Terrestrial

Sampling
Techniques
Caranto, Caraos, Media,
Red
Ecology
● Study of how organisms interact with their environment
and other organisms
● The composition of a habitat should be known in order to
make valid inferences about that specific habitat
● Sampling methods are used to gather data that
represents the area or population being studied in order
to make inferences
Quadrat Method
● Makes use of a square sample unit or plot which may be
divided into subplots
● Prevents migration errors by preventing resident
individuals from escaping and preventing other
organisms from entering the plot once it has been placed
(Gardiner & Hill, 2006)
● Size and number of plots in a quadrat should be
proportionate to the amount of flora in the sample site
Belt/Line Transect Method
● Utilizes a “transect” or a cross section of an area to be
used for recording, mapping, or studying vegetation
● Involves a set route walked by an observer at a slow
strolling pace, recording any individuals of the target
species sighted within agreed parameters (Gardiner &
Hill, 2006).
● In this experiment, a 20m long line was used
Point-Quarter
● One of the distance methods introduced by Cottam and
Curtis in 1956
● Because of its high efficiency (Lindsey et al., 1958) it has
been the most widely used of the original distance
methods (Bryant et al., 2003)
● Useful in sampling communities wherein individual plants
are widely spaced or in which the dominant plants are
shrubs or trees
Objectives
1. Be able to learn some of the methods in taking
representative samples
2. Be able to gain an accurate assessment of the
composition of the entire forest by looking at a few
samples from that forest
3. Be able to compare the three field sampling techniques
to sample tree species in an urban man-made forest.
Methodology
A. Data capture
a. Two members of the group were assigned to go to the
sampling site
b. The names of the three species were added to the first
column in the list as they are identified and reported
c. Recorder then added an “x” in the tally column for each
individual of each species
d. Number of x’s in the tally column were entered under “n” as
the number of individuals
Methodology
B. Tree identification - A list of tree species were provided in
Appendix 3

C. Quadrat Method

a. Establish a point somewhere on the baseline

b. Random number, less than 55, was chosen to represent a
distance in meters from the baseline
c. Perpendicular to the baseline, a point was randomly
established as distance from the baseline
d. Relative abundance was calculated
Methodology
D. Belt/Line Transect Method

a. Number between 0 and 60 was used and a spot was

determined on the baseline
b. 20m line was established perpendicular to the
baseline through the point
c. Relative density (RDi)
Methodology
E. Point-Quarter Method
a. Random number was selected on a point in the
baseline
b. Number less than 65 was selected and moved at a
distance in meters on a line perpendicular to the
baseline
c. End of the line will serve as the origin
d. Y-axis coinciding with a north-south axis and the
X-axis coinciding with the east-west axis
Results: Quadrat Method
Results: Belt/Line Transect Method
Results: Point-Quarter Method
Discussion: Quadrat Method
● Used to define sample areas within the study area.
● Four quadrats were surveyed and it was determined that
Carabao grass, Dita, and Tropical almond had equal
relative densities in the selected sites.
Discussion: Belt/Line Transect Method
● Used to estimate population density, size, or rate of
population change
● In this experiment, a 20m line was used to mark the
sampling area
● Carabao grass, Dita, Tropical almond, and Acacia had the
same relative densities of 25%.
Discussion: Point-Quarter Method
● Provides an estimate number of encountered species and
how often it occurs
● For this experiment, the direction of North West was
assigned to the group and the results showed that pepper
elder had the highest number
of individuals followed by, bougainvillea, then lastly by
spikemoss.
Conclusion
● Specific sampling methods cater to different sampling needs.
○ Line transect sampling determines an estimate of
population density by walking along a portion of the site,
this can determine environmental gradients or linear
patterns along plant communities.
○ Quadrats allow for defined, fixed sampling areas within
which species characters can be measured
○ Point-quadrat method is a plotless method used to provide
an estimate number of individual species encountered and
how often it occurs
References
Britannica, T. E. (2019, February 07). Ecology. Retrieved April 1, 2019, from
https://www.britannica.com/science/ecology

Bryant, D. M., Ducey, M. J., Innes, J. C., Lee, T. D., Eckert, R. T., & Zarin, D. J. (2003). Forest community analysis and the point-centered
quarter method. Plant Ecology, 175: 193-203.

Cottam G. and Curtis J.T. 1956. The use of distance measures in phytosciological sampling. Ecology, 37: 451–460.

Gardiner, T., & Hill, J. (2006). A comparison of three sampling techniques used to estimate the population density and assemblage diversity
of Orthoptera. Journal of Orthoptera Research, 15(1):45-51.

Thomson, Lex & Evans, Barry. (2006). Terminalia catappa (Tropical Almond). Species Profiles for Pacific Island Agroforestry.

Lindsey A.A., Barton J.D. & Miles S.R. 1958. Field efficiencies of forest sampling methods. Ecology, 39: 428–444.

Zaragoza, M. J. G., Aranico, E. C., Tampus, A. D., & Amparado Jr. R. F. (2016). Carbon
stock assessment of three different vegetative covers in Kapatagan, Lanao del Norte,
Philippines. Advances in Environmental Sciences - International Journal of the
Bioflux Society, 8(2): 205-220.