community comparison lab

7/29/2019 Community Comparison Lab

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Avery Rech

Ecological Principles Lab

Community Comparison Upland Oak Pine Forest v. Transitional Pitch Pine Forest

Introduction

In this lab students sampled plots located at Richard Stockton College in Pomona, NJ. The two

plots sampled in this lab were; Upland Oak Pine Forest and Transitional Pitch Pine Forest. In sampling a

forest population students counted a series of small areas i.e. the samples, which approximately

represents the whole area of the upland and transitional forests of Stocktons Campus per 100m^2.

Students sampled the population by counting and recording the organisms in the plot. This data was

later transferred to an excel document to determine calculated densities, frequencies, coverages,

importance values, species diversities, and Shannon index for strata and overall community. Our null

hypothesis states that between the two sampled forests; density, frequency and coverage data will

show little to no variation. The result section of this lab will either prove or disprove the hypothesis andexplain the plot data.

Methods

Groups were assigned to a specific community type; upland or transitional forest. Each group

then used their random number table and compass to randomly select a plot in their given ecological

community. At each sample point students measured a circular area of 100m^2 which has a radius of

5.64 meters (Geller 2010). Next, the group recorded the number of each tree, sapling and shrub species

within the plot. The DBH (diameter at breast height) for each individual tree and sapling was recorded

along with the estimated coverage/dominance of each shrub. Other plants and ground cover wasdetermined by quartering the plot into four sections, and using the cover class percentages listed in the

lab manual. This data was used to determine the average density, frequency, coverage etc. The data was

transferred into an excel document and multiple formulas including standard deviation were used to

compile the data listed below.

Results

Each community was sampled sufficiently; this can be determined by observing the abundance

and species area curves. A species area curve is a curve that plateaus or begins to plateau when one has

stopped finding new species, once this happened one can determine they have collected enough

samples (Geller 2010). In figure 1 the Transitional Forest began to plateau at 41 plots out of 45 plots

sampled. In figure 4 the Upland Forest began to plateau at 34 plots out of 77 plots sampled. In eachcommunity groups began to stop finding new species around an average of 36 plots sampled. No

irregularities were found in the figures which prove that each group sufficiently sampled the plots and

found no new species after sampling approximately 36 plots. The abundance curve determines the

occurrence of each species within the plot. Relative importance values were calculated for each species

present. The evaluated relative importance values were then used to determine species abundance

within the community. The top four abundant/dominant species in figure 3 were; Nyssa sylvatica Black

Gum Tree, Galussacia frondosa Tall Huckleberry shrub, Pinus rigida Pitch Pine Tree, and Quercus alba


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White Oak Tree. In the upland forest figure 6 the top four abundant species were; Gaultheria

procumbens Eastern Teaberry ground cover, Pinus rigida Pitch Pine Tree, Gaylussacia baccata Black

Huckleberry shrub and Illex opaca American Holly ground cover. In the transitional data; ground cover

was taken out of the abundance curve which could be one reason for a higher abundance in ground

cover in the upland data. Pinus rigida was found in both forests and was one of the top three abundant

species as well. Since Pitch Pine is common in both areas this can explain that the upland and

transitional forest have an adapted niche for this species. After some research, it was discovered that

the Pitch pine can survive in a variety of habitats from dry acidic sandy uplands to swampy low lands.

The two forests sampled are indeed habitable for the resilient pine which is why it is so abundant in

each.

The importance value is an average of the relative density, relative frequency and relative

dominance. The importance value is used to calculate the Shannon Weiner species diversity index for

the forest community (Geller 2010). Frequency is the likelihood of encountering a particular species,

having a high frequency means it is likely to come across the species. The total frequency for transitional

forest is determined in table 1; the tree total is 3.614 with pitch pine (.795) and black gum (.750) as the

most frequent. Frequency totals for the transitional forest sapling is 1.091, black gum is the most

frequent at (.614). Shrub total is 3.418 where mountain laurel is the most frequent at (.818) Uplandforest frequency is determined in table 4; the tree total is 2.658 with pitch pine (.908) and white oak

(.750) as the most frequent. Frequency totals for the upland forest sapling is 1.211 with white oak (.237)

as the most frequent; shrub is 3.162 with black huckleberry (.794) as most frequent. Comparing these

numbers it is determined that there is a higher frequency overall in the Transitional forest area.

Density is the number of individual species per unit area; 100m^2. Relative density is the density

of species divided by the total density of all species within the strata. Relative density is another factor

in determining the importance value. Table two and table five lists the relative density of each forest

community, each strata should total to 1.00. The performance curve helps decide when one has

efficiently estimated the density of a species (Geller 2010). If the plot was sampled adequately the line

should stabilize around a number. The performance curve usually restricts to one of the most common

species; figure 2 uses the Quercus alba species and levels off around 36 plots. Figue 5 uses the PinusRigida species and levels off around 48 plots. From table 2 it is determined that Black gum has the

highest density for both tree (.31) and sapling (.67) in the transitional forest. Shrub density is highest in

the tall huckleberry species (.49). In the upland forest table 5; the pitch pine tree has the highest density

(.465), white oak sapling has the highest density (.243) and black huckleberry shrub is the highest

density (.422).

The calculated coefficient of community similarity is determined to be .615 The

equation used is, 2*16=32/(27+25)=.615 The upland and transitional forests share 16 species; the

upland has 27 species while the transitional has 25 species. Technically the upland forest has higher

species diversity, but the two samples are very close and differ only by two species. Since the

transitional forest has a mixture of upland and lowland species, soil, precipitation and other niche

characteristics it is probable that the two forest samples would have similar diversities, densities,

frequencies etc. Within each community the strata with the highest diversity is; the shrub (2.156 SI) in

transitional forest and saplings (2.481 SI) in the upland forest.

Table 3a and 6a depict the Importance values for each strata, transitional forest has a slightly higher

Importance value. The Shannon Weiner index is also found in tables 3a and 6a which explains how

diverse the community is. The SI total for the transitional forest tree is 1.912, sapling is 1.509 and shrub

is 2.156. The SI total for upland tree is 1.641, sapling 2.481 and shrub 1.602. These numbers explain the


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SI per strata and how diverse each one is. In table 3b the Shannon index for the whole community is

2.633 and in table 6b the SI is 2.623. These numbers are extremely close, transitional forest has a slightly

higher SI . Both of these forests fall under the uniform distribution category.

Discussion


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Table 1. Average Density and Coverage, Frequency and Standard Deviation for Transitional Forest Community.

Trees#/100m2 Average Density Standard Deviation Frequency Average Coverage

Red Maple Acer rubrum 1.48 2.50 0.341 17.30

Atlantic White Cedar Chamaecyparis thyoides 0.18 0.58 0.091 0.81

Sweet Bay Magnolia Magnolia virginiana 1.32 2.84 0.386 10.70

Black Gum Nyssa sylvatica 3.14 3.21 0.750 54.99

Pitch Pine Pinus rigida 1.59 1.28 0.795 64.69

White Oak Quercus alba 1.27 1.50 0.545 22.78

Scarlet Oak Quercus coccinea 0.30 1.07 0.114 0.90

Chestnut Oak Quercus prinus 0.59 1.26 0.295 17.33

Sassafras Sassafras albidum 0.34 0.57 0.295 3.31

Total 10.20 3.614 192.80

Saplings#/100m2

Red Maple Acer rubrum 0.30 0.82 0.159 2.86

Sweet Bay Magnolia Magnolia virginiana 0.41 1.34 0.159 2.10

Black Gum Nyssa sylvatica 2.07 3.24 0.614 8.93

White Oak Quercus alba 0.18 0.66 0.091 1.54

Chestnut Oak Quercus prinus 0.05 0.30 0.023 1.22

Sassafras Sassafras albidum 0.09 0.42 0.045 0.40

Total 3.09 1.091 17.04

Shrubs#/100m2

Sweet Pepperbush Clethra alnifolia 24.93 53.87 0.727 0.13

Tall Huckleberry Galussacia f rondosa 71.10 145.90 0.636 0.17

Winterberry Holly Illex verticillata 0.36 1.38 0.091 0.01

Mountain Laurel Kalmia latifolia 26.86 40.23 0.818 0.16

Swamp Sweetbells Leucothoe racemosa 5.20 17.70 0.136 0.05

Staggerbush Lyonia mariana 0.88 3.28 0.077 0.01

Bay Berry Myrica pensylvanicus 2.98 9.25 0.205 0.00

Swamp Azalea Rhododendron viscosum 1.55 6.70 0.114 0.02

Green Briar Smilax rotundifolia 1.77 7.78 0.136 0.00

Highbush Blueberry Vaccinium corymbosum 8.05 13.54 0.455 0.20

Scrub oak Quercus ilici folia 0.07 0.45 0.023 0.01

Total 143.76 3.418 0.77

Table 2. Relative Density Frequency Coverage for Transitional Forest sampled from 44 plots on Richard Stockton College

Transitional Relative Density Relative Frequency Relative Coverage

Tree Strata

Red Maple Acer rubrum 0.14 0.094 0.090

Atlantic White Cedar Chamaecyparis thyoides 0.02 0.025 0.004Sweet Bay Magnolia Magnolia virginiana 0.13 0.107 0.055

Black Gum Nyssa sylvatica 0.31 0.208 0.285

Pitch Pine Pinus rigida 0.16 0.220 0.336

White Oak Quercus alba 0.12 0.151 0.118

Scarlet Oak Quercus coccinea 0.03 0.031 0.005

Chestnut Oak Quercus prinus 0.06 0.082 0.090

Sassafras Sassafras albidum 0.03 0.082 0.017

Total 1.00

SaplingStrata

Red Maple Acer rubrum 0.10 0.146 0.168

Sweet Bay Magnolia Magnolia virginiana 0.13 0.146 0.123

Black Gum Nyssa sylvatica 0.67 0.562 0.524

White Oak Quercus alba 0.06 0.083 0.090

Chestnut Oak Quercus prinus 0.01 0.021 0.071

Sassafras Sassafras albidum 0.03 0.042 0.024

Total 1.00

Shrubs Strata

Sweet Pepperbush Clethra alnifolia 0.17 0.213 0.171

Tall Huckleberry Galussacia frondosa 0.49 0.186 0.223

Winterberry Holly Illex verticillata 0.00 0.027 0.014

Mountain Laurel Kalmia latifolia 0.19 0.239 0.214

Swamp Sweetbells Leucothoe racemosa 0.04 0.040 0.059

Staggerbush Lyonia mariana 0.01 0.023 0.013

Bay Berry Myrica pensylvanicus 0.02 0.060 0.005

Swamp Azalea Rhododendron viscosum 0.01 0.033 0.029

Green Briar Smilax rotundifolia 0.01 0.040 0.006

Highbush Blueberry Vaccinium corymbosum 0.06 0.133 0.250

Scrub oak Quercus ilicifolia 0.00 0.007 0.011


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Table 3a. Shannon index values by st rata for transitional forest at RSC

Transitional Importance Value Shannon Index

Trees#/100m2

Red Maple Acer rubrum 0.110 0.242

Atlantic White Cedar Chamaecyparis thyoides 0.016 0.065

Sweet Bay Magnolia Magnolia virginiana 0.097 0.227

Black Gum Nyssa sylvatica 0.267 0.352

Pitch Pine Pinus rigida 0.237 0.341

White Oak Quercus alba 0.131 0.267

Scarlet Oak Quercus coccinea 0.022 0.083

Chestnut Oak Quercus prinus 0.077 0.197

Sassafras Sassafras albidum 0.044 0.138

1.912

Saplings#/100m2Red Maple Acer rubrum 0.121 0.255

Sweet Bay Magnolia Magnolia virginiana 0.149 0.283

Black Gum Nyssa sylvatica 0.452 0.359

White Oak Quercus alba 0.222 0.334

Chestnut Oak Quercus prinus 0.042 0.133

Sassafras Sassafras albidum 0.047 0.145

1.509

Shrubs#/100m2

Sweet Pepperbush Clethra alnifolia 0.193 0.318

Tall Huckleberry Galussacia frondosa 0.284 0.357

Winterberry Holly Illex verticillata 0.084 0.208

Mountain Laurel Kalmia latifolia 0.147 0.282

Swamp Sweetbells Leucothoe racemosa 0.097 0.226

Staggerbush Lyonia mariana 0.029 0.104

Bay Berry Myrica pensylvanicus 0.031 0.108

Swamp Azalea Rhododendron viscosum 0.016 0.067

Green Briar Smilax rotundifolia 0.027 0.098

Highbush Blueberry Vaccinium corymbosum 0.065 0.178

Scrub oak Quercus ilicifolia 0.086 0.211

0.505 2.156

Table 3b. Shannon index values for the whole transitional forest community

IV RIV RIV*Ln(RIV)

Acer rubrum 0.121 0.050 0.150Chamaecyparis thyoides 0.016 0.007 0.033

Clethra alnifolia 0.193 0.080 0.203

Galussacia frondosa 0.284 0.118 0.252

Illex verticillata 0.084 0.035 0.117

Kalmia latifolia 0.147 0.061 0.171

Leucothoe racemosa 0.097 0.040 0.129

Lyonia mariana 0.029 0.012 0.054

Magnolia virginiana 0.149 0.062 0.172

Myrica pensylvanicus 0.031 0.013 0.056

Nyssa sylvatica 0.452 0.188 0.314

Pinus rigida 0.237 0.099 0.229

Quercus alba 0.222 0.092 0.220

Quercus coccinea 0.022 0.009 0.043

Quercus i licifolia 0.086 0.036 0.119Quercus prinus 0.077 0.032 0.110

Rhododendron viscosum 0.016 0.007 0.034

Sassafras albidum 0.047 0.020 0.078

Smilax rotundifolia 0.027 0.011 0.051

Vaccinium corymbosum 0.065 0.027 0.098

Total 2.401 2.633 =Shannon Index of Community


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SpeciesAvg.

Density St. Dev. FrequencyAvg.

CoverageTrees:Acer rubrum 0.013 0.115 0.013 0.544Amelanchier canadensis 0.013 0.115 0.013 -Betula populifolia 0.013 0.115 0.013 -Ilex opaca 0.316 1.110 0.132 7.297Nyssa sylvatica 0.355 1.326 0.118 8.867Pinus rigida 4.026 2.764 0.908 91.288Populus grandidentata 0.105 0.478 0.053 -Prunus serotina 0.026 0.229 0.013 -Quercus alba 2.299 2.482 0.750 39.777Quercus coccinea 0.480 1.250 0.211 4.243Quercus prinus 0.546 1.627 0.132 4.574Quercus stellata 0.066 0.250 0.066 0.680Sassafras albidum 0.398 0.920 0.237 3.011

Total: 8.658 2.658 160.281

Saplings:Acer rubrum 0.053 0.266 0.053 0.907Ilex opaca 0.112 0.352 0.105 1.456

Betula populifolia 0.013 0.115 0.013 -Juglans nigra 0.026 0.161 0.026 0.000Nyssa sylvatica 0.270 0.971 0.105 2.920Pinus rigida 0.257 0.709 0.158 1.667Populus grandidentata 0.026 0.161 0.026 0.240Prunus serotina 0.026 0.161 0.026 0.503Quercus alba 0.648 2.614 0.237 3.059Quercus coccinea 0.020 0.128 0.026 -Quercus ilicifolia 0.750 2.306 0.211 0.504Quercus prinus 0.171 1.269 0.039 0.000Quercus stellata 0.092 0.495 0.053 0.125Sassafras albidum 0.204 0.628 0.132 1.268Quercus marilandica - - - 2.518

Total: 2.668 1.211 15.165

Shrubs:Gaylussacia baccata/dumosa 288.765 417.202 0.794 7.254Gaylussacia frondosa 52.103 120.975 0.368 2.836Ilex glabra 0.397 2.493 0.059 0.004Ilex opaca 2.985 24.250 0.044 0.000Kalmia latifolia 1.074 3.711 0.132 0.010Lyonia mariana 1.294 6.866 0.044 0.010Myrica pensylvanica 6.426 29.553 0.176 0.166Quercus marilandica 9.309 33.460 0.132 0.007Smilax spp. 0.074 0.498 0.029 0.001Vaccinium corymbosum 50.059 110.274 0.544 0.062Vaccinium vacillans 271.118 307.688 0.838 13.245

Total: 683.603 3.162 23.595

Ground Cover:Arctostaphylos uva-ursi

4.000

28.284

0.020

3.000

Gaultheria procumbens 736.505 1762.720 0.740 0.759Ilex opaca 0.217 0.841 0.065 117.822

Total: 740.722 0.825 121.581

Table 4. Average Density and Coverage, Frequency, and Standard Deviation

for Upland Oak Pine Community.

Table 1: Average Density, Coverage, Frequency, and Standard Deviation calculated

from 77 sample plots. Plots were located within a upland oak pine forest on the

Richard Stockton College of New Jersey campus, Galloway Township, Atlantic

County, New Jersey. Data gathered November, 2011.


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Species Rel.Density

Rel.

FrequencyRel.

Coverage

Trees:Acer rubrum 0.002 0.005 0.003Amelanchier canadensis 0.002 0.005 -Betula populifolia 0.002 0.005 -Ilex opaca 0.036 0.050 0.046Nyssa sylvatica 0.041 0.045 0.055Pinus rigida 0.465 0.342 0.570

Populus grandidentata 0.012 0.020 -Prunus serotina 0.003 0.005 -Quercus alba 0.266 0.282 0.248Quercus coccinea 0.055 0.079 0.026Quercus prinus 0.063 0.050 0.029Quercus stellata 0.008 0.025 0.004Sassafras albidum 0.046 0.089 0.019

Saplings:Acer rubrum 0.020 0.043 0.060

Ilex opaca 0.042 0.087 0.096Betula populifolia 0.005 0.011 -Juglans nigra 0.010 0.022 0.000Nyssa sylvatica 0.101 0.087 0.193Pinus rigida 0.096 0.130 0.110

Populus grandidentata 0.010 0.022 0.016Prunus serotina 0.010 0.022 0.033Quercus alba 0.243 0.196 0.202Quercus coccinea 0.007 0.022 -

Quercus ilicifolia 0.281 0.174 0.033

Quercus prinus 0.064 0.033 0.000Quercus stellata 0.035 0.043 0.008Sassafras albidum 0.076 0.109 0.084Quercus marilandica - - 0.166

Shrubs:Gaylussacia baccata/dumosa 0.422 0.251 0.385Gaylussacia frondosa 0.076 0.116 0.090Ilex glabra 0.001 0.019 0.006Ilex opaca 0.004 0.014 0.001Kalmia latifolia 0.002 0.042 0.015Lyonia mariana 0.002 0.014 0.016Myrica pensylvanica 0.009 0.056 0.014Quercus marilandica 0.014 0.042 0.011Smilax spp. 0.000 0.009 0.001Vaccinium corymbosum 0.073 0.172 0.097Vaccinium vacillans 0.397 0.265 0.365

Ground Cover:

Arctostaphylos uva-ursi 0.005 0.024 0.025Gaultheria procumbens 0.994 0.897 0.006Ilex opaca 0.000 0.079 0.969

Table 5. Relative Density, Frequency, and Coverage for Upland

Oak Pine Community.

Table Five: Relative Values (Density, Frequency, and Coverage) for

an upland oak pine forest located on the campus of the Richard

Stockton College of New Jersey, Galloway Township, Atlantic

County, New Jersey. Data gathered and calculated from 77 sample

plots, November, 2011.


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Species ImportanceValue

Shannon's

Index

Trees:Acer rubrum 0.003 0.019Amelanchier canadensis 0.003 0.019Betula populifolia 0.003 0.019Ilex opaca 0.044 0.137Nyssa sylvatica 0.047 0.144Pinus rigida 0.459 0.357

Populus grandidentata 0.016 0.066Prunus serotina 0.004 0.022Quercus alba 0.265 0.352Quercus coccinea 0.054 0.157Quercus prinus 0.047 0.144Quercus stellata 0.012 0.054Sassafras albidum 0.051 0.152

Total: 1.009 1.641

Saplings:Acer rubrum 0.041 0.131Ilex opaca 0.075 0.194Betula populifolia 0.008 0.038Juglans nigra 0.011 0.048Nyssa sylvatica 0.127 0.262Pinus rigida 0.112 0.245Populus grandidentata 0.016 0.066Prunus serotina 0.022 0.083Quercus alba 0.213 0.330Quercus coccinea 0.015 0.062

Quercus ilicifolia 0.163 0.295

Quercus prinus 0.032 0.111Quercus stellata 0.029 0.102Sassafras albidum 0.090 0.216Quercus marilandica 0.166 0.298

Total:1.118

2.481

Shrubs:Gaylussacia baccata/dumosa 0.353 0.368Gaylussacia frondosa 0.094 0.222Ilex glabra 0.008 0.040Ilex opaca 0.006 0.032Kalmia latifolia 0.020 0.077Lyonia mariana 0.011 0.049Myrica pensylvanica 0.026 0.096Quercus marilandica 0.022 0.085Smilax spp. 0.003 0.020Vaccinium corymbosum 0.114 0.248Vaccinium vacillans 0.342 0.367

Total: 1.000 1.602

Ground Cover:Arctostaphylos uva-ursi 0.018 0.073Gaultheria procumbens 0.632 0.290Ilex opaca 0.349 0.367

Total: 1.000 0.730

Table 6a. Importance Values and Shannon's Index

by Strata for Upland Oak Pine Community.

Table 6a: Importance Values and Shannon's Index

(strata, represented by shaded cells) for an upland oak

pine forest located on the Richard Stockton College of

New Jersey campus, Galloway Township, Atlantic

County, New Jersey. Data gathered and calculated

November, 2011 from 77 sample plots.

SpeciesAverage

Imp.

Value

Relative

Imp.

Value

Shannon's

Index

Acer rubrum 0.041 0.012 0.052

Amelanchier canadensis 0.003 0.001 0.007Arctostaphylos uva-ursi 0.018 0.005 0.027Betula populifolia 0.008 0.002 0.014Gaultheria procumbens 0.632 0.182 0.310Gaylussacia baccata/dumosa 0.353 0.102 0.232Gaylussacia frondosa 0.094 0.027 0.098Ilex glabra 0.008 0.002 0.014

Ilex opaca 0.349 0.101 0.231Juglans nigra 0.011 0.003 0.018Kalmia latifolia 0.020 0.006 0.029Lyonia mariana 0.011 0.003 0.018Myrica pensylvanica 0.026 0.008 0.037Nyssa sylvatica 0.127 0.037 0.121Pinus rigida 0.459 0.132 0.267

Populus grandidentata 0.016 0.005 0.025

Prunus serotina 0.022 0.006 0.032Quercus alba 0.265 0.076 0.197Quercus coccinea 0.054 0.015 0.065

Quercus ilicifolia 0.163 0.047 0.143

Quercus marilandica 0.166 0.048 0.145Quercus prinus 0.047 0.014 0.058Quercus stellata 0.029 0.008 0.040Sassafras albidum 0.090 0.026 0.094

Smilax spp. 0.003 0.001 0.007Vaccinium corymbosum 0.114 0.033 0.112Vaccinium vacillans 0.342 0.099 0.228

Total: 3.470 1.000 2.623

Table 6b. Relative Importance Values and Shannon's Index

of the Community for Upland Oak Pine Community.

Table 6b: Relative Importance Values and Shannon's Index

(community, shaded cell) for an upland oak pine forest located

on the campus of the Richard Stockton College of New Jersey,

Galloway Township, Atlantic County, New Jersey. Data

evaluated from 77 sample plots, November, 2011.


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Figure 4: Species Area Curve for an upland oak pine forest located on the Richard Stockton College ofNew Jersey campus, Galloway Township, Atlantic County, New Jersey. Students sampled 77 plots togather data on the community and evaluate new species occurrence. Data collected November, 2011.

Figure 5: Performance Curve forPinus rigidain an upland oak pine forest located on the RichardStockton College of New Jersey campus, Galloway Township, Atlantic County, New Jersey. Datagathered from 77 sample plots. Raw data was evaluated to determine the most significant species in thecommunity by highest relative density (in this case P. rigida). A running mean was calculated in order toevaluate the performance of the group in relation to recording species occurrences. Collection andevaluation occurred during November, 2011.

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

NumberofNew

SpeciesFound

Plot Number (Cumulative Area)

Figure 1. Species Area Curve for Upland Oak Pine Community.

0.0

1.0

2.0

3.0

4.0

5.0

6.0

RunningMean/MeanDensity

Number of Plots Sampled.

Figure 2. Performance Curve for Pinus rigida, Upland Oak Pine Community.

Figure 4.

Figure 5.


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Figure 6: Species Abundance Curve for an oak pine forest located on the Richard Stockton College ofNew Jersey campus, Galloway Township, Atlantic County, New Jersey. Data was collected from 77

sample plots, and relative importance values were calculated for each species present. Evaluated relativeimportance values were then used to determine species abundance within the community. Data collectedNovember, 2011.

0.0000

0.0200

0.0400

0.0600

0.0800

0.1000

0.1200

0.1400

0.1600

0.1800

0.2000

RelativeImportanceValues

Species Observed

Figure 3. Species Abundance Curve, Upland Oak Pine Community. Figure 6


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References

Cesta, Jason 2011. Upland Plant Data from Pine Oak Uplands. Richard Stockton College, Pomona, NJ.

Geller, M.D. 2010. Manual for Ecological Principles Laboratory, ENVL 2205, Fall 2010. Richard Stockton

College of NJ. Pomona, NJ.

community comparison lab

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