Transcript No Slide Title

Plant Sampling Techniques
Warning!
• Lab lectures will be included on Lecture Exam
#1!
Sampling: Why?
Accuracy vs. Precision
• Accuracy:
• Precision:
Accuracy vs. Precision
Standard deviation
Sampling
• Choosing technique depends on:
Importance
• Often want to know how “important” plant
species are in area
• 3 measures importance (sp. A)
– Density of A =
– Frequency of A =
– Cover of A =
Focus on Cover
• Many ways to get cover (biomass) data:
Focus on Cover
• Many ways to get cover (biomass) data:
Focus on Cover
• Many ways to get cover (biomass) data:
Focus on Cover
• Many ways to get cover (biomass) data:
• 5) Trees:
Focus on Cover
• Many ways to get cover (biomass) data:
• 6) Trees: DBH
Other Challenges
Importance
• IV= Rel. density + Rel. frequency + Rel. cover
• <300%= < 100% + < 100% + < 100%
Sample Techniques
• 1) Quadrat methods
• a) Shape?
Quadrat Method
Quadrat Method
Quadrat Method
Quadrat Method
• c) Number?
• Suggestions include:
Belt Transect Method
2m
2m
Environmental gradient
2m
2m
4 species: A = red, B = turquoise, etc.
Belt Transect Method
• Density of A =
• Frequency of A =
• % Frequency of A =
2m
2m
4 species: A =red, B= turquoise, etc.
Belt Transect Method
• Cover of A: Assume we visually estimate
covers of each species in each unit of transect
• Values for A:
• 10%, 15%, 15%, 10%, 0%, 10%, 5%, 5%, 10%, 10%
2m
2m
4 species: A =red, B= turquoise, etc.
Belt Transect Method
• Do density, frequency, cover calculations for
all other species (B, C, D)
IV= Rel. density + Rel. frequency + Rel. cover
For sp. A:
Rel. density =
Rel. frequency =
Rel. cover =
2m
2m
4 species: A =red, B= turquoise, etc.
Belt Transect Method
Plotless lab
Quadrat lab
Line Intercept Method
Scrub in Australia
Line Intercept Method
• Cover:
• Cover frequency:
• Density?