Global Information Systems Analysis of Changes in Temporal Flowers Distribution, by Species, Across the Biology Trail System of Southern Adventist University in Collegedale, Tennessee

The White Oak Mountain Biology Trails, located in Collegedale, Tennessee, is a recreational site for hiking and mountain biking. The impact of trail usage on native wildflower species is not known. The goal of this research is to begin a longitudinal study of the impact of trail usage on the diversity and abundance of wildflower. The wildflowers diversity were determined by students walking the Biology Trails System and reporting the different species of flowers that they see. Ten permanent quadrants were established to document the wildflowers abundance. Flowers in each of ten permanent quadrants were identified and counted. Additional data collected includes ambient temperature, light intensity and soil moisture. Fifty-eight species of wildflowers were reported. One was not able to be identified. The information gather from this longitudinal study will allow us to make prediction of population shifts and analyze the effects of trail usage and other environmental factors on the wildflowers population