Microclimate-Team+1

(Figure 1)
 * __Our Microclimate__ -- A novel by Eddy Mog**

(Figure 2)

Our transect begins near the beginning of the Bus Driveway. It stretches diagonally from the edge to the space between two trees. It is located precisely at Latitude 40.055223 N and Longitude 75.567615 W. The transect is very, very diverse. It has short weeds, and grasses. As we move further along, the weeds disappear and there is only grass, and then dead leaves. The trees are surrounded by short plants, dead leaves, and has low branches.
 * __Description__**

The bus driveway, and it's gate. The driveway is 9 meters. The other side is full of grass. There is a speed bump. We are about 100 meters from the school. There is a small gully bordered by bushes. There is also a parking lot full of cars.
 * __To the North__**

(Figure 3)

There are another two trees, and about 250 meters from a corporate center. On the ground, there are dead leaves, twigs, acorns, and some weeds. The two trees still have a lot of leaves, and stand very tall.
 * __To the East__**

(Figure 4)

Directly south there is a small incline and two trees of the same species that have each split in two. The ground has more greens and weeds, but still with the same dirt and leaves. There are clovers around the roots. The two trees are separated by a small gap.
 * __To the Derrty South__**

(Figure 5)

To the west of our microclimate is an open field with lots of grass and weeds. Farther off in the distance there is a small woods with shrubs and underbrush. Our microclimate is separated from this field by the bus driveway which is 26 feet wide.
 * __To the Westside__**

(Figure 6)

=__**Our Transect**__=

In our transect, we collected weeds and grasses, and measured the abiotic factors too. We measured the temperatures and the soil temperature, light intensity, humidity (both absolute and relative), and dew point for 10 samples.


 * **Sample** || **Temp (C°)** || **Light Intensity** || **Dew Point (C°)** || **Relative Humidity (%)** || **Absolute Humidity (g/m^3)** || **Soil Temp (C°)** ||
 * **1** || 17.7 || 48 || 15.5 || 85% || 14 || 20 ||
 * **2** || 19 || 57.6 || 15.8 || 83% || 13.8 || 22 ||
 * **3** || 16.6 || 57.6 || 15.9 || 87% || 14.2 || 19 ||
 * **4** || 19 || 57.6 || 16 || 88% || 14.3 || 18 ||
 * **5** || 19.1 || 38.48 || 16.3 || 88% || 14.6 || 21 ||
 * **6** || 21.3 || 44.96 || 15.2 || 73% || 13.6 || 26 ||
 * **7** || 20.5 || 44.8 || 15.4 || 77% || 13.5 || 18 ||
 * **8** || 20.2 || 44.86 || 15.9 || 78% || 14 || 20 ||
 * **9** || 20.5 || 51.27 || 15.6 || 78% || 14 || 17 ||
 * **10** || 20.6 || 19.23 || 15.8 || 78% || 13.9 || 20 ||

We found these abiotic factors using a Pasco Xplorer GLX, and it reflected that the average temperature was 19.45° C and the average soil temperature was 19.7° C. The Light Intensity averaged out to 42.4 Lux. The absolute and relative humidities were 13.9 g/m^3 and 81.5%, respectively. Also, we concluded the average dew point for our microclimate was 19.7° C.

Among the biotic factors, we discovered that there were //three very common plants// that were alive in all or most of the samples. They were **Pennsylvania Smartweed** (6/10 samples), **Buck Brush** (6/10 samples), and **Common Grass** (6/10 samples) as shown below.

Fig 7 (PA Smartweed) Fig 8 (Buckbrush) Figure 9 (Common Grass)

__Microclimate K. Edward__
In our first microclimate, //Microclimate K. Edward//, we found Pennsylvania Smartweed (See Figure 7), Common Plaintain (See Figure 4), Common Grass, (Figure 9) Small Crabgrass (See Figure 11), Common Chickweed (See Figure 12), and Knotweed (See Figure 13). This microclimate includes Sample 1-4.
 * Sample || Temperature (C) || Light Intensity (Lux) || Dew Point (C) || Relative Humidity (%) || Absolute Humidity (g/m^3) || Soil Temperature (C) ||
 * 1 || 17.7 || 48 || 15.5 || 85% || 14 || 20 ||
 * 2 || 19 || 57.6 || 15.8 || 83% || 13.8 || 22 ||
 * 3 || 16.6 || 57.6 || 15.9 || 87% || 14.2 || 19 ||
 * 4 || 19 || 57.6 || 16 || 88% || 14.3 || 18 ||

The average temperature for this microclimate was 18.1 degrees Celsius. The average light intensity was 55.2 Lux. The Lux differs in the first sample only because this sample was in the shade. The average dew point was 15.8 degrees Celsius. The average relative humidity for Microclimate K. Edward was 87.8%. The average absolute humidity was 14.1 g/m^3. The average soil temperature was 19.8 degrees Celsuis.

Figure 10 (Common Plantain) Figure 11 (Small Crabgrass) Figure 12 (Common Chickweed)

Figure 13 (Knotweed)

__Microclimate Shane__
The second microclimate, //Microclimate Shane//, contained Knotweed (See Figure 13), Wild Strawberry (See Figure 14), Buck Brush (Figure 8), and Common Grass (Figure 9).

Figure 14 (Wild Strawberry)
 * Sample || Temp (C) || Light Intensity (Lux) || Dew Point (C) || Relative Humidity (%) || Absolute Humidity (g/m^3) || Soil Temperature (C) ||
 * 5 || 19.1 || 38.45 || 16.3 || 88% || 14.6 || 21 ||

__**Mircoclimate Carol**__
The third microclimate, //Microclimate Carol//, contained Buck Brush (Figure 8), Common Grass (Figure 9), Collard Earth Star (See Figure 15), Crab Grass (Figure 11), and PA Smartweed (Figure 7).

(g/m^3) || Soil Temp (C) ||
 * Sample || Temp (C) || Light Intensity (Lux) || Dew Point (C) || Relative Humidity (%) || Absolute Humidity
 * 6 || 21.3 || 44.96 || 15.2 || 73% || 13.6 || 26 ||
 * 7 || 20.5 || 44.8 || 15.4 || 77% || 13.5 || 18 ||
 * 8 || 20.2 || 44.86 || 15.9 || 78% || 14 || 20 ||

The average temperature for Microclimate Carol was 20.7 degrees Celsius. The average light intensity was 44.87 Lux. The average Dew Point for Microclimate Carol was 15.5 degrees Celsius. The average relative humidity was 76% and the average absolute humidity was 13.7 g/m^3. The average soil temperature for this climate was 21.3 degrees.

(Figure 15 Collard Earth Star)

**__Microclimate Emily__**
The last microclimate, //Microclimate Emily//, contained Buck Brush (See Figure 8), PA Smartweed (See Figure 7), Pod of Locust (See Figure 16), Walnut Trees (See Figure 17), and Clover (See Figure 18). Figure 16 (Pod of Locust) Figure 17 (Walnut Trees) Figure 18 (Clover)
 * Sample || Temp (C) || Light Intensity (Lux) || Dew Point (C) || Relative Humidity (%) || Absolute Humidity (g/m^3) || Soil Temp (C) ||
 * 9 || 20.5 || 54.27 || 15.6 || 78 || 14 || 17 ||
 * 10 || 20.6 || 19.23 || 15.8 || 78 || 13.9 || 20 ||

__**So, Why Did We Find Our Organisms Where We Did?**__

-The majority of the plants we found (PA Smartweed, Plaintain, Chickweed, Crabgrass, and Knotweed) in our microclimates strive in moist, rich soil that is along roadways, ditches, and paths (Martin, 1972). Others, such as the Collared Earthstar and Walnut Trees prefer these conditions too (Læssøe, 1998), (Sargent, 1965). This explains why we found these organisms along our microclimates. The abiotic factor of the bus driveway provides these organisms with their ideal habitat. Pennsylvania Smartweed is one of the most common organisms in our microclimates because it thrives off the lack of competition in disturbed habitats, such as next to a roadway. (Martin, 1972). The area around the bus driveway receives a lot of disturbance due to cars driving on it, people walking, and the lawn being frequently mowed. -We found Common Plantain in //Microclimate K. Edward Mog// not only because it prefers the soil by roadways, but also because it prefers full sunlight and this area had the highest average light intensity of 55.2 Lux. (Common Plantain, Retrieved October 3, 2009 from http://www.kingdomplantae.net/commonPlantain.php). -Common Chickweed was also found in //Microclimate K. Edward Mog// because it prefers moist places and that particular microclimate had one of the highest humidity percentages (Common Chickweed retrieved on October 3, 2009 from http://www.turf.uiuc.edu/weed_web/descriptions/commonchickweed.htm). -Wild Strawberry was most likely found in //Microclimate Shane// because it prefers full or partial sunlight, and that particular microclimate was not fully in the shade of the trees, giving the Wild Strawberry its preferred sunlight conditions. (Wild Strawberry, Retrieved on October 3, 2009 from http://www.illinoiswildflowers.info/prairie/plantx/wld_strawberryx.htm). -Knotweed has a slight tolerance for salt, which explains why it was found in //Microclimate K. Edward Mog// and //Microclimate Shane//, which were the two microclimates closest to the driveway. During the winter, salt is put on the driveway to prevent freezing. When the snow melts and when it later rains, the salt is washed off the driveway and onto the land right off the side of the road making this area habitable by these plants. (2007, November. //Knotgrass//. Retrieved from http://www.gardenorganic.org.uk/organicweeds/weed_information/weed.php?id=45).

__**BIBLIOGRAPHY**__

Beal, William J.. "The Project Gutenberg e-Book of Seed Dispersal by W. J. Beal." __Main Page - Gutenberg__. 18 Oct. 2009 . "Black Walnuts On My Mind « Ranch Ramblins." __Lead Hill Farm__. 18 Oct. 2009 . Black __Common Chickweed__. retrieved on October 3, 2009 from http://www.turf.uiuc.edu/weed_web/descriptions/commonchickweed.htm __Common Plantain.__ Retrieved October 3, 2009 from [] "Common Weeds." __Welcome to Kings County__. 18 Oct. 2009 . "Environment Canada - Nature - What are alien and invasive alien species?." __Environnement Canada - Environment Canada__. 14 May 2008. 18 Oct. 2009 . "Increasing Your Knowledge About Smartweeds (Polygonaceae Family)." __Integrated Pest Management at the University of Illinois__. 1 May 2001. 18 Oct. 2009 . Leedom, Jim. "Supervisors & Staff." __The Burlington County Soil Conservation Distrcit__. 18 Oct. 2009 . "Red and Orange Wildflowers." __Northwest Ohio Nature__. 18 Oct. 2009 . "Sperry Herbarium: Woody Plants of Southeast Kansas - Buckbush, Symphoricarpos orbiculatus ." __Pittsburg State University, Pittsburg, KS__. 26 Aug. 2006. 18 Oct. 2009 . "Wildflowers 15." __Tony's Pages__. 18 Oct. 2009 . __Mushrooms__. New York : Dk Publishing, 1998. __Weeds By Alexander C. Martin; A Golden Guide; Golden Press__. new york: Golden Press, 1972. __Wild Strawberry__. Retrieved on October 3, 2009 from http://www.illinoiswildflowers.info/prairie/plantx/wld_strawberryx.htm 2007, November. //Knotgrass//. Retrieved from http://www.gardenorganic.org.uk/organicweeds/weed_information/weed.php?id=45