This document summarizes a scientific paper that studied methods of vegetation analysis in a grassland ecosystem using plot and transect sampling techniques. The study found that as the sampled area increases, the number of plant species also increases, following a species-area curve. One species, Species A, was found to dominate the area based on higher values for density, dominance, and frequency compared to other species. The diversity of species in the area was calculated to be moderately diverse using Simpson's and Shannon-Wiener indices. The study demonstrated how plot and transect sampling can be used to analyze factors like species richness, cover estimation, zonation, and density in a grassland ecosystem.

1. GRASSLAND ECOSYSTEM
Methods of Vegetation Analysis using Plot Sampling
A Scientific Paper
Presented to Prof. Karyl Marie F. Dagoc
of the Department of Biological Sciences
College of Science and Mathematics
MSU-Iligan Institute of Technology
Iligan City
In Partial Fulfillment
of the Requirements in
Bio 107.2 – General Ecology Laboratory
Second Semester 2015-2016
Presented by
Mitchelle Dawn E. Paye
April 04, 2016

2. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The researcher would like to express her heartfelt gratitude to all the people, who in one
way or another have guide, assisted, and helped her in the success of this scientific paper;
To Professor Karyl Marie Fabricante - Dagoc for the guidance and help in doing the field sampling.
And above all, to the Almighty Father, for giving His strength, hope, and wisdom all throughout
the process of making this scientific paper.
Mitch

3. ABSTRACT
A grassland is a region where the average annual precipitation is great enough to support
grasses, and in some areas a few trees. The purpose of this study is to determine the species area
curve, cover estimation of vegetation, zonation and density estimation of a grassland ecosystem.
Two sampling techniques was used, plot sampling and transect sampling. In plot sampling, it used
quadrat while in transect sampling was through transect line. A 10m transect line was laid and 1
square meter quadrat was put in the area within the transect line. A series of procedure was
conducted to obtain the desired result. Results showed in the examination of species area curve
that as the area increases, the species also increases. Density of species, dominance and frequency
were computed. Using the data from the different sampling techniques on the species composition
and the number of individuals per species, the diversity index was measured or computed. It was
found that its diversity index is 0.4025. this means that the species found is diverse. The species
richness also was found to be 4 which means that the species are quite abundant.

4. INTRODUCTION
Grassland ecosystem is a biological community that contains few trees or shrubs,
characterized by mixed herbaceous or non-woody vegetation cover and is dominated by grasses
or grasslike plants. Grasslands occur in regions that are too dry for forests but that have sufficient
soil water to support a closed herbaceous plant canopy that is lacking in deserts (Encyclopedia
2002). Semenoff J. (2011) describes grassland that in both temperate and tropical grasslands, the
land is mainly flat. The soil is very rich and fertile in the temperate grassland created by the growth
and decay of deep grass roots. The tropical grassland is less rich because nutrients are removed by
occasional heavy rain. In both grasslands, strong winds may cause oil erosion.
Using plot and transect sampling as a tool in ecological research, the different factors will
be determined. It would be impossible to count all the plants in a habitat, so a sample is taken. A
tool called a quadrat is used in sampling plants. It marks off an exact area so that the plants in that
area can be identified and counted. According to Sutherland(2006), quadrats can be used to
measure density, frequency, and cover or biomass. They are used to define sample areas within
the study area. Williams C.B. (1950) stresses that the relation between the distributions of species
and individuals in the original population and in a series of quadrats depends on three variables
which are the sizes of quadrat, number of quadrats and richness of flora.
In addition, Fidelibus, M. and Aller, R.(1993) states that the appropriate size for a quadrat
depends on the items to be measured. If cover is the only factor being measured, size is relatively
unimportant. If plant numbers per unit area are to be measure, then quadrat size is critical. A plot
size should be large enough to include significant numbers of individuals, but small enough so that
plants can be separated, counted and measured without duplication or omission of individual. A
0.5-1.0𝑚2
is suggested for short grassland or dwarf heath.
The objectives of this experiment are to train the students on the principles of plot and
transect sampling as applied in ecological research, to determine the cover and density estimates,
the species area curve and the density of plant species in a grassland ecosystem, to construct a

5. zonation of diagram of a grassland ecosystem, and to be able to interpret the implication of
different combined parameters.

6. MATERIALS AND METHODS
The field study was conducted at Global Steel Field, Suarez, Iligan City for grassland
ecosystem sampling on March 12, 2016. It had a good weather condition. The grassland was easily
disturbed by humans because many events such as soccer and Frisbee are held there. The sampling
started at around 7:00am.
Figure 1. View of the sampling site, Global Steel Field, Suarez, Iligan City
The procedure was followed from the Laboratory and Field Manual of General Ecology.
A. Species Area Curve
The area to be sampled were randomly selected in a grassland ecosystem. The 10m
transect line which was calibrated per meter was laid first in the area to be sampled. Using
1𝑚2
quadrat, it was positioned to the area that corresponds to the selected grid. Starting
with the smallest subquadrat (10cm x 10cm within the 𝑚2
quadrat), the present plant
species were counted. The size of the subquadrat were then doubled and the number of
plant species within the new area were recorded. The doubling and counting steps were
repeated until the number of species counted at each doubling of subquadrat size leveled
off no new species. The number of species were plotted against the quadrat size to obtain
the species-area curve.

7. B. Cover Estimation of Vegetation
For the Direct Estimation of Top Cover, it was estimated visually for the whole
quadrat. The species were recorded to the nearest percent. The total for all species and bare
ground was equal to 100%.
For the Subquadrat Estimation of Top Cover, the percentage cover of each species
was estimated in 25 of the 100 10cmx10cm subquadrats or every fourth subquadrat. The
results were summed up and the mean was calculated to obtain an estimate of cover
percentages for the 1𝑚2
quadrat.
For the 50% method, the number of quadrats were recorded in which the species
occupies greater than or equal to 50% of the area. Since many subquadrats will contain a
species mix where no single species reach 50%, then the summed values for this method
will lie below 100%.
The Braun-Blanquet 5 Point Scale uses the following scale to visually
estimate the cover of each species and bare ground for the square meter plot.
+Very rare Less than 1%
1 rare 1-5%
2 occasional 6-25%
3 frequent 26-50%
4 common 51-75%
5 abundant 76-100%
Using the Domin Scale, the cover of each species was visually estimated
for the 1 square meter plot using the following scale:
+ A single individual
1 Scarce, 1-2 individuals
2 Very scattered, cover small less than 1%
3 Scattered, cover small 1-4%
4 Abundant, cover 5-10%

8. 5 Abundant, cover 11-25%
6 Abundant, cover 26-33%
7 Abundant, cover 34-50%
8 Abundant, cover 51-75%
9 Abundant, cover greater than 75% but not complete
10 Cover practically complete
C. Zonation and Density Estimation
The calibrated 10m transect line was laid down across the study area by
connecting each end. The number of plants (per species) which touched or physically
intercepted by the transect line was identified and counted. The plants whose aerial
foliage overlies the transect was included. Using a tape measure, the distance intercepted
by each plant was measured. Plant height was noted. The distance between the plants
were measured in a continuous manner. Begin at one end of the line, only include that
was touched by the line or those that are intercepted within 1cm strip of the line. A
zonation diagram was made by indicating the intercepted distance using brackets. Plant
height, type of substrate and depth of standing water (if present) was noted. The data
was recorded.
The following formula was used for the computation of:
Density of species = No. of individuals of a species
Total area sampled
Relative Density = Density of a species______ x 100
Total density of all species
Dominance of a species = Total area covered by a species
Total area sampled

9. Relative dominance = Dominance of a Species x100
Total dominance of all species
Frequency of a species = number of quadrats where a species occurs
Relative frequency = Frequency value for a species x 100
Total frequency of all species
For the computation of the diversity measurements, the data from the different sampling
techniques on the species composition and number of individuals per species, the diversity values
were computed using the Simpson’s and Shannon-Weinner’s indices. The equation is given below:
Simpson’s index 𝐷 = ∑ 𝑃𝑖2𝑅
𝑖=1
Shannon-Weinner’s index 𝐻′
= ∑ 𝑃𝑖 log 𝑃𝑖𝑅
𝑖=1
Where Pi is the proportion of each species out of the total number of individuals recorded.A
community software can also be used such as PAST.

10. RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS
The following data were obtained from the procedure.
Based in our data, as the sampled area increases, the number of plant species also
increases. See table below.
Subplot number Cumulative area
sampled
(𝑐𝑚2
)
Number of
Species
Number of new
Species
Cumulative
number of new
Species
1 100 2 - 0
2 200 2 0 0
3 900 2 0 0
4 1600 3 1 1
5 2500 3 0 1
6 3600 4 1 2
7 4900 5 1 3
8 6400 6 1 4
9 8100 7 1 5
10 10000 7 0 5
Table1. Data for generating species area curve.
Table 1 shows that the highest number of species in the quadrat is 7 and the lowest is 2.
Subplot numbers 9 and 10 has the highest species number. In subplot number 2,3,5, and 10 there
was no new species found which means that no additional species occurred. It is just a repetition
of the plant species found. The rest subquadrat has 1 new species. This means that only 1 species
were added in every doubling of subquadrat.

11. Figure 2. The species -area curve
The number of species found from 100𝑐𝑚2
to 2500 𝑐𝑚2
is very close and have equal
number of species in some areas. Number of species in areas 100, 200 and 900 square meters has
an equal number. However, it increases gradually starting from 3600𝑐𝑚2
to 10000𝑐𝑚2
. This
simply implied that in the beginning, only few species can be found and increases on the later part.
Based on the graph, it rises rapidly on second half part. Thus, the larger the area, the larger the
species can be found in it and increases (refer to Figure 2).
On the estimation of top cover in quadrat, species found to dominate the area compared
to rest of the species(see table below).
Species Direct
Estimation
Subquadrat
Estimation
50% Method Braun-
Blanquet
Domin Scale
A 40% 48% 6% frequent 7
B 25% 21% 14% frequent 1
C 15% 16% 3% occasional 2
D 3% 3% 0 rare +
E 7% 6% 0 rare +
F 7% 4% 0 rare 2
G 3% 2% 0 rare 1
Table 2. Estimation of top cover
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
0 2000 4000 6000 8000 10000 12000
NUMBEROFSPECIES
AREA (CM2)

12. It can be deduced that Species A dominated the whole area in the quadrat compared to the rest of
the species. Species D, E, F, and G in 50% method doesn’t mean that there were no species being
observed. It only implies that the mentioned species did not reach 50% in all the subquadrats since
it was mixed and other species occupied the bigger space in the subquadrat (see Table 2).
The zonation diagrams below are constructed using the data collected for the zonation
and density estimation (see Appendix A).
Figure 3.1. Zonation diagram of plant species showing intercepted length covered by each plant
(SIDE VIEW)
Figure 3.1 shows the zonation of each plant species in side view. It is depicted from the
figure that species 1 dominated the area. Species distance between 1-2 and 2-3 are quiet far from
each other.
Figure 3.2. Zonation diagram of plant species showing intercepted length covered by each plant
(TOP VIEW)
Species 1 Species 2 Species 3 Species 4 Species 1
Species 1 Species 2 Species 3 Species 4 Species 1

13. Figure 3.2 is similar to Table 3.1 which shows the domination of species 1.
Species Density Relative
Density
Dominance Relative
Dominance
Frequency Relative
Frequency
Importance
Value
A 2.3/𝑚2 57.5% 0.66 66% 2 40% 163.5
B .9/𝑚2 22.5% 0.17 17% 1 20% 59.5
C .5/𝑚2 12.5% 0.07 7% 1 20% 39.5
D .3/𝑚2 7.5% 0.1 10% 1 20% 37.5
Total 4/𝑚2 100% 1 100% 5 100% 300
Table 3. Summary of data for density estimation
Based on the table above, it resulted that species A has the highest value compared to the
rest of the species. It can be clearly seen in the table that Species A has the highest density
estimation. In addition, the relative frequency of species B,C, and D is twice smaller that species
A. it can be inferred that Species A dominated in the sampling area selected.
Based on the collected data, it was computed using Simpson’s and Shannon-Weinner’s
indices for measuring diversity with the formula
𝐷 = ∑ 𝑃𝑖2𝑅
𝑖=1 ; Where 𝑃𝑖 is the proportion of each species out of the total number of
individuals recorded.
It was found that its diversity index is 0.48 which means that the species found were
diverse since it is quite far from 0 that means no diversity between the species. The species
richness of the area is 4.

14. CONCLUSION
This study uses two important sampling techniques, the Plot sampling and Transect
sampling. Plot sampling is very important in vegetation analysis. Using quadrats and transect line,
the species area curve, the cover and density of plant species were determined. The zonation also
of plant species were constructed showing intercepted length covered by each plant. Based on the
results, the smallest number of species found sing quadrat was 2 and the highest is 7. It can be
concluded that as the sampled area increases, the number of species found increases. Thus, area is
directly proportional to the number of species occurred.
In the cover and density estimation of vegetation, it was found that there is species
dominates the area being sampled compared to other species. Some of the species were comprise
only a very small amount of the area. This can be due to the competition of nutrient and other
factors of the different species.
The species in the area being conducted is diverse. Also, the species richness is directly
proportional to the area.
Errors are inevitable especially in the counting of species included in the quadrat so
careful counting must be taken in consideration.

15. APPENDIX
Raw data for Species Area Curve
Subquadrat Number of Species
1x1 2
2x2 2
3x3 2
4x4 3
5x5 3
6x6 4
7x7 5
8x8 6
9x9 7
10x10 7
Raw data for Subquadrat Estimation of top cover
Species 1st subquadrat
(%)
2nd subquadrat
(%)
3rd subquadrat
(%)
4th subquadrat
(%)
A 44 43 43 63
B 24 15 26 17
C 16 32 16 0
D 6 2 2 2
E 6 5 5 9
F 4 3 4 5
G 0 0 4 4

16. Raw data for density estimation
Species Number of Individuals Height (cm)
A 23 25
B 9 85
C 5 7
D 3 77

17. LITERATURE CITED
Aller, R. & Fidelibus M. (1993). Methods for Plant Sampling.
Semenoff, J. (2011). Grassland. 10.
Sutherland, W. J. (2006). Ecological Census Techniques: A Handbook. Cambridge University
Press.
Williams, C. B., 1950. The application of the logarithmic series to the frequency of occurence of
plant species in quadrats. Journal of Ecology, 38: 107-138