HABITAT ANALYSIS I - TERRESTRIAL
GENERAL ECOLOGY LABORATORY

Location: Garvin Heights Park
Objective: Assess general habitat characteristics of grassland and woodland areas
Hypothesis: Habitat diversity, light intensity, surface and soil temperature,
slope, and soil depth do not differ between grassland and
woodland areas.

Agenda:
1) General description of grassland and woodland - aspect, slope (take
multiple measurements in each habitat, p. 30), stratification of plants (How many
layers are there? p. 36-37)

2) Measurement of plant stratification layers (take multiple height
measurements of plants within each stratum, Figs. p. 37)

3) Measurement of light intensity and air temperature at surface (take multiple
readings)

4) General description of soil structure - color, consistency, particle size

5) Measurement of soil temperature (take multiple readings, p. 48)

6) Examination of soil profiles using soil corer and measurement of soil depth
(take multiple measurements, p. 46-47)

Analysis:
1) Calculate means and standard deviations for the various parameters

2) Calculate vertical habitat diversity (p. 37-38) for grassland and woodland
habitats (use mean vegetation layer heights for calculations)

3) Make statistical comparisons of parameter means (light intensity, surface
temperature, soil temperature, slope, and soil depth) between grassland and
woodland habitats (t-tests and/or Mann-Whitney tests)

Equipment:
Meter tapes

Soil thermometer

Meter sticks

Light meters

Compasses

Soil corer

Bulb thermometers