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Belt transect

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Belt transects are used in biology, more specifically in biostatistics, to estimate the distribution of organisms in relation to a certain area, such as the seashore or a meadow.[1][2]

The belt transect method is similar to the line transect method but gives information on abundance as well as presence, or absence of species.[3][4]

Method

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The method involves laying out a transect line and then placing quadrats over the line, starting the quadrat at the first marked point of the line.[5] Any consistent measurement size for the quadrat and length of the line can be chosen, depending on the species. With the quadrats applied, all the individuals of a species can be counted, and the species abundance can be estimated.[5] The method is also suitable for long-term observations with a permanent installation.[6]

References

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  1. ^ Hill, David Arnold; Matthew Fasham; Graham Tucker; Michael Shewry; Philip Shaw (2005). Handbook of biodiversity methods: survey, evaluation and monitoring. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press. pp. 219–222. ISBN 0-521-82368-4. OCLC 61439712.
  2. ^ Fan, Jihui; Liu, Tianyuan; Liao, Ying; Li, Yiying; Yan, Yan; Lu, Xuyang (2021). "Distinguishing Stoichiometric Homeostasis of Soil Microbial Biomass in Alpine Grassland Ecosystems: Evidence From 5,000 km Belt Transect Across Qinghai–Tibet Plateau". Frontiers in Plant Science. 12: 781695. doi:10.3389/fpls.2021.781695. ISSN 1664-462X. PMC 8675581. PMID 34925425.
  3. ^ Ecological Sampling Methods
  4. ^ Urban Sampling Methods - Barcelona Field Study Center
  5. ^ a b "How to carry out ecological sampling page 4". www.countrysideinfo.co.uk. Retrieved 2022-11-03.
  6. ^ "Difference Between Belt and Line Transect". Compare the Difference Between Similar Terms. 2021-03-17. Retrieved 2022-11-03.