Permanent Transects and Quadrats

Where it is felt important to monitor change in a particular location within a site, permanent, relocatable quadrats may be set up. These can be placed randomly or systematically along a transect (see picture below). This approach was used in assessing conflicts in coastal conservation Orfordness (Fuller & Randall 1988). In this study 10 relocatable vegetation transects were positioned to include all 5 shingle plant communities previously recorded and 45 10 x 10 m quadrats were recorded at the middle point of each vegetation zone. Presence/absence and species' percentage cover were recorded along with pebble size, litter type and disturbance. Ridges and lows were treated separately. Subsequently a continuous ribbon of 2 x2 m quadrats was run across the widest part of Orfordness spit to record the plant communities that were previously heavily disturbed within an old Ministry of Defence fenceline.

Caption: Transect survey Orfordness using quadrats. The location of the transect (3.5) is shown in Picture below.

This work helped to elucidate the essential conditions for plant growth on the 'inhospitable' shingle substratum. All these can be the basis of long-term monitoring programmes. Permanent sample plots must have their location marked on the ground or tied in to some permanent marker that can be relocated with accuracy. 'Permanent' may mean a season, a year or even a decade or more. Permanent quadrats may be constructed as 'exclosure quadrats' if grazing interference is to be avoided.

References

Fuller, R.M. & Randall, R.E. 1988. The Orford Shingles, Suffolk, UK - classic conflicts in coastal management. Biological Conservation, 46., 95-114.