How to use Transect-based sampling to select sample trees?

Question

I was wondering if you help me how to use Transect-based sampling to select sample trees

Answer 1

You might want to read over a practical-exercise lab utilizing this, such as http://www2.hawaii.edu/~kinzie/documents/439L/439L/ then select lab2 .

Basically, you first decide if your area to be sampled has gradients in population (species-wise), and if you want to select *across* or *along* that gradient. The former, would give you the best distribution across all species; the latter, the best representation within a particular local population, as it were. Once you have decided that (if you can!), you lay out your sampling strips: a transect is essentially a rectangle of very high aspect ratio, and you are sampling all individual trees which lie within the outlines of that rectangle. Obviously you have rules and procedures about how to navigate around trees which block your lines-of-sight, and whether to include trees whose trunks are partially within the rectangle, etc.

Not to be forgotten: you may encounter species whose identity you are uncertain of! Here's a plug for the phone app iNaturalist, which can help with bark, leaf shape, flowers (if any), etc. -- until you become proficient.

Hope this helps you.

-- Mr. d.