Few Essential Field Techniques in Biology

Utpal Singha Roy1* and S. K. Mukhopadhyay2

1
Assistant Professor, Department of Zoology & P.G. Department of
Conservation Biology, Durgapur Government College, JN Avenue,
Durgapur 713214, West Bengal, India.
2
Principal, Hooghly Mohsin College, Chinsurah 712101, West Bengal,
India.

*Corresponding Author: Phone: +91-956-3790560; Fax: +91-343-

2504240; E-mail: srutpal@gmail.com

Abstract
Study of biodiversity either qualitatively or quantitatively requires
framing up of suitable research question/questions that state the
objectives clearly, application of appropriate techniques to gather data
and interpretation and representation of the obtained data to come to
a conclusion. Two of the three aspects of biodiversity studies, namely
species diversity and habitat diversity, require application of diverse
set of field techniques depending on the specific set of
question/questions to be answered. The present article intends to focus
on few most essential field techniques in biology that have gained
much importance due to their effectiveness, accuracy, ease of
application and repeatability. One of such oldest techniques of counting
plants or relatively immobile animals on areas of known size involves
quadrat counts. However, the size and shape of quadrat to be used
requires repetitive trials and certain level of expertise. Alternatively
Plotless sampling methods can be applied both for plant and animal
density estimation. Plotless sampling methods for plant density
estimation are collectively known as distance methods while for animal
density estimation line transect and point transect methods can be
applied. Species density data acquired from diverse methods can be
effectively utilized to calculate different diversity indices to reflect the
importance of individual species in a community. Community dynamics
on the other hand can be analysed by measuring resource parameters
that effectively answers the question of how organisms utilize their
environment by means of resource partitioning and leads to the idea of
niche breadth and niche overlap. Apart from conservation perspective,
estimation of biodiversity is also important for its tremendous use as
well as nonuse values. Determination of height of the tree and log
volume estimation using Hypsometer is one such essential method
that measures the direct consumptive use value of biodiversity.