EVALUATION OF METHODS FOR ESTIMATING VEGETATION COVER IN A SIMULATED GRASSLAND SWARD

Authors
Citation
M. Fenner, EVALUATION OF METHODS FOR ESTIMATING VEGETATION COVER IN A SIMULATED GRASSLAND SWARD, Journal of Biological Education, 31(1), 1997, pp. 49-54
Citations number
5
Categorie Soggetti
Education, Scientific Disciplines","Biology Miscellaneous
ISSN journal
00219266
Volume
31
Issue
1
Year of publication
1997
Pages
49 - 54
Database
ISI
SICI code
0021-9266(1997)31:1<49:EOMFEV>2.0.ZU;2-E
Abstract
Estimating cover is a common method used in the field to measure the r elative contribution of species in a plant community. This paper descr ibes a practical class in which a photographic 'mock-up' of a grasslan d sword is used to investigate and quantify the effectiveness of a ran ge of techniques. The results show thai the commonly used methods diff er greatly in their accuracy, variability, and efficiency, and that pl ant species differ in the ease with which they can be assessed. The ex ercise provides students of ecology with an introduction to the issues which arise in field estimates of cover.