Belt transects are used in biology, more specifically in biostatistics, to estimate the distribution of organisms in relation to a certain area, such as the seashore or a meadow.[1][2]
The belt transect method is similar to the line transect method but gives information on abundance as well as presence, or absence of species.[3][4]
Method
The method involves laying out a transect line and then placing quadrats over the line, starting the quadrat at the first marked point of the line.[5] Any consistent measurement size for the quadrat and length of the line can be chosen, depending on the species. With the quadrats applied, all the individuals of a species can be counted, and the species abundance can be estimated.[5] The method is also suitable for long-term observations with a permanent installation.[6]
References
^Hill, David Arnold; Matthew Fasham; Graham Tucker; Michael Shewry; Philip Shaw (2005). Handbook of biodiversity methods: survey, evaluation and monitoring. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press. pp. 219–222. ISBN0-521-82368-4. OCLC61439712.
