Measuring distribution of organisms

• Random - quadrats

  1. quadrats is places randomly (random number generator for co-ordinates) in a habitat
  2. count the number of organisms in the quadrats
  3. measure the number of organisms in an environment
  4. sample the area 10 times and calculate the mean (use large area - increase accuracy)
• Total population size = total area X number of organisms of species in sample
• Regular intervals - Transects

  • measure a change in species distribution along a set line
  • placed in regular intervals - parallel to one before