Microclimate-Team+6

Aditi Singh, Blaise Forcine, Erin Corry, Katie Watts
 * Our Microclimate! **


 * __Location __**

The location of our transect line was outside the top left corner of the lower tennis court. At one end of the transect line, there was a large pine tree. The transect line continued down a small descent into a more heavily wooded area, surrounded by many various shrubs and weeds. There were a cornucopia of different species of plants and insects. Despite being surrounded by both a corporate center and a high school, the area that we examined was for the most part uninfluenced by human interaction.

North: **


 * East: **


 * South: **

** West: **  Table 1 displays the overall range of the six abiotic factors measured in our microclimate. We displayed the highest and lowest of each abiotic factor because certain areas of the microclimate were covered in shade while certain areas were in the sun. This is the reason for varied measurements in the microclimate.
 * __Abiotic Factors __**

Table 1: Range of six abiotic factors measured in microclimate.
 * || Temp (°C) || Light Intensity (Lux) || Dew Point (C) || Relative Humidity (%) || Absolute Humidity (g/m³) || Soil Temp (°C) ||
 * Lowest || 17.2 || <span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic','sans-serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">25.63 || <span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic','sans-serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">15.2 || <span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic','sans-serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">72.0 || <span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic','sans-serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">13.5 || <span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic','sans-serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">17.8 ||
 * <span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic','sans-serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Highest || <span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic','sans-serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">22.6 || <span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic','sans-serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">90.84 || <span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic','sans-serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">16.9 || <span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic','sans-serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">77.0 || <span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic','sans-serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">14.8 || <span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic','sans-serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">19.1 ||

<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic','sans-serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"> The most common vegetation found in the microclimate was without competition, white pine fascicles (needles) which came from the white pine tree (Figure 6) located at the beginning of the transect line. They covered the surface of the first section of the microclimate (Figure 7) and were found in all of the rest of the microclimate. The amount of white pine needles covering the surface of the microclimate greatly affects the pH level of the soil. The most common animal life across the microclimate was leafhoppers (Figure 8). <span style="color: #00b050; font-family: 'Century Gothic','sans-serif'; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"> <span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic','sans-serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">**__ The Microclimate Breakdown __**
 * __<span style="color: #00b050; font-family: 'Century Gothic','sans-serif'; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Common Organisms __**

We chose to divide the microclimate (Figure 9) into three separate sections, which will be referred to the first, second, and third microclimate accordingly.




 * First Microclimate: ** The first microclimate (Figure 10) was located directly underneath the pine tree, which happened to be a White Pine Tree (Figure 11). The majority of the ground was surrounded by pine needles and damp soil. Despite a low amount of light underneath the tree- approximately 49.13 Lux, various types of grasses still grew underneath the tree. Also, with the large population of pine fascicles on the forest floor, the pH level of the soil was different, affecting the vegetation. There was both crab grass and lawn grass located at the trunk of the tree. Because there was a lack of sunlight, the soil was also a lot colder. The average soil temperature was approximately 18.23˚ C. Because of this, there were no mammals located at the base of the tree. However, there were many ants located on the trunk of the pine tree, primarily carpenter ants. The primary cause of the microclimate would be the White Pine tree.


 * Second Microclimate: ** The second microclimate (Figure 12) was located down a slight slope away from the umbrage of the tree. Here, there were many more small shrubs. These small shrubs were only a couple inches above the floor of the microclimate. Some of the shrubs we found were pokeweed, pigweed, mayapple, white clover, flower of an hour, and some false mallow. The ground here was still covered with a lot of pine needles, but because it was farther away from the tree, it had a higher light intensity and in turn a warmer soil temperature. The average light intensity was about 54.48 Lux and the average soil temperature was 19.45˚C. The increase in vegetation also led to a higher population of animal life. There were several beetles located around the small vegetation and many leaf hoppers.


 * Third Microclimate: ** The third microclimate (Figure 13) was located the farthest from the tree. This microclimate was defined by its many variations of vegetation. The shrubs and weeds here were a lot taller than the ones classified in microclimate 2. Most of the vegetation was about knee to waist high. There were also a lot more types of animals in this section. We spotted a red fox as well as some holes that may indicate that a groundhog or a family of smaller rodents lives there. We also found many types of insects living in the microclimate. We spotted some leafhoppers and ants, as well as some pill bugs living in the soil. Because there was a higher light intensity, 65.93 lux, there was a higher soil temperature (18.14°C). Because these abiotic factors were so, there was more vegetation and more biotic diversity. Some of the vegetation we found was pepper grass, false mallow, evening primrose, white clover, dandelion, may-apple and spikelet floret.

<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic','sans-serif';"> <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 8pt; line-height: 115%;">There were many biotic factors, or plans and animals that habituated our microclimates. In the first microclimate, however, there was the least diversity and variation among the types of vegetation found. The white pine tree was located at the beginning of the first microclimate. The white pine tree is located in habitats where there is sunlight available and can grow well on slopes. It is common tree to Pennsylvania, especially in the mountainous region (Li, 1972). The white pine tree is adapted to the first microclimate because it is located on an unshaded slope with much availability to sunlight. We focused on the area around the base of the white pine tree to make up the first microclimate. Pine needles covered the surface of most of the ground under the tree. Because the surface was covered by pine needles and was under the shade of the white pine tree, the light intensity, temperature, and soil temperature were low. The relative humidity was also low because for humidity to occur water must evaporate. This process needs sunlight which the first microclimate did not have, thus ensuring a lower relative humidity. The soil was damp and the lack of sunlight did not allow for much other vegetation to grow comfortably. Some sparse grasses like common crabgrass and law grass, were found in the first microclimate. The only reason they were able to survive in the conditions is because both can adapt to lack of sunlight and damp soil. There was a lack of biotic factors in the first microclimate because there was little to no edible vegetation located in it.
 * __<span style="color: #00b050; font-family: 'Century Gothic','sans-serif'; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">The Relationship between Abiotic & Biotic Factors __**

In the second microclimate, Pokeweed (Figure 14), one of the very abundant shrubs found in our second microclimate, grows in rich soils and clearings. The microclimate was perfect because of the much more flat area, without the trees more shallow roots to interfere with its growth; the sunlight, which is also a very important abiotic factor in the growth and health of pokeweed was also ideal in our second microclimate. Overall the temperature of the soil, the sunlight, and the ample space for pokeweed to grow in made this microclimate perfect for the plant. Mayapple was another very popular plant in this microclimate due to its necessity for moist soil and specific location which is wooded areas (Jackson, Bergeron, 2007). It needs sunlight and its ideal growing temperatures are that of our microclimate’s summer(Jackson, Bergeron, 2007). White Clover (Figure 15), a plant who’s ideal condition is that of moist soil high in phosphates and lime and grows quite fast and adapts quickly, especially to humid areas, like that of the microclimate (White Clover). Flower of an hour, similar to ​False Mallow, grows in areas with lots of sunlight and can adapt to almost any soil type (Flower of the Hour), were-of-an-which is why it adapted so well and could be found in our microclimate. Leaf Hoppers, small insects that are one of the most common vegetation-consuming species of all insects were the leafhoppers (Figure 8) which were found all over our microclimate due to the immense growth of multitudes of different plant life. This microclimate is a perfect feeding ground for leafhoppers and all other insects and vegetation-feeding animals. <span style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; font-size: 8pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">

<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 8pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">In the third microclimate there were many plants and traces of animals. Of the plants, we found Lepidium virginicum, which is also known as Common Peppergrass. This plant can be found in almost any type of condition; it grows in shady or well-lit areas, moist or dry regions, and many different types of soil ( Common Peppergrass (Lepidium virginicum). (n.d.). Retrieved October 4, 2009, from @http://www.illinoiswildflowers.info/weeds/plants/cm_peppergrass.htm). We encountered False Marrow, or Malvastrum coromandelianum, because its ideal habitat is among subshrubs ( PLANTS Profile for Malvastrum coromandelianum (threelobe false mallow) | USDA PLANTS. (n.d.). Retrieved October 4, 2009, from @http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=MACO6). The Mayapple plant was found in this microclimate because it easily adjusts to its settings. It is mostly found in deciduous forests and it was in our microclimate because it thrives under a partial canopy. It is also commonly found around the White Pine (Filyaw, T. (n.d.). Plants to Watch|Mayapple . Retrieved October 4, 2009, from @http://www.appalachianforest.org/ptw_mayapple.html). The holes we found are most likely from a groundhog. They commonly dig dens with more than one entry way, they often are found in shrubby areas (in forests or in fields near a more wooded area), and they do not borrow in swampy or rocky areas. It is also frequent that they will live in a place that may already be inhabited by another animal, like a red fox ( Groundhog Life and Habitat. (n.d.). Retrieved October 4, 2009, from @http://www.terrierman.com/lifehabitatgh.htm).





Flower-of-an-Hour. Retrieved October 4, 2009 from Flower-of-an-Hour Website: @http://www.illinoiswildflowers.info/weeds/plants/hour_flower.htm Jackson, D, Bergeron, K. (2007). Mayapple. Retrieved October 4, 2009, from Alternative Nature Online Herbal Website: @http://www.altnature.com/gallery/mandrake.htm Jackson, D, Bergeron, K. (2007). Pokeweed. Retrieved October 4, 2009, from Alternative Nature Online Herbal Website: @http://www.altnature.com/gallery/mandrake.htm Leafhoppers. Retrieved October 4, 2009, from Leafhoppers website: @http://www.inhs.uiuc.edu/~dietrich/Leafhome.html Li, Charles. __Trees.__ 1973. White Clover. Retrieved October 4, 2009, from USDA NRCS Website: @http://plants.usda.gov/factsheet/pdf/fs_trre3.pdf
 * __<span style="color: #00b050; font-family: 'Century Gothic','sans-serif'; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Works Cited __**