Experiment 4 Lab Title :Using a point quadrat to estimate cover plant on nature.

Introduction

Point quadrat, is a device which make measurements more accurate, by making counting
distinctions more precise while estimate cover plant. A point quadrat is a device with a 0.5mlong horizontal crossbar with ten measured holes in it, and a supporting rod in the middle. A
straight object is put through each of the ten holes and used to gauge the frequency of a
particular organism. Point quadrats are 3-dimensional and therefore ideal for sampling
vegetation, which tends to grow in layers or canopies. A point quadrat consists of a frame with
10 holes which is inserted into the ground by a leg. A pin is then dropped through each of the
holes in turn, and the species that the pin touches are recorded. In this way the total number of
pins touching each species can be converted to percentage frequency data (if a species
touched 6 out of the 10 pins it is 60% frequent).
Problem Facing

: To Estimate The Cover Plant By Using Point Quadrat.

Apparatus and Materials

1. Point Quadrat

Procedures
1. One area for an experiment in one community of plant was chosen and marking by
couple of student. Along transect 5 metre or in square area 5m x5m located a point
quadrat.
2. When each pin was lowered on to canopy of cover plant ,every first species, the pin
touched was recorded. The pin was recorded as open soil if there was no species
touched by pin
3. The percentage of covers plants of each species, was estimate by calculated using
formula given
L n

x=

when

100%
Lx

percentage of cover plant of species

nx

number of species x touched by pin

number of plant touched by pin

N
4. With other s group make comparison based on result.

Result.
Species
No
Of
Quadrat

Pin

Species A
Cow Gras

Species B
Cyperusbabakensis

1.
2.
3.
2

Species C
Chrysopoganaciculatus

SpesiesC
Mimosapudica

4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
22.
23.
24.
25.
26.
27.
28.
29.
30.

Species
No
Of
Quadrat

Pin

Species A
Cow Gras

Species B
Cyperusbabakensis

31.
32.
33.
34.
35.
36.
37.
38.
39.
40.
41.
42.
3

Species C
Chrysopoganaciculatus

SpesiesC
Mimosapudica

43.
44.
45.
46.
47.
48.
49.
50.
JUMLAH

34

Result.
Species
No
Of
Quadrat

Pin

Species A
Cow Gras

Species B
Cyperusbabakensis

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
4

Species C
Chrysopoganaciculatus

SpesiesC
Mimosapudica

18.
19.
20.
21.
22.
23.
24.
25.
26.
27.
28.
29.
30.

Species
No
Of
Quadrat

Pin

Species A
Cow Gras

Species B
Cyperusbabakensis

Species C
Chrysopoganaciculatus

SpesiesC
Mimosapudica

31

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
JUMLAH
12
5

Calculation
Using Formula
L n

x=

100%
Lx

percentage of cover plant of species

nx

number of species x touched by pin

number of plant touched by pin

when

Comparison Between Exp 1 & 2 On Each Species Discovered

Type Of Species

Experiment 1
Cover plant

cover plant species

A

34
50

100

68 %

Experiment 2
Cover plant

cover plant species

A
12
50

100

24

cover plant species

B

Type Of Species

cover plant species

B

4
50

100

6
50

100

8 %

12 %

Experiment 1

Cover Plant

Experiment2
Cover Plant

cover plant
species C

cover plant
species C

2
50

100

31
50

100

4%

62 %

cover plant
species D

cover plant
species D

5
50

100

1
50

100

10 %

2%

Questions & Answers

1. By using a diagram labelling and discuss species plant that have you discovered on this
experiment. Discuss the ecology interesting characteristic they have.

Species

Characteristic

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

6.
7.
8.

Cow grass

Cyperus babakensis

Small leaves

Small Leaves dark green

monocot

monocot

Parallel vein Leaves

Food source for herbivore like cows
and goat

Parallel Vein Leaves

Flower like paddy plant longer at the
end stalk

Be planted at field , to prevent soil

erosion

Chrysopogan aciculatus

9.

10.
11.

Chrysopogan aciculatus

Mimosa pudica .

Green colour
Have long flowers stalk proven
distributed seed by wind

Small size

Flower :purple colour

12.

Flower brown -white

Can grow up between 1-15cm
compare to other grass

13.

Thorn for protection

common characterictic :grow up in moist area

2. How far your result deviation from others result for overall and gives the reason.
Only small group of student , because of that, comparison on number of density between
group not show deviation. A dominan species like species A cow grass how 68% in
first experiment and 28 % on experiment 2. 44% deviation because of soil condition
more moist and fertile at horizontal a, compare to , non-moist,non fertile area and higher
soil. While Chrysopogan aciculatus show 4% on experiment 1 and 62% on experiment 2
and others not show deviation.
3. In ecology condition why the point quadrat is not necessary and not suitable for
using
Point quadrat not necessary for the higher and huge plant. Besides that, is not necessary
for movement animal. Besides that, not necessary if the investigation plant , located on
below layer of higher plant because , because only the upper layer be counted not the
below layer
4. Explain briefly how can we test effect of point quadrat on precision estimate of
cover plant
One easy step , is marking small area of quadrat wit size like 1m x 1m with two species
inside, then first species have been touch by pin was recorded. After complete the
investigation, calculate the most less percentage then calculate the second species on the
same investigation area. Calculate the most less cover plant species and make
comparison with percentage cover plant species by using point quadrat.

5. Can the point quadrat use in sapling plant? If yes , give your explaination

Point quadrat use for sampling , small plant only. But this method , also can use for
sampling animal , in condition the animal not active and not in group. Besides that the
animal not in big sizes and higher.
Discussion
The basic concept behind these procedures is essentially the same as that of
quadrat frequency except that a point is used as the sample or sub-sample unit rather
than a quadrat. In fact, data collected with point sampling methods can be evaluated as
frequency data; i.e. the number of hits on a plant species as a percentage of the total
number of points read. However, because a point is essentially dimensionless, the data
are usually used as absolute measures of cover, basal area or whatever the criteria used
for determining "hits".There are advantages to the direct quantitative information
provided by point procedures as opposed to the relative nature of frequency data.
However, disadvantages of point sampling often out-weigh the advantages. The main
disadvantage of point procedures is the large number of sample points usually required
for an adequate sample size. Large sample sizes are required because many placements
of the point encounter no plants at all.Another disadvantage of point methods relates to
lack of repeatability over time and between observers. It is difficult to place a point
without any bias. The slightest shifting of a point may change the reading and two
observers may see it differently anyway.

References
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Norwich. (1957 printing). 223 pp.
2. Cochran, W.G. 1977. Sampling techniques. John Wiley and Sons, New York.
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pp.
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