A) Line transect
This method uses a rope marked at 0.5 or 1 m intervals. The rope is placed
straight along a selected vegetation community, and is often used to study
the transition of plants along an environmental gradient.
From one end of the transect to
another end, the presence of plants is noted at suitable
intervals along the transect. This interval maybe adjusted
to suit the communities to be studied. For example, in
dense vegetation only those plants touching the line at
the 1 m markers are noted, whereas in less dense vegetation
only those touching the line at 0.5 m markers. In extreme
cases, such as those with spare vegetation, every plant
touching the line will be recorded.
The height and canopy width of each plant is measured. Other parameters
such as diameter of the trunk at breast-height and level of first branchings
maybe noted, depending on the aims of the study.
The plants recorded are to be mapped in a vertical
profile along the environmental gradient.
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