EXERCISE NO.

10
QUANTITATIVE ESTIMATION OF VEGETATION USING THE QUADRAT
METHOD

I. Introduction;
One of the most effective methods of vegetation analysis through the use of the quadrat
method. By definition, a quadrat is a sample unit or plot. It maybe a single unit or divided
into subplots. The size, shape, number of subplots, and arrangement of the quadrat are all
affected by the nature of vegetation site as well as by the specific objectives of the study. For
example, more diverse vegetation would require a larger plot. Quadrats may be square,
rectangular or circular depending on the area being sampled. By using this method, the
important parameters needed to describe plant community can be estimated and quantified.
These include density, frequency, cover, and importance value of constitutive species.
In order to accurately sample plant populations, the problem n the size and number of sample
units to be studied need to be settled first. This can be done by constructing a species-area
curve. This is obtained by plotting the number of species found in plot of different sizes
(vertical axis) against the sample size area (horizontal axis)

Objective:
Generally, the activity can be able to determine the biodiversity status of the study area by
estimating vegetation using transect and quadrat methods.
Specifically, it aims to:
1. construct transect and quadrats.
2. gather data on vegetation present(trees, shrubs and fern) in the study area
3. determine the diversity indices
4. Identify and classify the vegetation present

II. Materials:
Ruler
Meter stick or tape measure
Calibrated string
III. Procedure
A. Minimal Area and Species-area Curve
1. Locate the middle of a representative study area (preferably grassland ecosystem) and
position your 1m2 quadrat.
2. Starting with the smallest possible subquadrat (within the quadrat, about 10x10 cm),
count the number of plant species present.
3. Double the size of the subquadrat and record the number of species in this new area.
Repeat the doubling and counting steps until the number species counted at each
doubling if subquadrat size leveled off or gave no new species.
4. Plot the number of species against the quadrat size to obtain the minimal area or
species-area curve.
B. Density Estimation
1. Set up a 100meter long transect lines across the study area. Transect line of one group
must be at least 5 meters from that of the next group.
2. Transect should start one meter from the trail and extend perpendicular into the study
area.
3. At every 10 meter mark lay the quadrat and collect data, identify the plant species and
the number of individuals per species in each of the quadrats. There will be a total of
10 sampling units or quadrats for the entire study area (sample size area=100 square
meter).
4. Compute the following:
DENSITY OF A SPECIES= number of individual of sp.A
Total area sampled
RELATIVE DENSITY= number of individual of sp.A
Total area smpled X100
DOMINANCE OF A= Total area covered by a species
SPECIES total area sampled
RD= dominance for a species X100%
Total dominance of all species
FREQUENCY of A SPECIES= number of quadrats where sp. A occur
RF= frequency value for a species X100%
Total frequency for all species
IMPORTANCE VALUE= RD+RF+RDominance

IMPORTANCE PERCENTAGE= importance value

3
DATA SHEET

A. Minimal Area and Species- area curve

Area No. of species
10x10cm
20x20cm
30x30cm
40x40cm
50x50cm
60x60cm
70x70cm
80x80cm
90x90cm
100x100cm

Graph the area vs. No. of species

B. Density estimation
Species found in each sampling point (quadrat) along the 100cm transect line
Species Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q5 Q6 Q7 Q8 Q9 Q10