12.

POPULATION SAMPLING METHODS

A. INTRODUCTION

 When conducting studies on the ecosystem, samples are often taken from the ecosystem.
 There are 3 main ways of taking samples:
Random sampling
Systematic sampling: samples are taken at fixed intervals
Stratified sampling: used to study different areas within the main study
area.
 The main types of ECOLOGICAL SAMPLING TECHNIQUES include:

NON/SLOW MOVING ORGANISMS FOR MOVING ORGANISMS

[SEDENTARY]
Quadrats Capture-mark-release-recapture method
Transects
B. QUADRATS

 Quadrat sampling is most suitable for studying an unchanging/uniform ecosystem in both

terrestrial and aquatic environmnets.
 Eg. Grasslands, savannahs, sea grass beds, coral reefs

Framed quadrats Grid quadrats Point quadrats

Steps in using the quadrat

Random or systematic points in the ecosystem are chosen.

A random numbers table is used to select cordinates
Quadrat is gently placed at each location
The number of each plant/slow moving organism within the frame is counted and
recorded.
Process repeated as many times as desired
A mathematical equation is used to calculate the percentage frequency or species
diversity.

Information that can be ascertained includes:

Percentage coverage of each species in the area

Distribution of each species in the area
Density of each species
Frequency of each species
 1. PERCENTAGE FREQUENCY

Calculating percentage frequency requires a record of the number of samples and quadrats in which a
species is recorded and the number in which it did not occur.

Frequency: No. of quadrat throws where species is present X 100

Total number of quadrat throws

EXAMPLE

 An ecological study was conducted at the seashore of a Caribbean island. The study area was
60m from the upper to lower shore and 50m wide

The total area of the study was 3000m2
 Eight quadrats were placed at intervals of 5m along the length of a belt transect.
 The size of the quadrat used was 0.5m x 0.5m.

Plant species Quadrat number Total %

Frequency
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
Species 1 + + - + + + + - 6 75%
Species 2 + - + + - + + + 6 75%
Species 3 - + + - - - - - 2 25%
Species 4 + + - - - + - + 4 50%

Calculating percentage frequency

Step 1: Count the number of quadrats in which the species is present.
Step 2: Divide by the number of quadrats to get the frequency
Step 3: Multiply answer from step 2 by 100 to get the percentage frequency.

Species 1: 6/8 x 100 = 75%

_______________________________________________________

2. PERCENTAGE COVER

Calculating percentage cover requires an estimate of the percentage area occupied by each species in
each quadrat.
3. POPULATION DENSITY
EXAMPLE #1

QUADRAT # OF INDIVIDUALS
1 8
2 21
3 5
4 18
5 7
59

Population density = Total no. of individuals

No. of quadrats/Area
= 59
5
= 11.8 individuals /m2
[provided a 1m2 quadrat was used]

EXAMPLE #2

QUADRAT # OF INDIVIDUALS
1 8
2 5
3 0
4 0
5 4
6 2
7 9
8 11
9 6
10 7
53

Population density = Total no. of individuals

No. of quadrats/Area
= 53
10
= 5.3 individuals /m2
___________________________________________________________________________________________

4. POPULATION SIZE

Population size = Area being studied x density

= 30 m2 x 11.8
= 354 individuals
C. TRANSECTS

 This is a horizontal line [string, rope, cord, tape] with marked intervals [1m, 5m and
10cm placed across a transitioning ecosystem
 It is most suitable for ecosystems which change into another ecotone in both terrestrial
and aquatic environments.
 Eg. Forest into woodland into grassland

Steps in using the Transect

 Random location is chosen in the ecosystem
 The sample area is demarcated.
 The rope is marked and numbered at 0.5 or 1m intervals along its length.
 Transect line [rope] is carefully secured across the area of study.
 A pre-determined intervals any plant, stationary or slow moving organisms touching the
line are recorded.
 Process is repeated if needed.

Information that can be ascertained include

 Profile of ground
 Frequency of species
 Distribution of species

TWO types of transects:

Line transect Line transects are used to investigate a possible linear pattern along which
change in plant and animal communities is experienced.

Belt transect This method gives information on species abundance as well as presence or
absence of species.
Difference Between Belt and Line Transect
March 17, 2021 Posted by Dr.Samanthi
The key difference between belt and line transect is that belt transect uses a rectangular area centred on a
line to collect information while line transect uses a straight line to gather data.

Ecological sampling helps to understand the distribution and abundance of organisms in their environment.
During an ecological survey, sampling takes place at regular intervals within a particular habitat, over an extended
period of time. Ecological sampling methods can be random sampling or systematic sampling. In systematic
sampling, samples are taken at intervals along a line drawn across areas where there are clear environmental
gradients. There are two types of systematic sampling methods as line transect method and belt transect method.
Both line and belt transects show zonation of species along some environmental gradient.

What is a Belt Transect?

Belt transect is a systematic sampling method. It is a rectangular area centred on a line that is set across an area
having a clear environmental gradient. In other words, a belt transect can be considered as a widening of the line
transect to form a continuous belt or a series of quadrats. Hence, this method produces more data than a line
transect. This method uses a quadrat to collect data. Quadrats are placed over the line to collect the data. Once
the plants and/or animals inside the quadrat are identified, their abundance can be estimated. It also can be taken
as a permanent sampling plot to gather data for a longer period of time.

Figure 01: Belt Transect – Quadrat

Generally, belt transects provide a lot of data on individual species at different points along the line and their
range. It allows the construction of bar charts to show how the abundance of each individual species changes
within its range. Moreover, the belt transect method is useful to determine the relative dominance of species along
the line.
What is Line Transect?
Line transect is another systematic sampling method similar to the belt transect method. In the line transect, a line
is drawn across a habitat. It can be simple as a string or rope placed on the ground across a habitat. The organisms
that actually touch the line are considered in this method. Therefore, sampling is restricted only to organisms that
touch the line.

Figure 02: Line Transect

Though this method is similar to the belt transect, it produces limited information. It only shows the changes
taking place along the line. The presence and absence of species are recorded. It illustrates a particular gradient
or linear pattern along the line. The data is displayed in the form of a diagram, using symbols for different species,
which are drawn to scale. Line transect does not produce information on the relative densities of individual
species. But this method is quicker than the belt transect method.

What are the Similarities Between Belt and Line Transect?

 Belt and line transects are types of systematic sampling.
 They are similar methods.
 In both methods, a sampling line is set across the sampling area where there are clear environmental
gradients.
 Samples are taken at fixed intervals in both methods.
 The sampling intervals depend on the individual habitat, the time and effort that can be allocated to the
survey in both methods.
 Sampling can be done through the whole length of the line or at particular points along the line.
What is the Difference Between Belt and Line Transect?
Belt transect is a systematic sampling method that uses a rectangular area centred on a line set across a habitat.
Meanwhile, the line transect is a systematic sampling method that uses a straight line marked across a habitat. So,
this is the key difference between belt and line transect. Furthermore, in the belt transect method, quadrats are
sampled all the way down the transect line or quadrats are placed over predetermined intervals and sampling is
done. But, in the line transect method, sampling is rigorously confined to organisms that actually touch the line.
Hence, this is another significant difference between belt and line transect.

Moreover, the belt transect method is time-consuming. But, the line transect method is quicker than the belt
transect. Most importantly, the belt transect method will supply more data than a line transect. In addition to
these, belt transects produce data on the relative densities of individual species. But, line transects do not produce
as much information on the relative densities of individual species.
The below infographic lists more differences between belt and line transect in tabular form.

Summary – Belt vs Line Transect

In summary, the belt transect method utilizes a rectangular area centered on a line to collect data. It uses a quadrat.
The plants and/or animals inside the quadrat are identified, and their abundance is estimated. In contrast, the line
transect uses a straight line to collect data. In the line transect method, organisms that touch the line are recorded.
Moreover, the belt transect method provides information on the relative densities of individual species, while the
line transect method does not produce as much information on the relative densities of individual species.
However, in both methods, data collection can be continuous or interrupted (at regular intervals). They help to
determine a gradual change of species in a habitat. So, this concludes the summary of the difference between belt
and line transect.
D. CAPTURE-MARK-RELEASE-RECAPTURE METHOD

Used to estimate population size

Steps in using this method

 A sample of the organism under investigation is captured.

 Animals are marked in a non harmful way [ink or tag]
 Animals are released back into habitat
 After a suitable length of time, organisms are recaptured using the same method.
 Record the number of marked and unmarked individuals.
 Apply the formula for population size.

Population size = no. of individuals in first captured sample x no. of individuals in re-captured sample
No. of individuals marked in recaptured sample