Plotting of Vegetation
The purpose of this analysis is to describe the vegetation in the forest of the University of British Columbia, Okanagan Campus (UBCOC), which is located at the north end of the city of Kelowna, and to note the gradation of vegetation across the slope of the observed plot. Gradation is influenced by variables such as available light, rainfall and ambient moisture, the depth and quality of soil, and shocks to the environment such as soil runoff, pollution, or fire.
Observation was directed at a particular plot of the UBCOC forests area that measures 20 meters by 100 meters and consists of an east-facing slope in the northeast corner of the University of British Columbia campus in Okanagan, which was set aside for study in 2007. Conditions suitable for plant life exist across the plot of land, but not uniformly. For instance, give the slope of the observed plot, rainwater and snowmelt will soak into the soil and will also travel across the top surface of the soil, given sufficient saturation of the soil. This means that nutrients in the soil will be carried along with the moving water both across the surface and penetrating into soil layers. From this dynamic, it can be seen that nutrients will accumulate at the lower bounds of the slope, as will moisture on an intermittent basis. Given the overall arid conditions of the land in and around Kelowna, the presence or absence of moisture is a main variable in the growth and reproduction of vegetation on the observed plot of land.
Soil also accumulates at the bottom of slope, having been propelled by moving water, pulled by gravity, or disturbed and loosened by birds or animals. The eastern exposure of the slope permits more shade at the base during noontime and the afternoon hours. The exposure to sunlight is a factor in evaporation levels across the face of the slope, with higher levels of evaporation occurring at the upper reaches of the slope where sunlight is more direct and exposure occurs for a longer time than at the lower levels of the slope.
Research Questions
Given the descriptions of the environmental dynamics found on the observed plot, the following research questions are posed.
Does the environmental gradient of the plot slope control the growth of the vegetation?
Does the environmental gradient of the plot slope result in greater species variability in the basal area of the plot slope?
Research Hypotheses
The environmental dynamics on the slope suggest that more provident growing conditions are established along the base of the slope. Consideration of the key variables discussed in the paragraphs above, the following hypotheses appear relevant and reasonable:
Hypothesis #1 — The diversity of plant life will be greater at the base of the slope due to increased overall levels of moisture, nutrients, and soil depth.
Hypothesis #2 — The density of vegetation growth will be greater at the base of the slope due to increased overall levels of moisture, nutrients, and soil depth.
Hypothesis #3 — The basal area of the observed plot will show greater vegetation density and diversity than the upper portion of the plot due to increased overall levels of moisture, nutrients, and soil depth at the base.
Methods
Study Area
The geology of the Okanagan Valley is characterized by basaltic lava, carbonaceous sedimentary rock, foliated gneiss, and granitic rock (Meidinger & Pojar, 1991). Erosion in the area has been sufficiently substantial to result in the deposition of a valley floor that consists of a mixture of clay, gravel, sand, and silt ((Meidinger & Pojar, 1991). The soils in the area include brunisol and chenozem, with the area surrounding Kelowna predominately chernozem soil (Pidwirny, 2006). Geologists mark the formation of the Okanagan Valley to the Pleistocene Age, noting that it was a river valley that was further eroded by the Cordilleran glacier during the ice age (Pidwirny, 2006).
Vegetation Growth Analysis — UBCO Study Plot
Vegetation Growth Analysis — UBCO Study Plot
16
15
Figure 1. Map of Kelowna (at red “A” pin) in Okanogan valley
Figure 2. Outline map of British Columbia showing the approximate location of Kelowna.
Visual observation of the forest in the location of the University of British Columbia campus in Okanagan and the observed plot suggests a preponderance of Ponderosa Pine (Pinus ponderosa), some lesser quantities of Douglas Fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) and several varieties of shrubs. Moreover, the location of the plot on the campus has resulted in a human induced edge that runs along the Bunch Grass zone that occurs in the hottest and driest interior valleys, which transitions into stands of Ponderosa Pine. Indeed, the climate of the Okanagan valley is substantially impacted by its location proximal to the Pacific Ocean and the nearby Cascade and Coastal mountain ranges: as the wind moves inland from the sea, orographic uplift causes the wind to pull moisture along until it is primarily deposited on the windward side of the mountains, creating a moderate rain shadow and drier winds on the Okanagan valley side. The fact that dry winds prevail in the Okanagan valley in the summer months means that there is always the danger of forest fires and brush fires. Some biological plant adaptation can be seen in plants that have developed resistance to the forest fires. The diversity of vegetation in the Okanagan valley is fundamentally accounted for by these climate-controlling conditions, and a range of weather temperatures averaging from roughly 27° Centigrade in summer to 5° degrees Centigrade in winter.
Previous cycles of studies of the vegetation on the observed plot have identified and mapped the vegetation to within 0.1 meter. In addition, measures of the diameter at breast height (DBH) and overall height of the trees in the plot have been recorded. And all trees have been tagged, and cored for age at DBH, and a few trees were cored at the base to ascertain the true ages.
Field Data
To construct a slope profile of the study site, measurements of slope distance and slope angle were taken between points along the slope. These points were selected where there was a change in observed slope along the transect. The slope distance was estimated within each interval using existing survey pins placed 2 meters apart, and the slope angle was measured within each interval using a clinometer. Using the slope distance and slope angle, trigonometry was then used to calculate both the vertical and horizontal distance within each interval. A base datum and top datum elevation were used to ensure that all 11 transects would be measuring the same total distance. The elevation was calculated at each point of slope change along the slope transect by adding the vertical distance cumulatively from the base point. The change in elevation, or total vertical distance from the base datum to the top datum, was measured using an altimeter, and was compared to the value obtained by adding the vertical distances.
Analytical Data
Simpson’s Diversity Index formula (Magurran, 1988)
Results
Measurement of the slope was found to be relatively constant throughout the slope transect, with subtle changes at about 7 meters and 18 meters in elevation) (see Figure 3). A10° variation in slope angle was found throughout the slope transect, with measurements ranging from 9° to 19° and with the 9° measurement taken at the base of the slope. The calculated change in elevation from the base datum to the top datum was found to be 24.5 meters, whereas the change in elevation measured by the altimeter was found to be 25.9 meters.
Figure 3. Transect 8 — Slope profile from (16.0) at 0 horizontal distance to (16,100).
Figures and Tables
Data for Trees
Figure 4. # of stems (trees) (e.g. Abundance)
Figure 5. % of stems (trees) by species
Figure 6. Percentage of contribution by tree species to the total number of trees.
Figure 7. % of stems (trees) by species
Figure 8. Stem Density (trees) (per ha)
Figure 9. Stem Density (trees) (per ha)
Figure 10. Biomass (tree species)
Figure 11. Biomass (tree species)
Figure 4 represent the abundance of Ponderosa Pine (Pinus ponderosa) and Douglas Fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) trees as measured in absolute numbers in the subsections of the plot as recorded in the field. The abundance trend for both species of trees was negative moving up the slope and positive moving down the slope. Figure 5 shows the percentage of tree species in each subsection. Figure 6 shows the percentage of contribution by tree species to the total number of trees in a subsection. The percentage contribution of Douglas Fir was higher at the basal end of the slope and less at the upper reach of the slope. The contribution of Ponderosa Pine to the tree species mixed reached 100% at the top of the slope. Figure7, Figure 8, and Figure 9 show the stem density of trees for each subsection. In order to accurately account for variation in each individual stem of the tree species, the overall biomass for each species was measured for each subsection. Overall biomass for tree species is shown in Figure 10 and Figure 11. Stem density showed the same overall trend as abundance with the highest density recorded at the basal end of the slope and the lowest density recorded at the upper reaches of the slope.
Data for Shrubs
Figure 12. # Stems (abundance) (shrubs)
The same overall measures were taken and recorded for shrubs growing in the subsections. The abundance of shrubs is shown in Figure 12, Figure 13, and Figure 14. The percent of contribution to the shrub density in the subsections is shown in Figure 15 and Figure 16.
The pattern of growth shown by the trees in the subsection is not mirrored in the shrubs, with the exception of Sheperdia canadensis.
Figure 13. # Stems (abundance) (shrubs)
Figure 14. # Stems (abundance) (shrubs)
Figure 15. Stem density (Shrubs)
Figure 16. Stem density (Shrubs)
Diversity Indices
The diversity indices illustrate the vegetation mix according to the number of stems within the subsection as a whole and also focusing on the basal section of the plot. In order to guage the diversity in the subplots, the field data was compared to Simpson’s Index and the Shannon-Wiener Index.
Figure 17. Comparison of Diversity Indices Using Number of Stems
Figure 18. Comparison of Diversity Indices Using Basal Area
Discussion
The study found that the diversity of plant life was greater at the base of the slope. The study also showed that vegetation density was greater at the base of the slope, and this pattern held true for all trees, but not for all shrubs. For vegetation growing in the basal area of the observed plot, there was greater vegetation density and diversity than was found on the upper portion of the plot. A notable exception to the growth patterns and trends was observed in Shepherdia canadensis, a plant that appeared to be more sensitive to altitude than variables related to moisture, sunlight, and soil nutrients.
The abundance and density growth patterns of the trees were most remarkable — which may be attributable to the fact that only two tree species were measured. The Ponderosa Pine grew all over the slope, and was most abundant at the lower levels of the slope. The Douglas Fir grew abundantly at the basal level of the slope but the density declined substantially further up the slope, with no trees of this species found growing at the very top of the slope. Thus, it can be said that the environmental gradient of the plot slope does control the growth of most species of vegetation, presumably due to increased overall levels of moisture, nutrients, and soil depth. Moreover the study confirmed that the environmental gradient of the plot slope contributed to greater species variability in the basal area of the plot slope.
An important variable that is not known with any precision is the habitual uptake of water required for the different shrubs growing in the plot. Overall the shrubs appear less sensitive to moisture content in the soil, which may be a related to the degree of shallowness exhibited by the root systems of shrubs compared to the large tree species also growing in the plot. Presumably, the shrubs and trees may not compete equally for moisture conducted to the soil surface given that the root systems of the trees tend to go much more deeply into the ground and more extensively across the underground area. And, too, given the preponderance of weight of the trees above ground, a strong root system is needed to keep the trees stable during wind and storms, and to withstand relatively weak patterns of erosion. The soil found closer to the midpoints on the slope and at the basal end of the slope is likely to be denser and better held in place by vegetation, thereby enabling the trees to gain a better hold than trees that are growing on the thinner or rockier soil at the upper reaches of the plot.
Conclusions
Clear relationships were observed with regard to location on the slope and the patterns of abundance, density, and diversity for large tree species growing in the subsection of the plot. The overall process of sampling a subplot to determine if a slope gradient is related to density and diversity of plant growth did show a relationship for most of the plants observed. Density was challenging to measure at the basal level of the slope since the relative size of the stems invariably impacts the number of stems that can grow in a particular area. This complication was reduces as measurement where taken higher up the slope where vegetation density was reduced and plant growth tended to be sparser. Shrubs did not evidence the same relationships to slope location and abundance, density, and diversity of growth.
References
Magurran, A.E. (1988). Ecological Diversity and its Measurement. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press.
Meidinger, D. & Pojar, J. (1991). Ecosystems of British Columbia. British Columbia Ministry of Forests. pp. 330. Retrieved from http://www.for.gov.bc.ca/hfd/pubs/Docs/Srs/SRseries.htm
____. (n.d.). Ministry of the Environment, Thompson Region Home. Retreived from http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/thompson/esd/hab/bunch_grass.html
Pidwirny, M. (2006). Soil classification. Fundamentals of Physical Geography, 2nd Edition. Retrieved from http://www.physicalgeography.net/fundamentals/10v.html
Get Professional Assignment Help Cheaply
Are you busy and do not have time to handle your assignment? Are you scared that your paper will not make the grade? Do you have responsibilities that may hinder you from turning in your assignment on time? Are you tired and can barely handle your assignment? Are your grades inconsistent?
Whichever your reason is, it is valid! You can get professional academic help from our service at affordable rates. We have a team of professional academic writers who can handle all your assignments.
Why Choose Our Academic Writing Service?
- Plagiarism free papers
- Timely delivery
- Any deadline
- Skilled, Experienced Native English Writers
- Subject-relevant academic writer
- Adherence to paper instructions
- Ability to tackle bulk assignments
- Reasonable prices
- 24/7 Customer Support
- Get superb grades consistently
Online Academic Help With Different Subjects
Literature
Students barely have time to read. We got you! Have your literature essay or book review written without having the hassle of reading the book. You can get your literature paper custom-written for you by our literature specialists.
Finance
Do you struggle with finance? No need to torture yourself if finance is not your cup of tea. You can order your finance paper from our academic writing service and get 100% original work from competent finance experts.
Computer science
Computer science is a tough subject. Fortunately, our computer science experts are up to the match. No need to stress and have sleepless nights. Our academic writers will tackle all your computer science assignments and deliver them on time. Let us handle all your python, java, ruby, JavaScript, php , C+ assignments!
Psychology
While psychology may be an interesting subject, you may lack sufficient time to handle your assignments. Don’t despair; by using our academic writing service, you can be assured of perfect grades. Moreover, your grades will be consistent.
Engineering
Engineering is quite a demanding subject. Students face a lot of pressure and barely have enough time to do what they love to do. Our academic writing service got you covered! Our engineering specialists follow the paper instructions and ensure timely delivery of the paper.
Nursing
In the nursing course, you may have difficulties with literature reviews, annotated bibliographies, critical essays, and other assignments. Our nursing assignment writers will offer you professional nursing paper help at low prices.
Sociology
Truth be told, sociology papers can be quite exhausting. Our academic writing service relieves you of fatigue, pressure, and stress. You can relax and have peace of mind as our academic writers handle your sociology assignment.
Business
We take pride in having some of the best business writers in the industry. Our business writers have a lot of experience in the field. They are reliable, and you can be assured of a high-grade paper. They are able to handle business papers of any subject, length, deadline, and difficulty!
Statistics
We boast of having some of the most experienced statistics experts in the industry. Our statistics experts have diverse skills, expertise, and knowledge to handle any kind of assignment. They have access to all kinds of software to get your assignment done.
Law
Writing a law essay may prove to be an insurmountable obstacle, especially when you need to know the peculiarities of the legislative framework. Take advantage of our top-notch law specialists and get superb grades and 100% satisfaction.
What discipline/subjects do you deal in?
We have highlighted some of the most popular subjects we handle above. Those are just a tip of the iceberg. We deal in all academic disciplines since our writers are as diverse. They have been drawn from across all disciplines, and orders are assigned to those writers believed to be the best in the field. In a nutshell, there is no task we cannot handle; all you need to do is place your order with us. As long as your instructions are clear, just trust we shall deliver irrespective of the discipline.
Are your writers competent enough to handle my paper?
Our essay writers are graduates with bachelor's, masters, Ph.D., and doctorate degrees in various subjects. The minimum requirement to be an essay writer with our essay writing service is to have a college degree. All our academic writers have a minimum of two years of academic writing. We have a stringent recruitment process to ensure that we get only the most competent essay writers in the industry. We also ensure that the writers are handsomely compensated for their value. The majority of our writers are native English speakers. As such, the fluency of language and grammar is impeccable.
What if I don’t like the paper?
There is a very low likelihood that you won’t like the paper.
Reasons being:
- When assigning your order, we match the paper’s discipline with the writer’s field/specialization. Since all our writers are graduates, we match the paper’s subject with the field the writer studied. For instance, if it’s a nursing paper, only a nursing graduate and writer will handle it. Furthermore, all our writers have academic writing experience and top-notch research skills.
- We have a quality assurance that reviews the paper before it gets to you. As such, we ensure that you get a paper that meets the required standard and will most definitely make the grade.
In the event that you don’t like your paper:
- The writer will revise the paper up to your pleasing. You have unlimited revisions. You simply need to highlight what specifically you don’t like about the paper, and the writer will make the amendments. The paper will be revised until you are satisfied. Revisions are free of charge
- We will have a different writer write the paper from scratch.
- Last resort, if the above does not work, we will refund your money.
Will the professor find out I didn’t write the paper myself?
Not at all. All papers are written from scratch. There is no way your tutor or instructor will realize that you did not write the paper yourself. In fact, we recommend using our assignment help services for consistent results.
What if the paper is plagiarized?
We check all papers for plagiarism before we submit them. We use powerful plagiarism checking software such as SafeAssign, LopesWrite, and Turnitin. We also upload the plagiarism report so that you can review it. We understand that plagiarism is academic suicide. We would not take the risk of submitting plagiarized work and jeopardize your academic journey. Furthermore, we do not sell or use prewritten papers, and each paper is written from scratch.
When will I get my paper?
You determine when you get the paper by setting the deadline when placing the order. All papers are delivered within the deadline. We are well aware that we operate in a time-sensitive industry. As such, we have laid out strategies to ensure that the client receives the paper on time and they never miss the deadline. We understand that papers that are submitted late have some points deducted. We do not want you to miss any points due to late submission. We work on beating deadlines by huge margins in order to ensure that you have ample time to review the paper before you submit it.
Will anyone find out that I used your services?
We have a privacy and confidentiality policy that guides our work. We NEVER share any customer information with third parties. Noone will ever know that you used our assignment help services. It’s only between you and us. We are bound by our policies to protect the customer’s identity and information. All your information, such as your names, phone number, email, order information, and so on, are protected. We have robust security systems that ensure that your data is protected. Hacking our systems is close to impossible, and it has never happened.
How our Assignment Help Service Works
1. Place an order
You fill all the paper instructions in the order form. Make sure you include all the helpful materials so that our academic writers can deliver the perfect paper. It will also help to eliminate unnecessary revisions.
2. Pay for the order
Proceed to pay for the paper so that it can be assigned to one of our expert academic writers. The paper subject is matched with the writer’s area of specialization.
3. Track the progress
You communicate with the writer and know about the progress of the paper. The client can ask the writer for drafts of the paper. The client can upload extra material and include additional instructions from the lecturer. Receive a paper.
4. Download the paper
The paper is sent to your email and uploaded to your personal account. You also get a plagiarism report attached to your paper.
PLACE THIS ORDER OR A SIMILAR ORDER WITH US TODAY AND GET A PERFECT SCORE!!!
