Semi-formal lab report on Spittal Pond Quadrat (Transect) Sampling
Introduction
Ecology is the study of organisms and their relations with each other and the surrounding environment. An ecosystem comprises of communities and the mutual interaction that the community and environment have with each other. For example, the sunlight, rain, wind, temperature, salinity, pH balance, and shade will interact with the forest and provide the required abiotic factors needed for each individual plant life. Our Team explored the forest habitat and in this investigation the abiotic effects varied from one location to another along with the biotic factors, the living organism. The areas that where chosen by the team were done randomly so that no species of plant would be chosen over another. The quadrant samplings were performed systematically so that we could control the structure and data that would be collected. The team hypothesized the abiotic factors will change and affect each of the three transect and quadrant samplings as each location will have each individual uniqueness.
Materials and Methods
To measure the various distances we used a tape measurement. The tape measure was placed at the walkway edge to the area of forestry and carried through the woodland until ten meters was reached. To identify the different plant species we used a quadrant apparatus. The Quadrant apparatus was placed at intervals of two meters, five meters, and eight meters respectively along the tape measure to collect plant samplings in abundance. Data was recorded on a graph indicating the different plant species found at each interval. This method was used in three different transect locations and each location varied by abiotic and biotic factors.
Results
The first transect location's primary abiotic factor was full sunlight with an abundance of various plant species overgrowing in the area with growth measuring up to knee length high. Surrounding the quadrant area, the trees were in full bloom and leaves were dark green and plentiful. Plants recorded in the first quandrat (2 meters) were not found in the third quadrant (8 meters) and second quadrant displayed a mixture of first and third quadrants. Large leaves were found in the first transect and It was noted that sword fern was abundantly deeper into the woodland. An Olivewood tree was approximately ten centimeters from the quadrant apparatus and displayed many branches copious with dark leaves. The total number of different plant species was twelve. The dominant plant species in the first transect was the little purple flower which was in the first and second quadrat. The removal of the purple flower plant from the site would have given the other species of plants the opportunity to reproduce and multiply. Drawing from our samples the next species to dominate may have been grass.
The second transect location's abiotic factors included little sunlight, shaded area and the temperature was cooler as each team member made mention of this. The number of species dropped to six plant species and the dominant plant was the Life Plant which was profused in the first quadrant count, small in size and had a stunned growth with no floppers on them. Nearby was a Bermuda Palmetto with extremely long branches covering the area with some shade. Due to this the Olivewood tree had little leaves on them and were tiny in size. At the eight meter quadrant, plant life was scarce in numbers with only white sticky flowers seen. Although the Life Plant was the dominant species at this site in the transect sampling it was the Bermuda Palmetto's large leaves that gave shade to the area denying the ground level plants exposure to sunlight. If the Bermuda Palmetto was removed the other plant species in this site have a chance of growing and reproducing.
The third transect location was a very dark area that lack sunlight. The area was shaded by a big BayGrape (native plant) and Casurina (introduced and invasive) tree branches hanging over. The number of species dropped considerably at the third transect with only four plant species found. The most abundant plant was the asparagus fern which was very small on the first quadrat and three on the third quadrat. No plant life was found on the second quadrat at 5 meters. The ground was covered with casurina needles and baygrape leaves making the ground very slippery to climb through. Access to the third quadrant was difficult. The surrounding trees displayed pale leaves. This site had similar conditions to site two. The shade of the Casurina and BayGrape trees prevent other plant species from reproducing. Although the asparagus fern was the dominant species it was the needles of the Casurina tree that covered the surrouning ground and prevented any life from other plants.
Discussion
From the data obtained from the three transect samplings, the abiotic factors sunlight, temperature, and shade had an effect on them. Lack of sunlight in the second and third transect produced studded growth and because of the overgrown trees possibly lack of water in the area. The third transect displayed an abundance of casurina needle that covered the ground which are acidic and possibly enabled plant life in that area. Alex, our lab technician stated, "The Casurina needles are thought to be acidic and therefore may be a reason to why the growth of other plant species were unsuccessful in reproducing". The needles of the Casurina tree fall in abudance and cover the ground below like a blanket. The tree itself also provides shade in the area, preventing the sunlight from reaching organisms at the lower level which is another abiotic factor that can prevent the reproductive growth of other different plant species.
In comparison with the other groups in our class that sampled the rocky coast and the pond area, we observed that some species of plants that were found in those areas where not in the forest. For example the Sea Purslane and the Black Mangrove, they are able to withstand the salinity of the rocky coastline and pond areas. The plant species in those areas are also low to the ground, whereas the forest plant species in some areas depending on the abiotic factors grow in abundance and with greater height.
Ecology is the study of organisms and their relations with each other and the surrounding environment. An ecosystem comprises of communities and the mutual interaction that the community and environment have with each other. For example, the sunlight, rain, wind, temperature, salinity, pH balance, and shade will interact with the forest and provide the required abiotic factors needed for each individual plant life. Our Team explored the forest habitat and in this investigation the abiotic effects varied from one location to another along with the biotic factors, the living organism. The areas that where chosen by the team were done randomly so that no species of plant would be chosen over another. The quadrant samplings were performed systematically so that we could control the structure and data that would be collected. The team hypothesized the abiotic factors will change and affect each of the three transect and quadrant samplings as each location will have each individual uniqueness.
Materials and Methods
To measure the various distances we used a tape measurement. The tape measure was placed at the walkway edge to the area of forestry and carried through the woodland until ten meters was reached. To identify the different plant species we used a quadrant apparatus. The Quadrant apparatus was placed at intervals of two meters, five meters, and eight meters respectively along the tape measure to collect plant samplings in abundance. Data was recorded on a graph indicating the different plant species found at each interval. This method was used in three different transect locations and each location varied by abiotic and biotic factors.
Results
The first transect location's primary abiotic factor was full sunlight with an abundance of various plant species overgrowing in the area with growth measuring up to knee length high. Surrounding the quadrant area, the trees were in full bloom and leaves were dark green and plentiful. Plants recorded in the first quandrat (2 meters) were not found in the third quadrant (8 meters) and second quadrant displayed a mixture of first and third quadrants. Large leaves were found in the first transect and It was noted that sword fern was abundantly deeper into the woodland. An Olivewood tree was approximately ten centimeters from the quadrant apparatus and displayed many branches copious with dark leaves. The total number of different plant species was twelve. The dominant plant species in the first transect was the little purple flower which was in the first and second quadrat. The removal of the purple flower plant from the site would have given the other species of plants the opportunity to reproduce and multiply. Drawing from our samples the next species to dominate may have been grass.
The second transect location's abiotic factors included little sunlight, shaded area and the temperature was cooler as each team member made mention of this. The number of species dropped to six plant species and the dominant plant was the Life Plant which was profused in the first quadrant count, small in size and had a stunned growth with no floppers on them. Nearby was a Bermuda Palmetto with extremely long branches covering the area with some shade. Due to this the Olivewood tree had little leaves on them and were tiny in size. At the eight meter quadrant, plant life was scarce in numbers with only white sticky flowers seen. Although the Life Plant was the dominant species at this site in the transect sampling it was the Bermuda Palmetto's large leaves that gave shade to the area denying the ground level plants exposure to sunlight. If the Bermuda Palmetto was removed the other plant species in this site have a chance of growing and reproducing.
The third transect location was a very dark area that lack sunlight. The area was shaded by a big BayGrape (native plant) and Casurina (introduced and invasive) tree branches hanging over. The number of species dropped considerably at the third transect with only four plant species found. The most abundant plant was the asparagus fern which was very small on the first quadrat and three on the third quadrat. No plant life was found on the second quadrat at 5 meters. The ground was covered with casurina needles and baygrape leaves making the ground very slippery to climb through. Access to the third quadrant was difficult. The surrounding trees displayed pale leaves. This site had similar conditions to site two. The shade of the Casurina and BayGrape trees prevent other plant species from reproducing. Although the asparagus fern was the dominant species it was the needles of the Casurina tree that covered the surrouning ground and prevented any life from other plants.
Discussion
From the data obtained from the three transect samplings, the abiotic factors sunlight, temperature, and shade had an effect on them. Lack of sunlight in the second and third transect produced studded growth and because of the overgrown trees possibly lack of water in the area. The third transect displayed an abundance of casurina needle that covered the ground which are acidic and possibly enabled plant life in that area. Alex, our lab technician stated, "The Casurina needles are thought to be acidic and therefore may be a reason to why the growth of other plant species were unsuccessful in reproducing". The needles of the Casurina tree fall in abudance and cover the ground below like a blanket. The tree itself also provides shade in the area, preventing the sunlight from reaching organisms at the lower level which is another abiotic factor that can prevent the reproductive growth of other different plant species.
In comparison with the other groups in our class that sampled the rocky coast and the pond area, we observed that some species of plants that were found in those areas where not in the forest. For example the Sea Purslane and the Black Mangrove, they are able to withstand the salinity of the rocky coastline and pond areas. The plant species in those areas are also low to the ground, whereas the forest plant species in some areas depending on the abiotic factors grow in abundance and with greater height.
Reference
Tacklyn, Barbara C., "Spittal Pond Quadrant" 2013 JPEG File
Global Journey, "Lotus Blossom", retrieved from website April 22, 2013, http://www.global-journey.com/free/
Global Journey, "Lotus Blossom", retrieved from website April 22, 2013, http://www.global-journey.com/free/