Do sampling methods differ in their utility for ecological monitoring? Comparison of line-point intercept, grid-point intercept, and ocular estimate methods

TitleDo sampling methods differ in their utility for ecological monitoring? Comparison of line-point intercept, grid-point intercept, and ocular estimate methods
Publication TypeConference Paper
Year of Publication2008
AuthorsGodinez-Alvarez H., Herrick JE, Mattocks M., Toledo DP
Conference NameEcological Society fo America Abstracts
Date PublishedAugust 3-8, 2008
Conference LocationMilwaukee, WI
ARIS Log Number230401
Keywordsecological monitoring
AbstractThis study compared the utility of three sampling methods for ecological monitoring based on: interchangeability of data (rank correlations), precision (coefficient of variation), cost (minutes/transect), and potential of each method to generate multiple indicators. Species richness and foliar cover by species were measured for each method on four transects (70 m) in 15 sites (three in each of five plant communities) in the northern Chihuahuan Desert. Randomized species accumulation curves and rank correlations of the three methods were conducted with these data.