A small area, usually 0.5 or 1.0 m2, marked out with a frame that can be used in an ecological survey to study in detail the distribution and abundance of different species. It can be used for random sampling within an area or for systematic sampling at regular intervals. A permanent quadrat can be used to record changes in the distribution and numbers of species over a number of years. A quadrat may be used in conjunction with a metal 'comb' with teeth at regular intervals that allows detailed sampling at equally spaced points. A hundred such points would estimate the percentage of a particular species present. See also transect. |
