1

PRIMARY RESEARCH PAPER

Terrestrial Sampling Techniques: Calculating Indeces of Dominance

and Diversity
Nick Khryzzan P. Abaya Isabel Acenas Aubrey P. Alagos Maire Katrina S. Arnaldo

Abstract
In this activity, the group was
tasked to determine the diversity of a
terrestrial sample using widely used
sampling methods: the quadrat and transect
methods. The objective of the activity was to
calculate the dominance and diversity of
non-mobile organisms in terrestrial
habitats. After tallying and computation,
results showed the transect point method
with the h value= 1.7750 possessed the
highest diversity, the index value for
transect point methd was 0.8084 which had
the highest Index of Dominance while the
quadrat method had shown the least
evenness by 0.3352 and the greatest
evenness by 0.7717.
Keywords
Line transect method , relative density,
Shannon-Weiner Index Simpsons Index,
quadrat method,

N.K.P. Abaya
Department of Biological Sciences,
University of Santo Tomas, Manila, Philippines
e-mail: nickkhryzzan.abaya@yahoo.com
I. Acenas
Department of Biological Sciences,
University of Santo Tomas, Manila, Philippines
A.P. Alagos
Department of Biological Sciences,
University of Santo Tomas, Manila, Philippines
e-mail: aubrey.alagos@yahoo.com
M.K.S. Arnaldo
Department of Biological Sciences,
University of Santo Tomas, Manila, Philippines
e-mail: mairearnaldo@gmail.com

Introduction
One of the most important aspects in
ecology is the determination of the number
of species in a population, the dispersion or
the pattern of distribution in space within the
habitat, and the changes in abundance. In
most cases, it is impossible to count every
individual or plot their location on a map
because of the time, effort or money
involved. So the most practical way to solve
the problem is to get an accurate
representation of some spatial characteristics
of the population by means of sampling
techniques.
Dominance and diversity are
the main concerns in ecological sampling.
Dominance is the degree to which a taxon is
more numerous than its competitors in an
ecological community, or makes up more of
the biomass. Diversity, on the other hand, is
the number of different species that are
represented in a given community. The
Shannon-Wiener Index and the Simpsons
Index are both used to meaure diversity in a
population.
The three sampling techniques that
are widely used in ecology are Quadrat,
Belt/Line Transect, and Point-Quarter.
The quadrat method is applied to a
square or rectangular plot of land, which is
used to mark off at random a physical area
to isolate a sample and determine the
percentage of vegetation occurring within
the marked area. Quadrats may vary in size,
shape, number, and arrangement, depending
upon the nature of vegetation and the

objectives of the study.

A transect is a cut or path through
part of the environment showing a range of
different habitats. The samples in a transect
method are taken at fixed intervals, usually
along a line. The line is set up across areas
where there are clear environmental
gradients.
The point-quarter method is a
plotless technique to estimate density. It
assumes that the key species follow a
random spatial pattern, and is sensitive to
bias when plants exhibit a more contagious
arrangement. It also requires extra field
effort and computational input than many of
the other distance methods.
The objective of the exercise was to
learn all the three sampling techniques
mentioned, and be able to compare and
contrast each.
Materials and Methods
The materials used for this activity
were improvised transect lines, 10x10
squared quadrat, rice, red beans, white
beans, mongo beans, and variety of coins.
Quadrat Method
The 10x10 squared quadrat was laid on a
random point. The number of quadrat noted
was 25. The plants that were found in each
quadrat were then recorded.
Transect (Point) Method
A 98 cm yarn with 2.5 cm intervals was laid
along the plant box. The plants that were
precisely touching the 2.5 cm intervals were
noted and tallied.
Quadrat Method
Species

Total

Rice

2417

Transect (Range) Method

A 98 cm yarn with 2.5 cm intervals was laid
along the plant box. The plants that were
within the range of the 2.5 cm intervals were
noted and tallied.
The formulas used for this activity were:
(1) Simpsons Index:

n = the total number of organisms of a

particular
species
N = the total number of organisms of all
species
(2) Shannon-Weiner Index:
H'= pi ln pi
pi = the proportion of individuals found in
species i
pi = ni/N,
ni = number of individuals in species i
N = total number of individuals in the
community
Index of dominance = 1 Simpsons Value
Evenness = H / (Hmax * number of species)
Results
Quadrat Method
Conditions: Area sampled: 0.25m2; number
of quadrants= 25
Density, Relative Density, Frequency and
Relative
Frequency:
Index
1
Total Species
Total Density= 12176 plants/m2
Total Frequency= 5 plants species/
quadr

Transect LineRed
(Point)
Beans
White Beans
Mongo
5 Cents
10 Cents

36
66
355
10
1

4
2
5
0
5

25 cents
138
1 Peso
12
5 pesos
8
10 pesos
1
Table 1. Using Indices of Diversity: Total
Per Method

populations counted using the three different

methods
.

Graph 1 -3. Representation of the different populations counted using the Quadrat, Transect Point
and Transect Range Methods

Shannon-Wiener for Degree of Evenness

Simpsons Index
Index of
Dominance
0.6467
0.3533
0.1952
0.8084

Method
Quadrat
Transect
(Point)
Transect
(Range)

0.3528

0.6472

Hmax= 2.30
Graph 1 -3. Representation of the different

Density
Rice
Red Beans
White
Beans
Mongo B.
5 Cents

9668
144
264
1420
40

Quadrat Method
Relative Density
#Quadrants
(%)
35.42
25
8.33
16
4.17
20
10.42
0.00

24
5

Frequency
1
0.64
0.8

Relative Frequency
(%)
20
12.8
16

0.96
0.2

19.2
4

10 Cents
25 Cents
1 Peso
5 Pesos
10 Pesos
Total

4
552
48
32
4

10.42
20.83
6.25
4.17
0.00

1
23
6
4
1
125

Transect (Point)
Abunda
Rel.
nce
Abundance
Rice
17
35.42
Red Beans
4
8.33
White Beans
2
4.17
Mongo B.
5
10.42
5 Cents
0
0.00
10 Cents
5
10.42
25 Cents
10
20.83
1 Peso
3
6.25
5 Pesos
2
4.17
10 Pesos
0
0.00
TOTA
48
L

0.04
0.92
0.24
0.16
0.04

0.8
18.4
4.8
3.2
0.8

Transect (Range)
Abundan
Rel. Abundance
ce
119
52.42
14
6.17
4
1.76
37
16.30
0
0.00
1
0.44
44
19.38
3
1.32
5
2.20
0
0.00
227

Discussion

Shannon-Wiener index was used in order to

solve for the different indices. The Index of
Diversity requires the calculation of H value of each
point/quadrant involved in the study. The higher the
H value, the higher the diversity. In the experiment
the transect point with the h value= 1.7750
possessed the highest diversity and 0.7710 having
the lowest.
Next, the Index of Dominance was
computed by solving for the difference between 1
and the Simpsons value, where 1 is the highest
dominance. In the experiment, the transect point
with the value 0.8084 had the highest Index of
Dominance.
For evenness, the values close to one
indicate that the species are well distributed while
zero for the species that are concentrated or isolated
within an area of a whole region. The quadrat
method had shown the least evenness by 0.3352 and
the greatest evenness by 0.7717.
By comparing the different results of the
methods used in the study, we can learn which
method is more effective to use. First, we know that
there is an inverse relationship between the index of
dominance and the index of diversity. When there is
a dominance of a certain species in a population,
there can only be less diversity and vice versa.
However, for transect (point) method, both index of
dominance and index of diversity is high. We can
assume that this method is less advantageous to use
in terrestrial sampling. The most advantageous

method to use is quadrat method, because it shows

the inverse relationship more clearly than the others.

References:
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Diesmos, A.C., Diesmos, M.L.L, et al.
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Phillips, E. A. 1959. Methods of vegetation study.
Henry Holt and Co., New York, New York,
USA.
Shaukat, S.S., Khairi, M.A. & Khan, M.J. (1978).
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diversity and community maturity in a desert
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