate the abundance of trees and flowers, as well as canopy coverage and vegetative ground coverage. Coverages were approximated as percentages.

An observer walked counter-clockwise around each habitat for 15 minutes to count vertebrate, invertebrate, and human abundances.
The transect aided in visualizing the 50m observation range.
Any vertebrate directly above the observer was not counted.
Humans in vehicles were not counted in human abundance, as well as humans that made multiple appearances were not counted. There was no minimum time for a human to be considered in a habitat, just so long as they remained in range for the observer to make note.

An observer placed six pan traps in alternating color order. They were placed at 15:00 at grasslands, picked up at 16:06, while placed at 16:30 in the disturbance area, and picked up at 17:00).
The pan traps were distanced along the transect, 3 meters apart from the last.
10 sweep nets traveled 50m along the transect to capture invertebrates. 5 sweep nets on each side of the transect.

Hypothesis:
Overall diversity of life, represented as abundances, canopy coverages, etc., would be greater in the grasslands than in the disturbance area.

Prediction:
1. The grasslands will have a greater canopy coverage than in the disturbed area.
2. The disturbed area will have a reduced invertebrate/vertebrate abundance than in the grasslands.
3. The disturbed area will have a reduced flower abundance than in the grasslands.