Cliff Stephen's Park

Cliff Stephen's Park 

600 Fairwood Ave,  Clearwater, FL 33759

It was a sunny, hot, and 90 degrees on September 3rd at Cliff Stephen's Park. There were minimal clouds out that day so during some of the 4 activities that we were assigned to do became very hot! Regardless of the heat, it was a great day to collect field data!

My group started off with station #4 where we figured out the density of the canopy, diameters of the trees, and the height of the tallest tree. 

We first used a densitometer to measure the density of the canopy within 30 meters. I figured it to be 63% covered. 

This was the densitometer that we used!

I had some trouble at first trying to figure out how to use the clinometer to figure out how tall the tree was, but with the help of my group and directions we all figured it out! The tallest tree was estimated to be about 19.5 ft. 

Station #1 instructed our group to take a water sample and find out the measurements of particles in the water (turbidity). We started out with our sample that came with the Vernier probes and found out that the water sample we had collected from the park was less turbid. The temperature of the sample was 89° F and the turbidity of it was 16.5. The pH of the water was very basic. We found this out by using the dipstick meter supplied to us when we compared it to the directions at an 8 pH. 

Station #3 required us to use the cruz-all to record the number of trees in each category on the device, again estimate the density of the canopy, and find the texture of the soil. Our recordings went as followed. 

Cruze-all:

5- 8 trees

10- 4 trees

20- 1 tree

40- 3 trees

Density:

90% dense

Soil: Loam

Station #2 was our final and hottest station as it was an open area test and, like I said, there were very minimal clouds that day. We used quadrants to measure coverage and abundance of plants. 

Recording are as followed.

0m- 10% leaves 4% spanish moss 86% grass

10m- 70% grass 30% clover

20m- 5% grass 15% clover 80% weeds

30m- 10% grass 10% clover 80% weeds

Overall I liked the experience that I had at the park. It was nice to be able to physically use the field tools that we talked about in class so I could have a better understanding of them.