Measuring Abundance
Radom sampling and transects with
quadrats gives us a measure of
abundance.
Abundance is the number of
individuals of a species within a given
space.
It can be measured in several different
ways.
Measuring Abundance:
Frequency Is the likelihood of a particular species
occurring in a quadrat.
This method is useful when a species
is hard to count e.g. grass.
Advantage: gives a quick idea of
species present and their general
distribution.
Disadvantage: does not provide
information on density and a detailed
distribution.
Measuring Abundance:
Percentage Cover
Is an estimate of the area within a quadrat that a particular species covers.
Useful when a species is abundant or difficult to count.
Advantages: data can be collect rapidly. Individuals need not be counted.
Disadvantage: Less useful where organisms occur in overlapping layers e.g. plants.
When measuring abundance you
must remember to:
Use a large sample size.
Calculate a mean
Why?
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