Field Study in Scrubland The C.C.C. Ming Yin College Date: 25/3/2009

Members of Group 4 Chiu Man Fung 6S (6) Tsang Chi Ho 6S (11) Yeung Kin Chung 6S (14) Yeung Wut Pan 6S (15) Chan Wai Chun 6S (19) Chau Man Ha 6S (21) Lee Kwun Yi 6S (26)

Content Introduction Aims Apparatus and materials Methods used to study the scrubland Results Discussion -Physical factors in scrubland -Factors affecting distribution -Dominant features of plants and animals -Limitation and improvement

Introduction Scrubland is land with fairly continuous cover of scrubs and bushes of 0.3m to 2.9m in height. It acts as a transitional stage between grassland and forest. It is usually located on hillsides.

Aims 1) To study how physical factors affect the distribution of plants and animals 2) To study the adaptive features of living organisms to the environment

Location of the scrubland

Materials and apparatus 1 x transect line 1 x light meter 1 x digital thermohygrometer 1 x abney level and supporting frame 1 x trowel 2 x plastic bag 2 x forcep – blunt 2x forcep – fine 4 x vial – large 5 x vial – medium 5 x vial – small 2 x magnifying glass 1 x air net 1 x sweep net 1 x compass 1 x sorting tray (white) 1 x pooter 2 x cotton gloves 1 x counter 1 x quadrat – 50 x 50cm 1 x point quadrat 1 x map 1 x anemometer 1 x light nylon thread

Methods used to study the scrubland Part 1 Animal sampling 1. A 20 m long transect line was run in a representative area on the scrubland. 2. Small animals were searched in different micro-habitats such as under stones and rocks, on leaf, surface, under leaf sheaths, in flowers, in fruits, in dead woods, in cow dung, in the soil etc. 3. Different animals were put in different vials for identification. 4. All collected animals were identified immediately and released back to their habitats. 5. Any adaptive features equipped by the animals were verified.

Part 2 Plant sampling by belt transect 1. The quadrat was put every 2m. 2. One plant species was selected for counting its density. 3. The cover in percentage of the selected plant species was counted with the help of a point quadrat. 4. The result and adaptive features of the plants were recorded. A point quadrat

Part 3 Measuring Physical factors 1. The average light intensity in the field site was measured with the help of a light meter. 2. The humidity and the temperature were measured with the help of the digital thermohygrometer. 3. The average wind speed in the field site was measured by the anemometer. 4. The wind direction was measured by the use of a light nylon thread together with a compass. 5. The gradient of the slope along the transect line at 2m intervals were measured by means of an abney level and a supporting frame.

Part 4 Soil analysis 1. The soil’s colour, smell and nature were examined. 2. Some soil was placed into a tullgren funnel. The light of the tullgren funnel was turned on and the funnel was allowed to stand overnight. The animals collected in the container were then examinated. 3. Few grams of soil were placed in a petri dish and some water was added. By using special pH paper, the pH value of the soil was tested.

4. The water content of the soil can be found by following steps: a) Some of the soil was put into a weighted crucible and weighed. b) The crucible with soil was then put into an oven operating at 105 degree Celsius. c) After few hours, the soil was dry and was cooled and weighted. d) The water content of the soil was calculated by subtracting the weight of dried one from that of the initial one. e) As a result, the percentage could be calculated.

5. The organic matter in the soil can be found by following steps: a) The dry soil was then brunt by the gas burner for about 20 minutes. b) After the soil was cool, it was weighted. c) The organic matter content of the soil was calculated by subtracting the burnt weight from the dried weight. d) The percentage of organic matter content was also calculated.

Part 5 Analysis of collected plants and animals The plants and animals we brought back from the field were identified.

Results

Graph showing Gradient along the transect line

Abiotic factors in Scrubland Average temperature 18.7ºC Average humidity89% Wind speed0.8m/s Light intensity8640 Lux The field site that we studied was an open area. A lot of cow dung could be found there. As it was raining while we were having the investigation, the soil which was brown in colour was soft. The table below shows the data we have collected:

Soil properties in our field site Soil colour, smell and nature Normal smell, brown and sandy soil Soil pH5.2 Water content (%)22.16 Organic matter (%)10.214

Gradient and Percentage cover of Dichotomy forked fern along transect Position along transect Gradient Pecentage cover 0M38% 2M+562% 4M038% 6M-218% 8M+344% 10M-30% To be continued

Position along transect Gradient Percentag e cover 12M-50% 14M-250% 16M-78% 18M-328% 20M-20% Gradient and Percentage cover of Dichotomy forked fern along transect

Plants we found Dichotomy forked fern Diacamma rugosum

Graph showing Percentage cover of Dichotomy forked fern along transect

Kite diagram of Dichotomy forked fern

Animals we found

Animals’ data Animal nameNo. foundMicro-habitat Spider1 3Among grasses Camponotus anningenesis 1Among grasses Mayfly11/ Beetle1 (Cetoniidae 花金龜科 ) 1Cow dung

Discussion

Physical factors Physical factors are very important factors that can affect the growth of plants or the activity of the animals. These factors include light intensity, temperature, wind, soil, humidity and terrain. We will discussed the importance of these factors in detail.

Light intensity 1. Light is essential for photosynthesis for plants to make their own food. 2. The higher the light intensity, higher the photosynthetic rate. 3. Light affects distribution and population of a species.

Temperature 1. When temperature rises, the rate of transpiration increases, thus the water loss increases. 2. Plants have different adaptive features to reduce water loss, such as the presence of cuticle.

Air movement 1. Wind reduces humidity of the environment. 2. It may cause wind chill effect. 3. If wind is strong, plants may have difficulty in anchorage. 4. Wind acts as a disperser of seeds.

Soil 1. Organic matter contain various nutrients for plant growth 2. Water is essential for photosynthesis and other cell metabolism When it is too much, root cells cannot carry out gaseous exchange When it is too little, plants may die of drought and lack of minerals

Size of soil particles is important to plants. 1. When the size is too large, the soil has low ability to hold water. 2. When the size is too small, the soil will become waterlogged. 3. Soil may have different pH and plant can only live within narrow ph ranges.

Terrain 1. Larger gradient makes anchorage more difficult 2.Water flows downwards at a faster rate on steep land. It cannot be absorbed.

Gradient along the transect line The above graph shows the gradient along the transect line. As shown in the graph, the gradient does not vary much along the transect. Therefore, the slope is gentle there.

Factors affecting distribution of organisms The above graph shows the distribution of Dichotomy forked fern along the transect. As shown in the graph, more Dichotomy forked fern could be found at 2m but none could be found at 10m and 12m.

Factors affecting distribution Light intensity -open area- more ferns -shaded area- fewer ferns Organic nutrients -Peak population could be found in area with cow dung -cow dung provides organic nutrients -decomposers turns organic nutrients into inorganic ones -nutrients promote plant growth

Dominant species ~Dichotomy forked fern

~ Diacamma rugosum

~ Camponotus anningenesis

Common adaptive features of plants found in scrubland Colonize burnt patches on hillsides Bind soil particles, reducing soil erosion and water loss Tolerate dry and adverse conditions Large amount of spores Spores protected by frown hair

Adaptive features of animal found in scrubland Camponontus anningenesis ( 安寧弓背蟻 ) Feed on nectar Short reproductive cycle Large aerial nests on trees and underground Small in size Biting and stinging qualities

Limitations of this investigation 1. Transect line of 20m could not represent the whole habitat 2. Plants and animals on steep gradient could not be observed 3. The occurance of animals varies in different weather 4. The interval of setting quadrats was large

5. Animals too deep underground cannot be studied 6. Plants that were not included in the quadrat were not counted. 7. Fast moving organisms could not be found and counted easily. 8. Living organisms which are too small to be seen were not studied 9. One-time trip cannot obtain a reliable result.

Improvements 1. Longer transect line 2. Smaller interval of setting quadrats 3. Sampling in different areas 4. Visit again in regular interval

Conclusion 1. Normal behaviour of animals or qualities of environment could not be observed due to bad weather. Animals hid themselves because of heavy rain and they could not be found easily. 2. Light intensity, humidity, gradient, temperature and air movement affects the occurance or population of a living species.

Conclusion 3. Dominant species were Dichotomy forked fern, Phyllanthus emblica and Camponotus anningensis 4. For plants that can be found in scrubland, common adaptive features are drought tolerance and fire tolerance 5. For animals, short reproductive cycle, eating habit and effective defensive features make the species dominant.

Reference books 1. Hong Kong Animals 2. Hong Kong Insects 3. Hong Kong Insects Vol.2 4. Hong Kong Trees 5. Hong Kong Shrubs Vol.2 6. Hong Kong Ferns

The End