Accurate determination of vegetational change in meadows by successive point quadrat analysis

✍ Scribed by Stampfli, A.

• Publisher: Springer-Verlag
• Year: 1991
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 1015 KB
• Volume: 96
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 1573-5052
• DOI: 10.1007/bf00044979

✦ Synopsis

The point quadrat method can be used for determination of vegetational change in meadows of great species diversity. An appropriate sampling technique is described comprehending an apparatus of high rigidity and a shelter to keep off wind and rain. Sample size related to sampling time expense affects the number of species recorded and methodical error which is empirically determined by repetitive sampling. A setup of fixed points leads to higher accuracy than random sampling. When methodical error is quantitatively known, significant vegetational change can be detected by sampling at successive times.

For fluctuation studies of plant populations in meadows the point quadrat technique should be preferred to visual estimates of plant cover because of its higher accuracy.