Application of Biotic Sampling Techniques on a Specified Rectangular

Plot in Silliman University

Introduction

A quadrat is an instrument used for measuring the density of a species that have
discovered in the sampling area. It may be possible to count the number of organisms of a
specific species in the given sampling area but, in most circumstances, it would be possible to
count all of the species in the area.

Quadrats are usually in the shape of squares, circular or rectangular portions of sufficient
size that used are randomly arranged in the sampling area. The presence or absence of the
species can be determined inside the quadrat. Its number of species or the percentage covered
can be calculated within the quadrat because the quadrat is used to gather data on certain species
within the sampling area.

Objectives

The study sought to find out the density of the species and the different kinds of species
that exist in the sampling area by using quadrat sampling and observing the changes in the area.
To determine the relative density and relative frequency of the species.

Methods

The sampling area was held at Silliman University in the center of the Science Complex
and Nursing building. A transect line has been used in measuring the area in which the length
was 30.39 meters and the width is 13.33 meters. We used the quadrat to determine the number
and kinds of species that exist in the sampling area, where there are 21 quadrats to determine the
kinds of species. In determining the number of quadrats, we used 5% - 10% of the area to
determine how many quadrats we will use.
Locale of the study

The study has been conducted at Silliman University in the center of the Science
Complex and College of nursing building.
 Legend

Species

Fungi

Grass

Herbs

Moss

Shrub

Vines

Fern

https://drive.google.com/drive/mobile/folders/1iY45DfKYecP1kw4EwZVL_nvMZ80wu4_3?
usp=sharing - the link shows all the pictures of the quadrat and the different kind
of species.
 Table 1. Species Density Within Area Quadrat

Species Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q5 Q6 Q7 Q8 Q9 Q10 Q11

Fungi 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Grass 0 0 47 35 14 7 23 24 35 1 15

Herbs 201 15 57 67 57 135 142 138 59 95 127

Moss 0 134 36 0 0 0 9 0 49 49 2

Shrub 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Vine 0 4 3 10 2 0 0 0 1 0 2

Fern 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Total 201 156 143 113 73 142 165 162 144 145 146

Con’t.
Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 Q19 Q20 Q21 Average Relative
Density

0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0.09524 0.00072

14 23 28 160 16 91 5 26 69 0 30.14286 0.22664

69 68 6 62 40 141 117 97 24 4 81.95238 0.61618

0 35 0 0 9 0 4 0 0 0 15.57143 0.11708

12 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 12 1.28571 0.00967

0 13 30 8 0 0 1 1 7 0 3.90476 0.02936

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.04762 0.00036

95 139 64 230 65 232 142 124 100 16 133 1

Table 1. Species Density Within Area Quadrat

The results show there are 7 different kinds of species in the area which are fungi, grass,
herbs moss, shrub, vine, and fern. There are 15 fungi, 633 grass, 1,721 herbs, 327 moss, 27
shrub, 82 vines, 1 fern, and a total of 2,806 plant species that have been found in the quadrats.
 To get the total average of each plant, sum it all to get the results then divide it into how
many replicates of quadrats you have gotten. The total average of the fungi is 0.09524, in the
grass is 30.14286, in herbs is 81.95238, in moss is 15.57143, in the shrub is 1.28571, in the vine
is 3.90476, in fern is 0.04762 which the total average to all plants results to 133.

To get the relative density of each species, divide the the average of each species to the
sum of all average. The relative density of fungi is 0.00072, in grass is 0.22664, in herbs is
0.61618, in moss is 0.11708, in shrub is 0.00967, in vines is 0.02936 and in fern is 0.00036. To
get the total relative density, sum all of the values where the result should be 1.

The table shows there are a lot of herbs in the area rather than the other species that exist.
There are a lot of number of herbs which is 1721 in total than the other species. It shows the
sampling area is more abundant in herbs rather than fungi, grass, moss, shrub, vines and fern.
The table also shows that small number of ferns in the area because the number of fern is 1. It
shows ferns are rarely would grow in the area.

Species Frequency Relative Frequency

Fungi 15 0.00534568781

Grass 633 0.2255880257

Herbs 1721 0.6133285816

Moss 327 0.1165359943

Shrub 27 0.00962223806

Vine 82 0.02922309337

Fern 1 0.00035637918

Total 2806 1
Table 2. Species Frequency

In total frequency we have 15 fungi, 633 grass, 1721 herbs, 327 moss, 27 shrubs, 82

vines, and 1 fern, a total of 2806 species in the random sampling quadrat. To get the relative

frequency we have divided the total number of each species by the total number of all species. In

fungi, there 15 fungi and the result is 0.00534568781, in grass, there is 633 and the result is

0.2255880257, in herbs, there is 1721 and the result is 0.6133285816, in moss, there are 327 and

the result is 0.1165359943, in shrub, there is 27 and the reult is is 0.00962223806, in vine, there

is 82 and the result is 0.02922309337, in fern, there is 1 and the result is 0.00035637918. To get
the relative frequency we have sum all the relative frequency of each species so the total relative

frequency of all species is 1.

Literature

Bichuette, M. E., Simões, L. B., Schimonsky, D. M., Gallão, J. E. (2015, September).

Effectiveness of quadrat sampling on terrestrial cave fauna survey - a case study in a Neotropical
cave. Retrieved from
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/284720968_Effectiveness_of_quadrat_sampling_on_te
rrestrial_cave_fauna_survey_-_A_case_study_in_a_Neotropical_cave

Hao L, Qingdong S, Imin B, Kasim N (2020). Methodology for optimizing quadrat size in sparse
vegetation surveys: A desert case study from the Tarim Basin. PLoS ONE 15(8): e0235469.
Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0235469

Malmesbury Education (2019, June 5). Sampling with quadrat - GCSE Biology Required
Practical. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RhMOCxXcDrQ
Appendices

BIO 23 - A Group #1

Leader: Albina, Francis Roy

Members: Lado, Nica Eve

Magpusao, Earl Jan

Ortua, Ara Mae

Sabacahan, Glyzel

Tagapan, James Carlo

Peer Evaluation

Name of Member Rating

Francis Roy Albina 100/100

Nica Eve Lado 95/100

Earl Jan Magpusao 98/100

Ara Mae Ortua 99/100

Glyzel Sabacahan 100/100

James Carlo Tagapan 99/100

Evaluated by:
Glyzel Angelou V. Sabacahan