using Quadrats

• How do you do the quadrat practical?

  • place a 1m2 quadrat on the ground at a random point with the first sample area - helps make sure you get results which are representative of the whole sample area
  • count all the organisms your interested in within the quadrat
  • repeat step 1 and 2 multiple times
  • work out average number of organisms per quadrat within first sample area
  • repeat step 1 to 4 in second sample area
  • compare the 2 averages
• how do you use a belt transect for distribution across habitat?

  • mark out a line in the area you want to study
  • collect data along line using quadrat placed next to each other - transect quite long - place quadrats at regular intervals - count all organisms of species your interested in or estimate percentage cover
  • record other data e.g. mean height of plants you're counting on or the abiotic factors in each quadrat
  • plot graph to see changing abiotic factor is correlated with a change in distribution of species your studying