Bio Assignment


sampling site more important than the other for conservation?
The data from the first 20 quadrats are:
Site id Pinus banksiana Thuja occidentalis Dasiphora fruticosa
A 1 1 1
A 0 0 1
A 1 1 1
A 0 0 1
A 0 0 1
A 1 1 1
A 1 1 1
A 0 1 1
A 1 1 1
A 0 0 1
B 0 0 1
B 0 1 1
B 1 1 1
B 0 1 1
B 1 1 1
B 0 1 1
B 1 1 1
B 1 0 1
B 1 1 1
B 1 1 1
3. One of the key species in this community, jack pine, may be impacted by climate
change in Ontario. In his undergraduate thesis, Gary Whelan examined climate
factors that may affect jack pine growth. I have provided digital versions of data
from his thesis on tree volume (Appendix 1.1. Average provenance volumes (dmˆ3);
saved as “Whelan2020volumes.csv”) and various climate factors (Appendix 1.11.
Climatic variables for each provenance at Fraserdale from 1971-2000; saved as
“Whelan2020Fraserdaleclimate1971-2000.txt”).
a. Using the data provided, plot the tree volume at the Fraserdale site vs the average
minimum winter temperature (named “Tmin_wt”). Remember to check that your
data import has been successful.
b. Using a linear regression, determine if a linear function adequately characterizes
the relationship between tree volume and minimum winter temperature.
c. What evidence supports or fails to support your claim?
d. Superimpose the fitted regression line on your data plot.
e. Using your plot and regression, provide a description of the niche of jack pine with
respect to minimum winter temperatures.
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4. Your alvar community data was only provided to you as a .pdf. I converted the data
from Whelan (2020) for you, but this was also provided only as a .pdf by the author.
Describe any difficulties you experienced as a result of this data format.
Literature cited
Whelan, G. (2020). Jack pine fitness under current and future climate (Undergraduate
Thesis). Faculty of Natural Resources Management, Lakehead University, Thunder Bay,
Ontario.
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