2023 Salesian College Biology Field Trip to Juniper Hall

Coppiced Woodland on Lodge Hill

Aim: To investigate the factors affecting the abundance and diversity of ground flora on Lodge Hill.

Coppicing is a traditional method of woodland management. It involves periodically cutting down trees to
ground level to promote new growth. It is a sustainable wood harvesting method and increases biodiversity
in a certain area due to different sizes of vegetation. iWoodland would have different shade levels, allowing
species that rely on Sunlight to grow and increase the variety of habitat niches. ii

Hypothesis of the Investigation

The intensity of coppicing allows more lights to reach the ground flora.
Species diversity of ground flora will be highest in the area of more light intensity.

Independent Variable: Light intensity reaching the ground

Dependent Variable: Species diversity
As the other variables are difficult to controlled due to it being in a natural environment. We could only
monitor the variables.
Monitored Variables Why it needs to be monitored
Soil Temperature Different plants and animals have different tolerance to the
Air Temperature temperature. Soil and Air temperature can influence the
growth of species within the woodland.
Humidity Some plants and animals may grow better in high-humidity
environments while others are better in a drier condition.

Humidity also influences the level of moisture in the soil.

Soil moisture can affect plant growth.
Soil Depth Soil depth influences nutrient availability. Deeper soil may
have more nutrient available to a plant. iii
Leaf Litter Leaf litter accumulation could impact seedling germination
positively or negatively.iv
Time of Day Light intensity varies throughout the day due to the position
of sun.

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 At noon, the temperature would also significantly increase
compared to morning and evening time.

Factors that would affect diversity in a woodland:

Abiotic Biotic
Shade Hunting
Humidity Invasive species
Air Temperature Habitat fragmentation
Light intensity Level of disturbance
Rainfall Food availability
Soil Temperature Predation
Soil PH Competition
Soil moisture content Disease
Bare ground

Risk Assessment
Hazard Control Measure What to do if someone is injured from this
hazard
Bitting insect Use a ground cover Assess the injury and seek medical
Steep hill Wear sturdy footwear attention.
Barbed wires along the path Stay away from the barbed
wire by walking in a single
file line.
Logs and sharp branches Be observant and wear
appropriate clothing such as
long-sleeved pants.

We use random sampling to compare two habitats of different light intensity (coppiced and mature
woodland) in order to compare the biodiversity.

Method:
1. We first used a measuring tape to lay out the study area of the mature woodland.

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2. Use a table of random numbers to select two random coordinates to determine the position of the
first quadrat.
3. Place the quadrat in the designated area.

4. Record the data (soil temperature, humidity, air temperature, soil depth, plant height(if any), and
shade)

5. Repeat steps 2-4 for three times.

6. Measure the light intensity at random coordinates for three times right before we leave the mature
woodland.

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 7. Move to the coppiced woodland and lay out the study area with measuring tape.
8. Immediately measure the light intensity at random coodrinates for three times.
9. Use a table of random numbers to select two random coordinates to determine the position of the
first quadrat.
10. Place the quadrat in the designated area.
11. Record the data (soil temperature, humidity, air temperature, soil depth, plant height(if any), and
shade)
12. Identify and count any plants within the quadrat
13. Repeat steps 9-12 for three times.

Equipment Used
Equipment Needed because

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Soil temperature meter To measure the soil temperature

Silver Mirror Sheet To measure the precentage cover

by light

Temperature Humidity Meter To measure the temperature and

humidity

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 Light Meter To measure the light intensity

Ruler To measure the soil depth and

plants height

We measure the light intensity just before we leave the mature woodland and at the very beginning of the
coppiced woodland because we want to minimize the error in the data. This is because the position of the
sun and light intensity varied as time past.

Our group has obtained the following data:

Mature woodland
Humidity /%RH 69.4 64.8 63.6
Air Temperature /°C 25.7 26.8 19.2
Soil Temperature /°C 20.5 20.6 27
Soil Depth /mm 59 38 84
Percentage cover by 20 30 50
light /%
Light intensity /Lux 555 748 1221
Coppiced woodland
Humidity /%RH 67.6 57.3 58.3
Air Temperature /°C 28 29.7 30.2

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 Soil Temperature /°C 21.6 20.8 20.2
Soil Depth /mm 98 104 141
Plant Height /mm 82 117 142
Percentage cover by 40 75 30
light /%
Light intensity /Lux 3311 3019 4209

We did not count and identify any plants within the mature woodland. We have only record data in the
coppiced woodland. Therefore, it is not possible to use our measured set of data to conduct Simson’s Index
of diversity. Instead, we use the data given to us by tutors.

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i
Link to external site, this link will open in a new window, Link to external site, this link
will open in a new window, Link to external site, this link will open in a new window,
Link to external site, this link will open in a new window and Link to external site, this
link will open in a new window (2022). Effects of Different Land Use Types and Soil
Depth on Soil Nutrients and Soil Bacterial Communities in a Karst Area, Southwest
China. ProQuest, [online] p.20. doi:https://doi.org/10.3390/soilsystems6010020.

Sutton Nature Conservation Volunteers. (2014). The Ecological Benefits of Coppicing.

ii

[online] Available at: https://www.sncv.org.uk/the-ecological-benefits-of-coppicing/.

The Effects of Leaf Litter on Germination in The Serpentine Endemic Boechera

iii

constancei. (2018). Madroño, 65(4), p.159. doi:https://doi.org/10.3120/0024-9637-

65.4.159.

Cumbria Woodlands. (n.d.). Coppicing | Guidance | Working with Individuals. [online]

iv

Available at:
https://www.cumbriawoodlands.co.uk/working-with-individuals/guidance/coppicing/.