A simplified strategy for evaluating change in plant communities

Abstract

Implementation of monitoring programmes in ecological impact assessment frequently requires rapid, cost-effective surveys of vegetation along a time scale that varies according to the nature of the studies being carried out. When time constraints are restrictive such surveys may be qualitative and therefore highly dependent on the experience and competence of the observer. Reduction of subjectivity may be achieved by quantifying observation, an approach that would however in crease time constraints and reduce cost-effectiveness. The sampling and assessment strategy being proposed here is a semi-quantitative approach to determination of relative abundance of species. It retains the low effort-demand of qualitative technique whilst introducing a flexible quantitative aspect that may be incrementally adjusted towards specific requirements.