Ecological Sampling Techniques Guide
Uploaded by
ScribdTranslationsEcological Sampling Techniques Guide
Uploaded by
ScribdTranslationsLA SALLE UNIVERSITY, A.C.
Faculty of Chemical Sciences
Subject: Ecology
Key: IN042215
Career: AI
Practice 3: Introduction to Sampling Techniques In effect: 2017
in ecological systems
Written by: Reviewed and Approved by: Replace with:
Ms. Luisa Fernanda Mr. Adalberto Jury
Escobar Alvarado Hernández Next review:
2018
3 hours
Introduction
Through fieldwork focused on ecology, it is possible to obtain
information about the structure and composition of a population, community and
ecosystem, as well as the interactions of these with various factors, biotic and
abiotic factors, in addition to the impact of human activities on flora and fauna.
The study of an ecological system must begin with a series of samples as much
representative possible so it is necessary to determine the type of sampling
develop, choose an appropriate place for sampling, and data collection, its
ordering and its analysis.
When the system is small, it is much easier to study all the
members of this one, but when it is very large, it is complicated to study it in its
totality, which is why only a sample is integrated. A sample is a small group
of individuals taken from a population. The size of the sample depends on the
magnitude of the population, of the variability and of the nature of such population.
The larger the sample size, the more reliable the result will be and the smaller it will be.
probability of error. With the data obtained from the sampling, it can be analyzed,
among others, the following parameters:
Density: number of individuals expressed per unit area or volume. The
relative density refers to the number of individuals of a species expressed as
a proportion of the total density of all species. Sometimes it
they present problems in the determination of individuals, especially in the strata
herbaceous, where some individuals grow in groups (clone) or are
they reproduce vegetatively in the form of rhizomes or stolons, and the concept of
the individual raises doubts, then, they proceed to count the sprouts (apices) or the
individual stems; if the plants grow in the form of clones, we account for the entire clone
as a unit and is treated as an individual. Density can also be
represented in terms of biomass.
Density of a species = Number of individuals of a species / Area
sampled
Relative density = (Density of a species / Total density of the species) x
100
The frequency is the number of times a species occurs in different places.
samples. The relative frequency refers to the occurrence of a species, expressed
as a proportion of the total frequency of all species.
Frequency = Number of occurrences of a species / Total number of sites
sampled
Relative frequency = (Frequency of a species / Total frequency of the
species) x 100
The dominance is the area covered by the leaf extension of the plant (coverage). The
relative dominance is the proportion of the dominance of one species compared
with the total dominance of all species.
Dominance = Coverage of a species / Sampled area
Relative dominance = (Dominance of a species / Total dominance of the
species) x 100
The importance value is an index that expresses the sum of the measurements.
related to a species, it has a range of 0 to 300%, this value provides an estimation
of the influence or importance of plant species in the community.
Importance Value = Relative Density + Relative Frequency + Dominance
relative
Due to the complexity of the environment, no method or technique alone can provide us
will provide all the necessary information about the population or community that us
of interest. For this reason, the application of various techniques becomes necessary
sampling.
SAMPLING METHODS
There are various methods, which depend on the type of community desired.
to study, among the most used we have:
Embedded frame method. This method is the most commonly used for analysis.
quantitative of the vegetation, consists of the use of plots of size
standard that varies according to the type of stratum to be sampled, the type of system
ecological and the objective of the study.
The quadrants must be large enough to contain a number
significant of species, but small enough for individuals
can be separated, counted and measured without confusion. According to the stratum, it
suggest an area of:
2
Herbaceous 1 m
2 2
Shrubby 10 m to 20 m
2
Tree 100 m
The placement and number of sites to be sampled can be done in
systematic or random. In systematic sampling, the sampling points
they must remain equidistant from each other, the distance is determined depending on the
type of community to sample. Random sampling takes into account that all the
individuals have the same chance of appearing in the sample.
Quadrants with a central point. It consists of plotting a point on the site.
selected and, on it, draw two lines in the form of a cross, with the help of a
cord, so that four squares remain in defined directions. In each square
the closest tree and shrub species to the crossing point are recorded,
they measure the distances of these species to the crossing point and the height is measured,
coverage and diameter of each species. This method provides good
information with few sampling points; the accuracy of this method increases
with the number of sampled points, a minimum of 20 points is proposed for
that the sampling is representative.
With the obtained data, the following parameters can be analyzed: average area,
absolute and relative density, absolute and relative dominance, absolute frequency and
relative, and value of importance and diversity index.
Transect method. This method is applied when the vegetation or the
floristic composition is distributed along an environmental gradient, it is
to say, where a clear transition of vegetation is observed, and consists in aiming
a line in the study area. Great care must be taken in the choice of the
line, it is better to start where there are many evident changes in the vegetation. The
a line is marked on the ground with a cord or with a plastic tape. The study of
The field of plants and animals should be supplemented with a study of factors.
environmental.
There are several types of transects, including:
In a strip. It is a long strip of land, where a count takes place and
measurement of all individuals that are inside, this strip can
to be divided and worked on as quadrants.
Line-interception. It is a line drawn through the community,
intercepting various individuals below the line or next to it, the data that
we can obtain are: number of individuals, frequency of occurrence, and extent
linear.
The parameters that can be evaluated with this method are: relative density,
dominance
and total coverage percentage.
Objective:
Know the main methods of vegetation sampling and apply them in the field.
the quadrant method to obtain data that allows to describe the structure
and composition of the ecological system to be studied.
Materials and reagents:
1 bottle of 500 mL
1 compass
1 tape measure
1 tape measure
16 wooden stakes
2 ropes of 20 m (with marks every 4 m)
12 ropes of 4 m
20 meters of cord
6 plastic bags of 30 x 25 cm.
1 pack of adhesive labels
Masking tape
Botanical press
Cardboard for the press
Newspaper paper
Notebook and pencils
Indelible marker
Garden scissors
Garden spade
Procedure:
This practice will take place in a national park in CMDX.
Sampling of vegetation
Two sampling areas are selected, one sufficiently preserved and another.
that have signs of disturbance. Rectangular plots of 20 x 4 m will be worked on,
The size and number of samples will depend on the characteristics of the terrain.
total of the teams in the group, one half will work in a conserved area and the other
half will work in a disturbed area.
Delimitation of the sampling area. The plot will be marked with a cord that will
it will be fixed with stakes in the following way:
a) Extend a 20 m string in a straight line, marked every 4 m, and
Secure it with stakes.
b) At each mark, draw a right angle with a 4 m rope
c) Stretch a rope on the obtained perpendiculars and close it
frames with another 20m cord
In the first 4 frames, a census is taken of the number of individuals per species and
the coverage of trees and shrubs is measured. To obtain the coverage of trees, one
measure the shadow that the tree canopy casts on the ground. For the
bushes, the length of the foliage is measured in a cross shape and the average is recorded
of those two measures.
Three specimens of each species are collected and placed in the press, both arboreal
as shrubs, seeking for the samples, preferably, to have flowers and fruit.
Write on a label: the collection date, the locality, the quadrant number
where it was collected and the number of the collecting equipment.
2
The last square is subdivided into 1 m squares, using cords of 4.
they are numbered, and in these the census of herbaceous species is carried out (number of
different individuals). Coverage is measured by calculating the percentage of the surface.
of the soil that covers each species.
Collect and press three specimens of the species found.
preference with flower and fruit, with their respective labels.
Soil fauna sampling
Choose, at random, a point within the sampling squares, making sure that it does not
has been altered during the vegetation sampling. With the can or the jar of
500 mL take two samples of leaf litter and place them in a plastic bag.
Close the bag and stick a label that contains the following data: locality,
collection date, vegetation characteristics and collector team number.
With the bucket or the can, take a soil sample in the following way: bury
completely the can inverted on the ground and excavate to be able to take it out,
using a garden shovel or a pickaxe, empty the sample into a bag of
plastic, close the bag and stick a label containing the data and capacity
from the can. In the laboratory, identify the different species of fauna and the
total number found.
Results:
Present a table with the plant species found. Present the values.
of density, frequency, and absolute and relative dominance of the species
predominant.
Analysis of results and discussion:
Based on the documentary research conducted, prepare a diagnosis of the area.
of the study. Discuss, based on the diagnosis made, about the importance of
the sampling methods in the knowledge of plant communities and
animals.
Conclusions:
Conclude on the ecological importance of the study area and the effects of the
human activities on that ecosystem.
References:
Bennet, D. P. and D. A. Humpries (1981). Field Ecology. Blume Publishing.
Franco López Jonathan
IPN-UPIBO (2017). Laboratory practice manual of Ecology, extracted from
The input does not contain any translatable text.
%20laboratory%20practices%20of%20ecology/Manual%20of
%20pract.%20%20Ecology-Of_Practices.pdf
