Using Transects

• Transects


  Lines used to help find out how organisms (like plants) are distributed across an area
• Using transects to study distribution of organisms

  1. Mark out a line in the area you want to study using a tape measure

  2. Collect data along the line by counting all the organisms you're interested in that touch the line

  3. Collect data by using quadrats placed next to each other along the line or at intervals

  4. Estimate the percentage cover of a quadrat
• Transects can be used in any ecosystem, not just fields
• Percentage cover


  Estimating the percentage area of the quadrat covered by a particular type of organism
• Measuring percentage cover in a quadrat

  • Count the number of squares covered by organism A
  • Divide the number of squares covered by organism A by the total number of squares in the quadrat (100), then multiply by 100 to get the percentage
  • Do the same for organism B