Abiotic Transect

Abiotics along Transect

Abiotics definition: Non-Living Factors (Bio = Life)

Transect definition:

A line transect is a straight line or narrow section through an object or natural feature or across the earth's surface, along which observations are made or measurements taken. It is a method of sampling. The belt transect method is similar to the line transect method but gives information on abundance as well as presence, or absence of species. Belt Transects can be used to measure a species of flora or fauna, or other data like human impact etc. You can combine the transect method with other fieldwork tools, such as taking quadrat data, or abiotic/soil data at different points along the transect line to establish links between changes in vegetation and the soil and air characteristics.

For this data collection, on 5th May 2020 we entered Brunswick Heads Nature Reserve. We constructed a line transect that goes East from Simpson Creek in a line towards the beach. As such it passes through an example of endangered Littoral Forest.

To create this transect DEEC:

measured out 50 m using a tape measure - East from Simpsons Creek towards the beach.
placed a transect pole along at 10 metre intervals starting with 1 in the Riparian Zone (area alongside a waterway).
took 360 photos at each of the 5 x10 m intervals.
took photos/videos of signs of life along the transect.

To the left is a carousel of images that are taken from an online digital weather site (WillyWeather ) on May 5th 2020. They give an idea of the conditions at Brunswick Heads on the day. All the data was collected between 9am and noon.

Your task is to work in each of the 10 metre plots along the transect line collecting data.

At each area (1-5) you will record the data for 6 tests:

Humidity, using a hygrometer
Air temperature, using a thermometer
Soil Temperature, using a soil probe
Soil pH, using a soil pH kit
Amount of light (LUX), using a Lux meter.
Wind speed, using an anemometer

This task correlates to page 8 in your work booklet

Humidity and Air Temp

Air temperature

Read the temperature on the dry bulb thermometer. That is the Air Temperature.

Humidity

Read the air temperature on the wet bulb thermometer. Subtract it from the reading of the dry bulb to calculate the difference.

Use the attached table to calculate the humidity - match the temperature difference across the top of the table with the air temperature down the left side.

Difference between wet and dry bulb chart

Where both columns meet is the % of air moisture or Humidity

Soil Temperature

Dig a hole with stick about 5cm deep in soil.

• Place the soil probe in the soil so that the metal stick is in the soil. Don't press hard if you meet resistance - choose a different spot.

• Take a reading after 1 minute with the thermometer still in the soil

• Record the Soil Temperature reading as °C.

Soil pH

(Measuring the acidity/alkalinity of soil)

• Place a soil sample on plastic tile, removing all vegetation and rocks

• Place 3 drops of universal indicator on the sample and mix until a pasty consistency is achieved.

• Sprinkle barium sulphate over the paste but don't mix.

• Compare the colour of the barium sulphate with the pH colour chart and record the Soil pH result.

Lux Meter

• Place scale button on x 100.

• Turn on power.

• Open lens and place light sensor upwards & flat.

• If sunny, place sensor in shade and take a reading. Then place in the sun and take a reading. Average the result and multiply this number by 100. Record your Light meter reading result in LUX.

• If overcast, any situation for the sensor is appropriate.